Table of contents for 16 - 2018 in Inside Soap UK

“Max doesn’t get a warm welcome!” Never mind a bad penny, Max Branning is more like a bad £5 note, given the number of times he’s reappeared in the Square, brazenly brushed off his past sins – and started work on some new ones! Of course, Max doesn’t exactly get a warm welcome when he reveals himself as the new owner of the car lot this week. During his last stint in Walford he made an enemy of a record number of residents, even by his standards! But of course, Max being Max, he soon finds himself a warmer welcome with the help of his irresistible charm! As he meets Mel for the first time, we can sense a bit of double trouble coming up, as these two are certainly…

The bants just won’t be the same on Walford market, following the news that gobby Donna is waving goodbye to Albert Square. Actress Lisa Hammond has decided to quit the soap, four years after landing the role of the sassy stallholder… “It’s been so great to play Donna,” shares the star, whose feisty alter ego immediately struck up a fierce rivalry with the likes of Kat and Bianca. “I’ve made lifelong friends on the show and will really miss the brilliant cast and crew, who have always been a pleasure to work with. I look forward to what the future brings.” A spokesperson for the soap has confirmed Lisa’s departure, which comes off the back of a huge cast shake-up including the exits of big-name stars such as Richard Blackwood…

( On Robert ) “The man’s a machine, isn’t he?” “Yeah, it’s no wonder Michelle walked out on ya.” It’s funny because it’s true, Steve! “He found me one night, off duty, paid me just to talk. Said he had this flat I could stay in, said that he’d put a roof over my head, I’d get back on my feet, I’d go back to school – and I was so desperate, I didn’t even ask him why. I was so young and stupid, I actually thought he wanted to help me. The first night there, he raped me. He raped me. But I thought I was lucky because there was heating, food in the fridge and a telly. I told myself it was okay, and that I…

Having worked on several hospital dramas – as patient Elizabeth Woods in Holby City in 2003, in a similar 2011 guest stint in Casualty , as well as her long-running role in General Hospital – Emma admits that she’s keen to don a stethoscope of her own one day… “One of the frustrations of my career is that I’ve never played a medical person!” wails the London-born 57-year-old. “And it’s funny, because I do actually have a minor medical qualification. I studied to be an emergency medical technician when I was living in Los Angeles, just because I thought that it would be a useful tool in my real life. “But I’ve never had the opportunity to use my…

1 Natalie Joy Robb was born on 3 December 1974 in North Lanarkshire in Scotland, the youngest of three children. She had early ambitions to become an actress, and attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama as a child, being presented with the BBC Young Entertainer of the Year award on Saturday morning kids’ show Going Live! in 1988. 2 Natalie made her Emmerdale debut as Moira in 2009, introduced as one of five members of the Barton family, with hubby John (James Thornton) and their children Adam (Adam Thomas), Holly (Sophie Powles) and Hannah (Grace Cassidy). Although seeming to have the perfect marriage, Moira soon embarked on a steamy affair with Cain Dingle in 2011. The pair later married in 2014, after John’s…

Last time we saw Ben Mitchell, he was legging it from Calais ferry port with a wad of cash in his pocket and no immediate plans to return to Walford. And while actor Harry Reid – who played him – has admitted that Ben’s departure wasn’t his decision, he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Having joined the cast of London stage production Witness For The Prosecution playing the accused Leonard Vole, Harry has shaken off Ben’s demons – and is feeling at home as he treads the boards… “Every night when I leave this place, I’m buzzing,” he grins, as we chat on the play’s impressive County Hall stage set. “There’s always a level of nerves because we all care about the audience enjoying it. But we’re a…

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IT’S INTERESTING HOW SITCOMS have become the go-to genre for emotionally devastating themes – no sooner have we got over BBC2’s Mum and its unspoken stories of love then along comes Lee And Dean with its…unspoken stories of love. What we first took for a standard comic portrayal of two lovably dodgy builders quickly evolved into a study of male friendship and how blokey banter can become a way of avoiding talking about feelings. But as Lee and the lads get drunk on his stag do in this week’s final episode, we suspect some of those feelings might finally get aired……

BULLSEYE! Soap’s Most-Doomed-To-Fail Scheme continued to delight this week, as Toyah hustled secret surrogate Eva away to her own private birthing cottage. We’re amazed they’ve held their nerve this long, seeing as it’s clear Eva’s now carrying more than just a few extra Christmas pounds! Meanwhile, it upsets us that Eva is still painted as the villain in the Aidan factory saga. He cheated on her for a whole year , for mercy’s sake! Charity confessing her secret to Vanessa has reminded us what an absolute pillock Declan Macey was. Let’s hope her all-new backstory doesn’t give him a reason to come out of hiding. We’re pleased that poor Kim in Hollyoaks has a poster of Rick Astley to talk to. He’s never…

MICK & LINDA Max conned the couple into signing away the deeds for the Queen Vic, handing over the boozer to dodgy Weyland & Co. Although they eventually managed to recover the pub, will Mick now try to get his own back? IAN Ian discovered that Max was responsible for Steven’s death and blackmailing his wife, Jane, to leave Walford. On top of all that, Max tried to strangle him! So if anyone has a score to settle with Max, it’s Ian. PHIL Max once tricked Phil’s son Ben into signing over the Arches to him – and now that Max is treading on his turf again, we don’t think Phil will take it lying down! It could be the battle of the Albert Square heavyweights… MARTIN Martin wasn’t a…

The Connor family will be plunged into despair this spring, judging by these tearful snaps of family patriarch Johnny and his wife Jenny. Our sneaky pictures of the pair sharing a heart-to-heart on a park bench in Weatherfield suggest that their plan to emigrate to Spain will again take a back seat. But what will keep them from boarding the plane this time? “Jenny has been desperate to make a fresh start, but with Carla and Aidan’s kidney transplants and the revival of the factory, it’s just not been the right time to move,” reckons our cobbles insider. “Johnny’s kids seem to have got their lives back on track – but is fate set to deal the clan another blow?”…

Take Pat! Following negative press reports that viewers are unhappy with the dark nature of Corrie’s Phelan storyline, the soap has recorded its highest set of viewing figures in three years. Hooray! Mac’s back! Just when we’d thought we’d seen the last of Mac, the Hollyoaks baddy is set to make a surprise reappearance when his son James goes to see him soon in hospital. But what will prompt the visit? Great minds think alike Doctors will air a series of six episodes as part of Mental Health Awareness Week (14-20 May). The special run will explore how the issue of mental health is treated within faith communities.…

SYED Masood’s eldest son Syed left to start a new life in Birmingham with partner Christian Clarke. The pair moved because Syed’s ex-wife Amira was bringing up their baby Yasmin in the city, and they wanted to live nearby. They remain living there happily to this day. SHABNAM Following the tragic stillbirth of son Zaair and the revelation that her husband Kush was the father of Stacey’s son Arthur, Shabnam departed the Square. She’s living in Leeds with daughter Jade, who’d previously been adopted by another family, to rebuild her life. TAMWAR Cautious Tamwar decided to throw caution to the wind to go travelling with true love Nancy. However, in March last year, Nancy was seriously injured in a car crash in Bulgaria, and her dad Mick flew to her…

Romance is in the air for Liz this week, as Mike takes her out on a date. Is he the man for her, though? Mike is single, handsome and intelligent, and he certainly enjoys flirting. Liz has been lapping up the attention, but when they go for a meal at the Bistro, she’s given food for thought. Although Mike is great company and showering her with attention, Liz keeps getting distracted by Johnny! While she and Johnny are mates, there’s always been a bit of a spark between them – and since Jenny despatched Liz to help convince Johnny to make the move to Spain as soon as possible, they’ve become closer. Moira spots the connection between them after Johnny comes into the medical centre, and begins to tease Liz…

FAIR CITY Liar Orla is caught out this week, when Wayne drops her in it – forcing her to reveal that she was with Tommy when Karen was killed. Elsewhere, Jim struggles to stay away from painkillers – leaving Bob worried sick. Also, Kerri-Ann declares that she’s leaving Carrigstown. RIVER CITY Therese makes a reckless decision this week, when she takes off with Mackenzie! As Bob and Kim alert the police, will the little’un be found? Meanwhile, Amber is concerned for Alex, who continues to drink heavily and sleep around. Plus, Gabriel tries to boost Scarlett’s spirits. THE ARCHERS You could cut the atmosphere with a knife at Grange Farm this week, as Emma remains upset over Will’s words. Across the village, Peggy is left speechless after Jennifer makes a…

CHARITY’S SHOCKING SECRET We knew that Charity had a dark past, but even we weren’t prepared for the bombshell she dropped on Vanessa when she revealed her abuse agony. And sadly, there could be more to come… Charity is one of my favourite characters in soap, so I was pleased to see her at the heart of such a huge plot. While I do love to laugh out loud at her horrible insults, she’s also the kind of character who you can do these really gritty, emotional plots with too. | Kurt I really felt for Charity when she opened up to Vanessa about the abuse she suffered at the hands of creepy cop Bails. We always think of Charity as being hard as nails, but this just goes to…

“Simon’s behaviour will get worse – but he’s not despicable in real life!” “Toyah’s web of lies is so immense now that I struggle to keep up with everything!” chuckles Corrie star Georgia Taylor, as she joins us for a chat about her alter ego’s ever mounting tall tales. “I honestly can’t remember the last scene I filmed where she wasn’t telling a lie! But it’s not out of any malice – Toyah is just someone who’s really desperate, and completely heartbroken that she can’t have a child of her own.” Sadly for Toyah, it looks as though her lies could be rumbled this week, because her partner’s wicked son Simon has overheard some of her secret conversations with Eva – and is attempting to blackmail…

“Jesse tries to please everyone – he doesn’t know who he should pick” “I never thought I would be jealous of a poster!” chuckles Hollyoaks star Luke Jerdy, aka lovely Donovan brother Jesse, as he joins us for a chat on the phone from the soap’s set. We’re discussing his real-life girlfriend Daisy Wood-Davis’ current plot, in which her alter ego Kim is locked up in the derelict school with only a poster of 80s pop idol Rick Astley for company. “Daisy put a picture of her with the poster up on Instagram, and everyone was commenting on it saying, ‘Oh Luke, you’ve got some competition!’. But that storyline has been so popular with viewers – Daisy’s had so much feedback from people. It’s like Castaway…

While Ben was devoted to his late partner Paul, his friendship with best mate Jay was always the ultimate bromance. And though Ben is gone, Harry insists that there’s no danger of that famous friendship being broken… “I’ve got a dartboard with Keanu’s head on it at home!” jokes the star. “No, no, no – not really… Me and Danny Walters, who plays Keanu, were having a bit of banter about this at the NTAs. I’d heard Keanu and Jay were getting pally, and I was like, ‘All right mate? Taking my buddy are ya?’. That was funny. But I’m not concerned, because if Ben were to come back, nobody ain’t getting past him when it comes to Jay – no way!”…

OUT OF THIS WORLD Eleanor Tomlinson and Rafe Spall are filming three-part drama The War Of The Worlds for BBC1. It’s the first time HG Wells’ tale of alien invasion has been adapted for British TV, and looks set to provide plenty of scares… FROM HERE TO MATERNITY Emma Willis will try her hand at a different career in a new documentary series for W. In Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, she will spend three months training as a maternity care assistant, working day and night shifts with regular ward staff. GET VOTING! Voting is now open in the only Bafta category decided by the public – the Virgin TV Must-See Moment. If you loved Stormzy on Love Island or the unveiling of the Thirteenth Doctor, have your say at virginmedia.com/bafta…

CASUALTY Connie Beauchamp............ Amanda Mealing Gemma Dean........................ Rebecca Ryan Iain Dean....................... Michael Stevenson Lisa ‘Duffy’ Duffin................... Cathy Shipton Charlie Fairhead................. Derek Thompson Noel Garcia............................ Tony Marshall Elle Gardner............................. Jaye Griffiths Ethan Hardy...................... George Rainsford David Hide.................................. Jason Durr Dylan Keogh............................ William Beck Bea Kinsella............................. Michelle Fox Jacob Masters......................... Charles Venn Rash Masum............................. Neet Mohan Robyn Miller.................. Amanda Henderson Alicia Munroe.................. Chelsea Halfpenny Sam Nicholls........................... Charlotte Salt Louise Tyler............................. Azuka Oforka CORONATION STREET Dev Alahan....................... Jimmi Harkishin Angie Appleton................. Victoria Ekanoye Jude Appleton..................... Paddy Wallace Izzy Armstrong................ Cherylee Houston Adam Barlow...................... Sam Robertson Amy Barlow.......................... Elle Mulvaney Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Simon Barlow.............................. Alex Bain Tracy Barlow............................... Kate Ford Leanne Battersby................... Jane Danson Toyah Battersby................... Georgia Taylor Chesney Brown......................... Sam Aston Mary Cole................................... Patti Clare Aidan Connor.........................…

MOIRA LEARNS OF HER GUILT… As the trial begins, Debbie is worried that Moira will realise she was behind the acid attack. If Moira goes to the courtroom and sees Simon, Debbie knows she’ll join the dots. Desperate to protect his daughter, Cain tries to persuade his wife not to attend – but to no avail. Moira is duly appalled to learn Simon was behind the attack, and aghast to rumble Debbie’s involvemnt. As the recriminations begin, Debbie starts to panic that Moira will go to the police with her information – or that she’ll decide to tell Ross everything she now knows……

You might want to take a brief break from swooning over delectable doctor Ali to appreciate this sneaky snap of Michelle’s other buff son, Ryan! Former Dales star Ryan Prescott – who is taking over the role from actor Sol Heras – is filming with Corrie ahead of his debut, which is expected to air next month. “Ryan’s hunky new look suggests that he’s going to be just as much a hit with the ladies of Weatherfield as he was a few years ago,” enthuses our Street spy. “That sexy grin of his will break a few hearts, make no mistake!” Our pictures show the handsome chap emerging from a doorway to greet Michelle’s fiancé Robert and his Bistro employee Daniel – who looks as if he’s been up to…

“How much longer do I have to wait for the glorious Linda Robson to venture into Albert Square? It’s been about 20 years! Wouldn’t she be perfect as Karen Taylor’s mum? Walford needs a new matriarch to fill Peggy’s shoes.” …pleads reader Christopher “I’d like to see Jimmy taking Pete and Ross under his wing in Emmerdale . They’ve lost their parents and he’s lost all his brothers. They could make a good team together.” …suggests reader Sarah “ Ryan is playing a game with the Hollyoaks police, so why not let him become a proper super-villain? He could have a costume and everything!” …cackles reader Michael from London “Now that Coronation Street have added a Co-op and Costa to their set, why…

If the family discover that Kerry knows Daz’s secret, it could ruin everything” Devastating news reaches the Spencer clan this week – as Daz reveals that Ali has died suddenly. It’s been a while since Dan’s ex-wife left Emmerdale to start a new life in Liverpool following the death of her wife Ruby, but she’s kept in touch because of children Sean and Amelia. So after shaken Daz turns up and reveals that Ali has gone, it’s a horrible shock to everyone – not least her heartbroken daughter Amelia… “It’s the sort of news that nobody wants to have to break,” shares our Dales spy. “This is the second tragedy to hit the family – it’s only a couple of years since Ruby was killed in the helicopter crash. Having…

Tiffany’s time in Albert Square could come to an abrupt end this week, as her mother Bianca makes it clear that she wants her back with her in Milton Keynes! Tiff’s sister Whitney is devastated by this turn of events, and desperately tries to think of a way to persuade Bianca to change her mind. “Whitney is really upset, as she doesn’t want her little sister to leave,” our Square mole tells us. “Whit’s had so much instability in her life, so she’s really enjoyed having Tiff around for a while – but now it suddenly looks as though she’ll be forced away again! Whitney confides in her friend Stacey about the awkward situation – but she’s dismayed when Stacey instead sides with Bianca, agreeing that it’s time for Tiffany…

Audrey is thrilled to meet up with Geoff Metcalfe again this week – but it turns out that she may have to fight Yasmeen for his affections! Geoff and Audrey first crossed paths at the hospital after she was injured during a mugging. Geoff works there as a radio DJ, and they bonded when he asked Audrey to sit in on his show, and later dedicated a record to her. After Audrey hurts her ankle while intervening in a row between Yasmeen and Sally, Geoff drops by her hospital bedside again. Yasmeen is there supporting her neighbour – and Geoff’s wandering eye ends up on her! Despite Audrey singing Geoff’s praises, Yasmeen seems indifferent towards him – until the DJ turns on the charm and asks her to go on…

Alfie is struggling to cope this week, as he continues to be haunted by the voice in his head. The teenager has spent the past few weeks being tormented by this sinister voice – causing him to distance himself from everyone. However, despite Alfie trying to push his loved ones away, Tom manages to reach out to his pal – and the pair bond over space. Later, it transpires that Alfie’s mental state has convinced him that an asteroid is on a collision course for the village! Will he tell Tom? And if he does, how will his friend react?…

THE FACE FITS I recognised the police lady who turned up in Emmerdale after Vanessa reported Charity’s abuse to the cops. What has she been in before? | Jenna Actress Keeley Fitzgerald was in Corrie last year as gobby Zoe – one of Gemma’s vile friends who persuaded her to rob from Rita! She looked very different back then, though. ROSIE PINK I saw Corrie’s Rosie wearing a lovely long, pink jumper with black tassels on the arms – it looked so cosy! Can you find out where it’s from? | Tracey, London Rosie’s Francesca Pink Aztec Sleeve Jumper Dress is from www.misspap.co.uk  – and right now it’s in the sale for £22. It’s the perfect outfit for a selfie! DEAD END? I’m confused…

Charity’s revelations shed light on a whole new part of her life – and that’s a lot to absorb when you think you know a character inside out after 20 years! The biggest shock was when we witnessed tearful Charity reach for a hidden box of memorabilia with items that belonged to – or were intended for – a newborn baby boy. Are we set to learn that she fell pregnant with Bails’ son after he raped her? “Charity’s confession to Vanessa was just the start of a huge story set to play out over the course of this year, with Emma Atkins taking centre stage,” teases our Dales spy. “Secrets from the past come back to haunt Charity in more ways than one, with her revelation about Bails just…

There’s good news for fans championing David and Aaron’s romance, as the pair are finally back together this week! And as we catch up with star Takaya Honda (David) during his visit to the UK, he hints that there may even be a wedding on the cards… It’s great to see you on British soil! Have you had a lot of fans approaching you to talk about David and Aaron? Yes – every second question has been, “When are you guys getting back together?”! It’s so nice that the audience is behind us as a couple. It’s a real tribute to the show’s hard work in developing the storylines. There’s been a lot of talk about David and Aaron having the first gay wedding on Australian TV. How would you…

It’s a sentiment expressed by everyone from Walford’s Mitchells to the Dales’ Dingles: family comes first. And these soapies have set out to prove that it’s exactly the same in the real world, too! The Flanagans – comprising Emmerdale’s Amelia (April), Corrie’s Isabella (Hope) and William (Joseph), plus their parents Rachel and Chris – look adorable in their Lanzarote holiday snaps. Meanwhile, Hollyoaks’ Gary Lucy (Luke) and his clan seem just as devoted – check out this photo showing the actor with his children India, Elvis and Sadie celebrating their mum Natasha’s birthday. Another tight-knit unit are the Dales’ Matthew Wolfenden (David) and Charley Webb (Debbie) – and Matthew showed that clearly by venturing out with chip-off-the-old-block Buster in two cool (and too cool!) outfits. And lest we think it’s…

HOLLYOAKS’ LILY She’s the perfect petite package! Get Lauren’s cute style with this gothic-inspired ensemble……

I’ve just started watching The Good Place – literally one episode and it’s very quick! There’s a Netflix show called Call My Agent!, which is brilliant. It’s a French series, Dix Pour Cent, which translates to 10 per cent – what agents take from actors. It’s amazing because I think, “Oh my God, actors are so annoying!” I told my agent: “I get where you’re coming from now!” I’m obsessed with Suits at the moment. I’m so late to the game, but it’s become my go-to when I need to switch off. I love the clothes and the costume design on it, but it’s also fast-paced and I love the writing. I’ve just watched Next Of Kin and Trauma too. I grew up…

Paul’s trip to India last year to find out more about the country’s wild animals and conservationists clearly made a lasting impression on him – and of course, he fell a bit in love with the dogs he met along the way. “When we were there last year, I said we should do something about the street dogs, because I was forever feeding them,” reveals Paul. “We went to the Taj Mahal and I wasn’t bothered – you can see on film, I’m just busy feeding the dogs!” So Paul and his team decided to return to Delhi to film this new four-part series where he explores the issues faced by the city’s estimated 400,000 street dogs – and to meet those dedicating themselves to canine care. “It’s just the…

EILEEN DAVIES (Flora McArdle, Coronation Street) IN The corpse of Vinny Ashford – real name Harvey McArdle – has finally been dug up, but it looks as if there may be more to come in this tale, as his mum Flora appears again. Local reporter Daniel has already expressed his concern about the pensioner, and we’ll finally see him go above and beyond to help her in the coming weeks. May NITIN GANATRA (Masood Ahmed EastEnders ) OUT  He’s brought hilarity and high jinks to the Square these past few months, but Masood’s screen time will diminish while real-life alter ego Nitin Ganatra stars in a new play. End Of The Pier by Danny Robins will premiere at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, London…

IN FOR A HALFPENNY Former EastEnder (Kate Mitchell) and Strictly winner Jill Halfpenny will soon be leading the cast in a blockbuster stage production of the smash-hit crime novel The Girl On The Train. The show will premiere at Leeds’ West Yorkshire Playhouse, followed by a UK tour. NEW YORKSHIRE He may have recently presented Channel 5’s Springtime On The Farm, but Kelvin Fletcher (Andy Sugden) has no plans to return to rural soap Emmerdale. In fact, he’s recently spent time Stateside working on his acting career over there – not to mention his accent! “Possibly because I’ve got such a strong northern accent, I emphasise the wrong part of words,” he confesses. BUTCHERS’ JOY! They say blood is thicker than water, and that’s certainly the case for ex-EastEnders star…

THEATRE AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN This new musical based on the Oscar-winning film tells the story of Zack Mayo, who is training to become a US navy pilot. When he falls for local girl Paula and tragedy strikes a good friend, Zack learns a lesson in love and friendship. The show is touring till 15 September – for info and tickets, pay a visit to www.officerandagentlemanmusical.com Win!  Text or write in* to win any book or DVD on this page (*see details at the bottom of the page) DVD MARCELLA – SERIES TWO Anna Friel returns as troubled Marcella, investigating a case that’s disturbingly close to home. When a body is discovered inside a wall, the stunned police detective soon works out that it’s a friend of her son,…

EMMERDALE Blood brothers! NOAH’S ARC SEES HIM PUT JOE’S LIFE IN JEOPARDY… One chink in ruthless Joe Tate’s armour has been his little brother, Noah. The pair have hit it off – and Noah is about the only Dingle who willingly tolerates the Home Farm head honcho! But next week, things take a dark turn, and Joe’s life is in peril thanks to his sibling’s foolishness. Has Noah just become the baddest boy of his family – and turned into a killer? EASTENDERS Watts her secret? She may be Mitchell by name these days, but Sharon will always be Den’s ‘princess’ – and she can lie just as much as her old man did. But what is she hiding from Phil this time? CORRIE Rotten Appleton! Angie shows her naughty…