Table of contents for 31 - 2019 in Inside Soap UK

Mick Carter suffers a major health scare this week, when he suddenly collapses while refereeing a kids’ football match! Could he be in serious trouble? “Mick seems like the alpha male – but it’s all an act…” The Queen Vic landlord has been having quite a stressful time of late, so perhaps it’s not surprising that it’s beginning to catch up with him. Mick’s week hardly gets off to the best of starts when he’s responsible for a worrying incident with his son, Ollie, and his wife Linda berates him for being so careless. “Mick and Linda have both been on edge over the last month or two,” our EastEnders insider reminds us. “They suspect that Ollie is autistic, but due to the long waiting times in order to get…

The whole reason Amy needed the money was to pay off a debt, so that it wouldn’t affect her chances of having access to her son, Kyle. But ironically, with a police investigation hanging over her, Amy’s future with her boy is on hold for now… “This is another spanner in the works for Amy,” sighs Natalie. “If there’s going to be police hanging around, it might not be a good idea to apply for residency now. “At first, Amy just wants to tell the police what they’ve done, and stop it there and then,” she adds. “Damage limitation, that would be her first port of call. But it’s not as simple as that – it’s quite a web they’ve found themselves in!”…

David’s prison sentence could be the least of his worries, judging by recent reports claiming that his rapist, Josh Tucker, will be back to haunt him. Star Ryan Clayton is said to be reprising the role of vile Josh when Corrie revisits David’s story later this year… “It’s taken a lot of courage for David to put the nightmare of Josh’s attack behind him, and focus on his future with Shona,” notes our Street source. “Sure, the Platt family dramas have turned his life upside down, but it’s nowhere near the hell that David went through with Josh. Seeing his rapist again could knock David for six.” The pair last came face-to-face during a dramatic confrontation that saw injured Josh weakly admit to sexually assaulting David, while not giving a…

Furious Habiba sets a trap for her secret lover Adam this week – so will she finally see him for the rat he is? It’s after Habiba is caught in Adam’s arms yet again by her sister Iqra this week that she gets a proper reality check, and sets out on a mission to find out the truth. “Habiba isn’t stupid, she’s just consumed with passion and can’t think clearly,” says our Walford insider. “Her love for Adam is distorting reality. Iqra’s been suspicious that they’re still together, but now she has proof – and Habiba can’t deny what’s going on...” “Habiba is gorgeous, and has plenty of options – Adam should be keeping her happy” After being caught out by Iqra, Habiba chases after Adam to find out where…

Gary comes up with a plan to save Underworld from closure this week – by bringing an investor on board! Given that Gary was the person responsible for the building crashing down in the first place, surely this is the least he can do to stop the business from falling apart completely. But as he introduces Nick to his cashed-up associate Derek, what exactly does Gary stand to get out of this deal? “Gary’s shown himself to be capable of terrible things, so you can guarantee he’s not doing this deal out of the goodness of his heart,” tuts our Weatherfield insider. “And since there’s no love lost between him and ex-girlfriend Sarah, he’s certainly not doing it to secure her future, either! Which means he can only be doing…

The reality of his forthcoming wedding to Whitney hits home for Callum this week, as he sits down to write his marriage vows – and struggles to find the words. Torn Callum is all set to tie the knot with Whit, while secretly haunted by the knowledge that he’s attracted to men and has shared an illicit night of passion with Ben. So, there are really no prizes for guessing why he is suffering from a severe case of writer’s block… “It’s the bit where you promise to ‘forsake all others’ that presents Callum with his first problem!” chuckles our Albert Square insider. “But even if Callum can somehow push that huge betrayal with Ben to the back of his mind, why is he finding it so hard to put…

Disappointment lies ahead for farmhand Nate this week – as Moira leaves the village. Shocked by her own reckless behaviour, the cheating woman wants to get some headspace away from toy boy Nate and husband Cain. Although relations have been strained within her marriage, Moira didn’t envisage splitting from her man – yet she couldn’t resist hunky Nate. So, now she’s given in to temptation once, she removes herself before any more mistakes are made. Will Nate give up on his secret lover without a fight?…

Love is in the air this week, as Yazz attempts to set up Peri and Prince together. After getting fired, Prince tries to convince Tom to rehire him, and with Peri’s help, he finds himself back at the holiday club. Yazz then plays matchmaker, after witnessing a spark between her friends… Yet it’s not just Yazz who’s noticed their chemistry – Tom has too! He desperately tries to deter Peri from Prince, but will his plan work? Or is there romance on the cards for the teens?…

Despite their relationship moving steadily forward, Mackenzie and Colby decide to put a stop to their budding romance this week. When Willow overhears Mackenzie taking a call about a date with Colby, she resolves to do right by her friend and intervene. Worried that Colby’s still not over Chelsea, Willow warns him that it may not be the most sensible idea to date his best friend’s sister. However, adamant that isn’t the case, Colby sets her straight! On their date, not all goes to plan, as Mackenzie asks why Colby isn’t wearing his wedding ring anymore. Colby insists he’s over Chelsea and knows his marriage is done, but Mackenzie worries that it’s not quite that clear cut. And given her family situation, Mackenzie is doubtful that they should even be…

As the Hollyoaks teens make their way to a music festival this week, Brooke is a little more apprehensive than the others – and it quickly becomes clear as to why. Star Talia Grant – who, like her alter ego Brooke, has autism – gives us an insight… How is Brooke feeling about the festival initially? Brooke has a very fixed idea of what she wants to happen. In her head she comes very prepared, knowing she’ll face a lot of noise. But Brooke has a sensory overload in the DJ tent… Brooke is stressed because her purse is missing. It’s such a big festival with so many people, and then she’s dragged into a situation that’s really overwhelming. Brooke spots her purse in Juliet’s bag! How does she react…

When we first met Mitch, we thought he was a wrong’un – but the way he’s got his life together for the sake of his little girl Bailey has restored our faith. The scenes between father and daughter have been a joy to watch, so it’s no surprise that Roger Griffiths and Kara-Leah Fernandes, who play the pair, are nominated for our Best Partnership trophy. And as Roger represents both of them at our shoot, he’s a very proud dad indeed… So you and Kara-Leah are a bit of a dream team at this stage… She’s a delight! I have three sons, and she’s like the daughter I never had. It’s amazing what, as a seasoned actor, you can learn from a nine-year-old! She delivers every time, and it’s natural.…

This time last year, Rainie and Max’s secret marriage had just been revealed and, along with baby Abi, the unlikely couple were busy playing happy families. Fast forward 12 months, and – of course! – Max has already left his poor wife high and dry, not to mention desperate. But as Rainie struggles to get back on her feet, Tanya Franks, who plays her, is feeling rather proud of her Best Bad Girl nomination… Are you pleased Rainie has had a nod of her own this year, after Max and Rainie were nominated for Best Partnership last year? Yes, it’s lovely – very nice! I love playing Rainie, so if viewers get as much pleasure out of watching her as I love playing her, then that’s a match made in…

“A koala will digest up to 400g of eucalyptus at a time, which takes up a large portion of their overall weight,” Chris tells us. “They sleep between 15-20 hours a day, with the rest largely spent eating. They spend very little time moving from branch to branch. It takes ages to digest those leaves! “Koalas have sharp claws, but it’s a misconception that they scratch people,” continues Chris. “They can jump really far from one branch to another, and use those claws to grab on. Their defence is their two rodenty front teeth. “People say koalas only eat eucalyptus – but there are more than 800 different species of the tree!” he points out. “It’s like the difference between eating Bolognese and a steak. They pick and choose each…

Seb’s attempts to rescue his girlfriend Alina from a violent people-trafficking gang end in tragedy this week, as his and Eileen’s lives are put in deadly danger! Having discovered that Alina is effectively a slave, brought into the country by her unscrupulous bosses Rachel and Nikolai, Seb is appalled. But as he races to rescue her with no thought for his own safety, will Seb pay a high price for his heroism? “Seb’s putting his life at risk by messing with these people!” “Seb is impulsive – he acts first and thinks later,” declares Harry Visinoni, who plays him. “He thinks he is the hero and everything will be alright. He doesn’t consider the danger. Seb has experienced very brutal situations growing up, so he doesn’t worry about the consequences…

Poor Sharon Mitchell – married to Walford’s biggest hard man and knocked up by the Square’s biggest bit of rough, she’s in a bit of a pickle. Inside Soap predicts the drama ahead... So, will Sharon come clean to Phil now? Well, now she knows the truth, she might have decided to come clean – but unfortunately, Phil’s currently unconscious in a hospital bed following his attack. So for the time being, she couldn’t own up even if she wanted to! So, will she tell Keanu? So far, she’s insisted to him that the baby is Phil’s, but with emotions running high at the moment, there’s a chance she could reveal to Keanu that he’s the father... So, when is Sharon’s baby actually due? Well, let’s put it this way:…

Lonely Bobby finds a new friend in Iqra this week, after she realises that he’s exploring his faith. With Bobby working at Walford East for dad Ian, Iqra is somewhat surprised when she discovers his interest in Islam. After Bobby stands up for her with a tricky customer, Iqra has a heart-to-heart with the teenager, and invites him to join the Ahmed family for Eid – the annual celebration where Muslims gather to celebrate the end of Ramadan fasting – which holds great significance to followers of the faith. What will the Beales say when they realise Bobby’s new interest?…

There are big decisions to be made for two of the Dingle clan this week – as Debbie considers moving away, and Aaron thinks about children. Since hearing about the garage in Scotland that Lisa left her in her will, Debbie has been wondering if it’s the perfect chance for her to take a break. She’s been finding it hard to cope since the nightmare of Joe Tate’s departure and her rift with dad Cain. The garage gives her an excellent reason to start afresh and make a go of things, with her safety net in Emmerdale still intact. The only thing giving her pause for thought is what to do about Sarah and Jack’s schooling – but her daughter is full of surprises. “Sarah thinks that Debbie needs a…

The tram bar and diner – now known as The 82 – gets its grand opening this week, but will the event run smoothly? After being named as the main suspect in Paul’s horrific attack, Gary grows embittered when he’s shunned from the big launch. But just as Kyle and Karl are about to cut the ribbon on the fledgling business, Gary turns up drunk – and makes a scene in front of those gathered! Among them are Terese and Paul, who have an unspoken tension between them, due to Terese’s belief that Gary didn’t attack Paul… Elsewhere, torn Sheila has hidden the bloodied crowbar in a recycling bin, but Harlow quickly becomes suspicious, and soon uncovers the weapon before calling the police. The event is disrupted again when Mark…

Dom reckons his adoptive mum Carole is keeping another big secret this week, as he suspects that she’s romancing Mr Hanssen! When Dom invites her along for dinner, Carole is sorry to let him down, and claims that she has a prior engagement. However, Dom finds out that Carole has lied – before witnessing what he assumes is an intimate exchange between her and Hanssen – so he decides to turn detective, and makes it his mission to get to the truth……

Ben’s a worried man this week, as Walford reels from the shocking assault on his father, Phil. With the hard man’s life hanging in the balance, tensions are running high in Albert Square, as the locals start pointing fingers – while others panic and desperately try to cover their tracks. Meanwhile, the local constabulary is hot on the trail of Phil’s assailant, and appears to close in on the guilty party when they make an arrest. However, as someone else goes to shocking and dangerous lengths to cover their tracks, have the boys in blue got the right suspect?…

It’s been a year of big changes in Albert Square, as a fresh mood was brought to Walford by faces old and new. And first to arrive at our Awards photo shoot are two people central to that. Newcomer Max Bowden has taken troubled Ben Mitchell in a distinctly dark direction – while, after a decade away, Louisa Lytton returned to take on Ruby Allen’s hard-hitting consent story. “The show is in a really wonderful place,” says Max. “The stories we’re telling are brave and courageous, and all so worth doing.” But today, our six stars leave the Square behind, as they put on the glitz for our photographer and canvass for your votes in the Inside Soap Awards 2019. Our nominees are buzzing, and bursting to tell us just…

Just when we were starting to believe that Chantelle and Gray were the perfect couple, the discovery of what really goes on behind their front door has knocked us for six. But now that the viewers know Gray is an abusive husband, it’s set to be some time yet before the reality of Chantelle’s life is revealed to anyone in Walford. Which means there’s plenty of hard work in store for Best Newcomer nominee Jessica Plummer, who plays her… Nice to meet you, Jess! Viewers now know that Chantelle is being abused by Gray – are you relieved the story is finally out there? I wouldn’t say it’s a relief, although it’s nice the main part of my work is now being seen. Reading all the different speculation online was…

It only seems as if it was five minutes ago that troublesome teenager Keegan first came strutting onto the Square. But that was 2017, and – surrounded by his constantly expanding family – he’s feeling right at home in Walford nowadays. The same could be said for Zack Morris, who plays him. And as Zack looks back on yet another roller-coaster year for Keegan, the 20-year-old star is delighted to be celebrating his second Inside Soap Best Actor nomination in a row… Nice work, Zack! Are you taking this ‘Best Actor’ malarkey in your stride, now? These things are always going to come as a surprise – I was shocked, to be fair. You never expect to get nominated for anything. But it’s cool, I’m pleased! Are you always learning…

After a “teeny-weeny nervous breakdown”, Aine (Aisling Bea) is fresh out of rehab and trying to get her life back on track in this new six-part comedy, while worried older sister Shona (Sharon Horgan) keeps a vigilant eye on her. Aine is determined to put her best face on, but the road to recovery isn’t going to be  a smooth one for either of them. We chatted to creator and star Aisling about what inspired the show, the struggles of writing her own scripts, and the blurring of the lines between her on-screen sister and her real one… Can you tell us a little bit about This Way Up? It starts off with someone being broken, so it’s not about falling apart, but about getting yourself back together. It’s also…

Guilt-ridden Kerry and Amy must face the consequences of their actions this week, as the cops start questioning the locals over the factory fire! With one villager killed in the blaze, the police are serious about catching the culprit – leaving Kerry and Amy terrified. But as Kerry is hauled down to the station for interrogation, will she be able to remain calm under pressure? “Both Kerry and Amy know this could be really bad for them,” explains Laura Norton, who plays Kerry. “No matter how tough-skinned you are, or how much trouble you’ve been in before, it’s awful to think you might be responsible for something like that.” As the week kicks off and news spreads around the village about the terrible events at the factory, Kerry and Amy…

Vile rapist Laurie is back on our screens this week, as his wife Sinead goes to visit him in prison! With Laurie’s trial looming, Sinead has announced she won’t be heading to court to face the man who subjected her to emotional and physical abuse during their marriage. But after receiving a letter from the jailbird, she decides to confront him – and tell her ex exactly what she thinks of him… “This letter is typical of manipulative Laurie – he’s trying to get a reaction out of Sinead,” explains Steph Davis, who plays her. “And it works, he says all kinds of nasty things, and Sinead wonders if they’re true. Her mum advises her not to rise to it, but Laurie goes to the next level and brings up…

Dev better prepare himself for some interesting sales figures on his return from India, as headstrong Evelyn continues to run the corner shop her way! Mary can’t believe it when she pops in and discovers that temporary manager Evelyn has been making up her own prices! Instead of labelling the goods correctly, Evelyn has been reducing the price of the things she wants to buy. Determined to stop her, Mary threatens to report Evelyn to Dev – and that’s when things really kick off… “If Mary thinks that telling tales is the way to scare Evelyn, she’s sorely mistaken,” warns our cobbles spy. “To Evelyn, Mary is just a gnat to be swatted away – so she bars her from the shop! Dev left Evelyn in charge, and it’s her…

Chantelle risks the wrath of husband Gray this week, when she helps Whitney with her business. Having cut down her hours at the hairdressers, Chantelle uses her newfound spare time to support clothing entrepreneur Whitney, and even models some of her latest designs. But when the pictures are posted on social media, Chantelle panics as she realises that abusive Gray won’t like the images at all. She lies to get Whit to remove the posts, praying that her husband hasn’t seen them. Has she acted in time?…

Emma receives horrible news this week, when her father is diagnosed with stomach cancer. She learns of the shocking bombshell after missing a visit to her dad’s bedside, in order to help Gemma and Chesney. The next day, Emma heads to the ward and is devastated when her dad explains he has stomach cancer and it’s serious. Beside herself with worry, she contacts her mother – who lives in Australia – to ask her to come home. But despite Emma’s pleas, the answer is no, and the struggling lass must deal with her dad’s illness on her own. Thankfully for Emma, her Weatherfield pals are there to support her, with Maria lending her a shoulder to cry on. It’s obvious that there’s bad blood between her parents, although Emma still…

Toadie and Dee finally give in to their unresolved feelings this week – and share a kiss! However, Dee is left disappointed when Toadie flees in the aftermath of their smooch, and she decides that it would be best if she were to head back to Byron Bay. When Toadie returns, he’s disappointed to find that she’s already gone – so he tracks her down to the beach to clear the air. Will this tragic pair decide to make a go of things – or will they resolve to go their separate ways?…

Ruby Allen had been away from Albert Square for more than a decade when she returned in September 2018. Her reunion with best friend Stacey was a magical moment – but her new life in Walford was blighted almost immediately, when she was sexually assaulted after a night out. The subsequent court case was accompanied by a ground-breaking episode in the Queen Vic, during which the topic of consent was discussed among the assembled locals. And while Ruby has been through the mill, Louisa Lytton, who plays her, is incredibly proud to be nominated for our Best Actress award… Congratulations, Louisa! A nomination for Best Actress is quite a nice ‘welcome back’ to EastEnders, isn’t it? Thank you, yes! I’ve been back a year now – so to be up…

It’s no mean feat coming into a show like EastEnders to take over a character as infamous as Ben Mitchell – so all credit to Max Bowden, who has slipped seamlessly into the role since making his Walford debut in April. But now he’s gone and scooped himself a hat-trick of Inside Soap Award nominations – for Best Newcomer, Best Bad Boy and Best Shock Twist for Callum and Ben’s surprise passion! And he’s understandably chuffed… Congratulations, Max! Three award nominations is a nice welcome to EastEnders, isn’t it? Absolutely! I’m made up, to be honest. I think it’s a credit to the whole of EastEnders – everyone works so hard. Did you expect to make such an impact, so soon after arriving? No. Obviously as an actor you want…

In this moment, Inside TV hasn’t ever been happier. We’re at Longleat to cover the new series of BBC1’s Animal Park, and currently standing about three metres away from two real-life koalas, Dennis and Violet. Longleat has recently acquired them and two other Southern koalas – Maisie and Coorong – and the four have now become a star attraction at the safari and adventure park. We caught up with the show’s presenters Kate Humble and Ben Fogle for a chat – and the pair are clearly as thrilled to see the koalas as the visitors are… “THESE NEW KOALAS ARE BIGGER, HAIRIER AND ADORABLE !” KATE “There’s been an enormous amount of excitement over the koalas,” enthuses Kate. “In the past few years, there has been this real move to…

Family lies! EMMA HAS THE MOTHER OF SHOCKS IN STORE… She’s already been knocked for six by the news of her dad’s serious illness, but as devastated Emma bravely shares his latest prognosis with her mum next week, a brand-new bombshell is set to explode. An emotional phone call to Australia sends poor Emma reeling, as her mother makes a shocking admission which will change her daughter’s life forever… EMMERDALE Zak’s new happiness? Losing his beloved Lisa has left poor Zak broken-hearted. But when his friends rally round in a bid to lift his spirits next week, could they bring a smile back to his face? EASTENDERS The whole truth Amid her sister Habiba’s dramas, the focus is on Iqra next week, as she reveals another secret. Mariam and…