Table of contents for 13 - 2020 in Inside Soap UK

Our favourite soaps are pulling out all the stops to ensure that they remain on air, as countries around the globe tackle the coronavirus pandemic. EastEnders, Corrie, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks have announced contingency plans that involve slowing down the broadcast of editions each week, so that episodes which have already been filmed can be stockpiled, while viewers at home still get to enjoy their regular dose of soap in the meantime. WALFORD WAITS… EastEnders was the first soap to announce changes to its broadcast schedule. “In light of the spread of Covid-19, and after much consideration, it has been decided that filming on EastEnders will be postponed until further notice,” explains a Walford spokesperson. “We have taken the decision to reduce the number of episodes we broadcast each week to…

Yasmeen is set to contact the police and request information under ‘Clare’s Law’ – which could put an end to Geoff’s terrible treatment toward his wife for good… ‘Clare’s Law’ is a name for the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, which gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them. Alya has already learned that Geoff was once arrested after a violent fight with an ex girlfriend – so what else might Yasmeen discover about her husband’s past from police records? Geoff has previously suggested that his ex-wife Tess was abusive towards him – but will Yasmeen learn that the opposite is true?…

At the start of the year, cobbles boss Iain MacLeod exclusively told Inside Soap that a huge story in the spring would result in some of the Street’s most iconic families going to war with one another. The lads’  “Having re-established Steve last attempt and Tracy’s relationship on its strongest footing, something will happen that probably has the most far-reaching impact of any story we’ve done since I’ve been on the show,” explained Iain. “Something horrifically difficult and challenging will happen that draws in three to four different clans on the Street, and forces them to deal with the hardest thing anyone would ever have to deal with.” Will Ollie’s illness be the catalyst in question?…

There’s a massive shock for the ED this week, when Charlie announces that he’s leaving. Charlie returned to work early following Duffy’s death, intent upon getting on with life. But he fails to tell the team about a patient’s ‘do not resuscitate’ order – seeing oblivious Jade perform CPR when the patient goes into cardiac arrest. Charlie blames Jade – but when Fletch says a complaint has been made against him, Charlie decides to quit. Can anyone change his mind?…

It’s almost two years since Vincent disappeared from Walford, with viewers still unsure as to whether he’s still alive! But while his wife Kim is gutted to no longer have him in her life, Richard is still the best of pals with Tameka Empson, who played his screen missus… “Tameka and I have been mates for about 20 years!” he tells us. “I called her when I first got the job on Hollyoaks, and she showed me nothing but love. She said, ‘Go and do what you need to do!’ “We had a joke that I always used to block her camera in a shot,” adds Richard. “Not on purpose, there were just so many cameras! She’d say to me, ‘You’re blocking me’, and I’d reply, ‘You’ve got to work…

Corrie star Samia Longchambon has spoken for the first time about the heartbreaking miscarriage she suffered before falling pregnant with her son, Yves. The 37-year-old revealed her real-life tragedy following her recent plot, in which her character Maria lost a baby. Now Samia is hoping that other women who’ve been through the same ordeal will see that there is hope after miscarriage… “I had what’s called a missed miscarriage,” she says. “This is when your body doesn’t show any of the usual symptoms, so I sadly found out at a scan that my pregnancy wasn’t to be. Luckily, I went on to have Yves – I hope by talking about my experience I can help other women realise that just because a pregnancy hasn’t worked out, it doesn’t necessarily mean…

£20 PrettyLittleThing Add a touch of elegance like Anna, with an over-the-shoulder garment, but opt for a cape in warmer seasons. £32 River Island Give your outfit a fresh touch in a crisp white blouse, with wrap-over detail. £29 Hobbs Say ‘bonjour’ to your new favourite hat! Available in three colours – you’re spoilt for choice! £13.49 Shien Play with a pattern like tartan, by adding plaid trousers for extra style chic. £45 Accessorize Style meets functionality with this cross-body camera bag. £27.99 Deichmann These block-heeled boots add an eye-catching finishing touch.…

I watched Atlanta, which stars Donald Glover, last year – and that’s now one of my all-time favourites. I really respect that show. I also saw Russian Doll on Netflix, which was an absolutely crazy show, but it was great. Recently, I’ve been watching the comedy series Shrill . That’s all right – I actually thought the protagonist was really good, but at times I felt as though the show had unnecessary dialogue. Plus, I love anything that David Attenborough does. I’ll put his programmes on in the background and just listen. Depending on what’s out, I do like to see films at the cinema. I watched Queen & Slim the other day – that was cool. It looks really beautiful and they’re also telling an important story, so respect…

BULLSEYE! We’re totally enchanted by the Stillwaters retirement community in Corrie. Do places like this – with literary societies, fencing lessons, coffee lounges and constant background musak – really exist? All the residents are in evening wear, suits and high heels all day long, as if on a cruise to nowhere. It looks exhausting! And Ken can afford all this from the sale of a tatty terrace? Pull the other one! Oh dear, Emmerdale’s gone all gangstersin-portakabins, ‘dodgy motors’ and “Are you gonna sort this, or do we have a problem here?” We were very moved by Mitch trying to prepare Bailey for the racism she will face as she gets older. Tender and subtle work from EastEnders. Fiz refers to Evelyn as ‘Foghorn Leghorn’, which really does take some…

With our daily lives changing at a dizzying pace, the soaps are just as affected as the rest of us. As you’ve read, they’ve made the very sensible decision to slow down the number of episodes they screen per week, to give them leeway in their production. But fear not, as they film up to of a couple of months in advance, they have plenty of episodes in the bank to keep us entertained for a good while yet, and there will be soap on your telly every weekday as usual. As always, Inside Soap will keep you up to date, and we’re lining up a whole load of extra treats to keep us all satisfied during this period of ‘soap rationing’! As well as previewing all the plots, we’ll…

Luke 4 Aaron? Emmerdale’s Max Parker (Luke) has responded to fan speculation that his alter ego will cop off with Aaron! “Luke only has eyes for Victoria…” says the star. Gary’s ghosts The past will return to haunt Gary in Corrie, when Rick Neelan’s daughter Kelly comes back, and Gary meets her mum, Claire. Will they discover that he killed Rick? Back to black! Former Corrie actor Tristan Gemmill (who played Robert Preston) has washed his cobbles character right out of his hair – by swapping his silver-fox barnet for darker locks again. It suits you, sir!…

“My shrew of a daughter-in-law has outfoxed me – it looks like my goose has been cooked.” We know Emmerdale is a country soap by the way it can pack a farmyard of animals into every sentence. “Hey! I’ve got a good singing voice! My music teacher used to say that I could hit notes he didn’t even know existed.” Yes, Gemma can hit all the most melodious notes, such as H-sharp and K-flat. “You know, Brenda, you could try making your ‘large coffees’ actually large.” “Not without buying new cups I couldn’t. And if you really want a large one, why don’t you buy two?” We love Brenda’s approach to café ownership. ‘The customer is always slightly annoying’. “One minute I’m buying him his trainers, the next I’m choosing…

When viewers first met Kenneth Barlow, way back in 1960, he was a thrusting young radical; a dyed-in-the-wool socialist keen to get away from Weatherfield just as soon as he could, determined to change the world for the better. Well, it may have taken him 60 years, but Ken has finally made it out of Coronation Street. And while his partner Claudia may have sold Stillwaters retirement community to him as a pocket paradise, a place of lotus-eating indolence for the young-at-heart – Ken has instead found a corrupt dictatorship ripe for the smashing. After all, every paradise has its serpent… “Charles Moore, the preening ‘residents’ chair’ of Stillwaters is Ken’s new arch-enemy!” chuckles our Corrie source. “Ken’s also stewing over his granddaughter Amy’s recent dig, accusing him of giving…

Valerie learns that the Letherbridge Cat Rescue’s charity ball isn’t shifting tickets this week, and reaches out to colleagues to help save the day. After donating one of her late cat Geoffrey’s paintings to the ball’s auction, Valerie volunteers boss Bear to be her dance partner! But as she proceeds to ask Karen if her ‘friend’ Anton Du Beke might be interested in being the unlikely dancing duo’s choreographer, can the Strictly star be persuaded to help out?…

NEIGHBOURS ISLAND HORROR What a week for our Ramsay Street residents! The Neighbours anniversary brought us joy with five weddings, but terror too, as Finn took his revenge on our Erinsborough friends… Happy 35th birthday, Neighbours! They’ve really pulled it out the bag. I’ve been waiting for Finn to go bad ever since he moved in with the Kennedys, and these island episodes certainly didn’t disappoint. Eliza, Berkshire The darker side of Erinsborough has really brought out the brilliant acting abilities of the actors and actresses. Although I still believe Rob Mills is better when he’s pretending to be a 19-year-old than a psychopath! Lauren I absolutely loved the weddings that Neighbours put together. It was so romantic, and gave so much nostalgia. And not to forget all…

It’s been a whirlwind year for Emma, with the death of her dad and the revelation that Steve McDonald is her biological father. The turmoil in her family, particularly with mum Fiona, is one of the reasons that actress Alexandra believes that Emma has struggled to find love. “Finding true love is all Emma’s dreamed of – she’s a romantic,” she shares. “It may be because her parents’ relationship didn’t work out so well. She probably wants to do better herself, so that’s why everything has to be perfect!” Everyone wants Fiona Middleton, played by Angela Griffin, to return so that Emma and her mum can iron out their differences. Does Alexandra reckon that will help? “There will be unresolved tension unless they have it out,” she muses. “Now Emma…

New Emmerdale supervillain DI Mark Malone has only been in the show for a few weeks, but he’s already caused one heck of a stir. He’s proved to be a mastermind of pure evil – ordering bulls to be murdered, threatening families and wrecking lives. Heaven knows how far he’ll push things and what that’ll mean for Cain, Will and Billy, who are all caught up in his web. Thankfully, for Dales newcomer Mark Womack (Malone), the battles end the second the actors step off the set… “Jeff [Hordley who plays Cain] has really taken me under his wing – he’s been great!” enthuses the star. “When I arrived, he knocked on my door and handed me his phone number saying, ‘If there’s anything you need, just call me’. He’s…

Yes, we get a bit of input as far as what suits us, and what we have in mind for the character. They wanted Chloe to be bohemian – so the costume department combined what I had in mind. And then it’s evolved as she’s become business-minded. When you get a new dress you’re really excited, but then you have to wear it for two or three weeks constantly and get sick of it! Every week, we put your questions to a star of the soaps. Look out for requests on our Facebook page, or email your questions to youask@insidesoap.co.uk, putting the actor’s name in the subject line. Our favourite question each week will win a £20 prize!…

Patisserie de Bain Everything Roses Bath Melts x 3 This lovely gift set contains three handmade bath fancies: Rose, Sugar Rose, and Rose and Patchouli. Eau Thermale Avene Radiance Serum Enhanced with red-fruit extracts, and rich in unique, soothing Avene Thermal Spring Water, to help energise and illuminate skin. L’Oréal Paris Fine Flowers Cleansing Cream A rich and creamy cleansing balm, enriched with rose and jasmine, known for its soothing properties. E Coudray Jacinthe et Rose Eau de Toilette Spray This sparkling and light-hearted fragrance has the essence of a floral bouquet, with hyacinth, rose and sweet peach.…

CHEERLEADING IS SOMETHING that tends to feel a bit alien to us Brits: we don’t generally have a group of supporters waving pom-poms and doing backflips during breaks in our sports games. But we’re fascinated by what we’ve learned about the world of competitive cheerleading from this six-part documentary that follows the Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team from Corsicana, Texas. Their dedication and athleticism leaves us breathless – and it’s very intriguing to find out about how the competitors found their purpose via this uplifting (in every sense) sport……

ALL MIXED UP Comedian and 2019 Strictly Come Dancing star Chris Ramsey has been confirmed as the host for BBC1’s new talent show, Little Mix: The Search. He’ll help the group look for new star singers. WELCOME, MATT! Matt Lucas is to be Noel Fielding’s new co-host on The Great British Bake Off, taking over from Sandi Toksvig. “Bearing in mind my love of cake, I’ve already ordered much larger trousers in anticipation,” beams the comedian and actor. T TIME Ben Miller and Frances De La Tour are set to star in new crime drama for ITV, Professor T. Based on a hit Belgian series (shown here on More4), Ben will play Prof Jasper Tempest, an OCD criminologist, with Frances as his mum.…

CASUALTY Connie Beauchamp.......... Amanda Mealing Rosa Cadenas......................... Jacey Sallés Faith Cadogan...................... Kirsty Mitchell Charlie Fairhead.............. Derek Thompson Noel Garcia.......................... Tony Marshall Ethan Hardy.................... George Rainsford David Hide................................ Jason Durr Jan Jenning............................... Di Botcher Dylan Keogh........................... William Beck Fenisha Khatri....................... Olivia D’Lima Marty Kirkby................ Shaheen Jafargholi Jade Lovall.......................... Gabriella Leon Lev Malinowski........................... Uriel Emil Rash Masum........................... Neet Mohan Jacob Masters....................... Charles Venn Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson Will Noble................................. Jack Nolan Lavendar Spark...................... Sian Webber Ruby Spark................................ Maddy Hill CORONATION STREET Dev Alahan........................ Jimmi Harkishin Aggie Bailey......................... Lorna Laidlaw Eddison Bailey....... Trevor Michael Georges James Bailey..................... Nathan Graham Michael Bailey....................... Ryan Russell Adam Barlow...................... Sam Robertson Amy Barlow.......................... Elle Mulvaney Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Sarah Barlow........................... Tina O’Brien Simon Barlow.............................. Alex Bain Leanne Battersby................... Jane Danson Toyah Battersby....................…

DVD FROZEN II Snow Queen Elsa has an extraordinary gift – the power to create ice and snow. Despite living happily in Arendelle, Elsa is feeling unsettled. After a mysterious voice calls out to her, she travels to the enchanted forests and dark seas to discover who it is – however, Elsa’s adventure soon turns into a journey of selfdisovery. Frozen II is out on DVD on 30 March. win!  Text or write in* to win any book or DVD on this page (*see details at the bottom of the page) BOX-SET COLD FEET – SERIES 9 Adam and Karen are struggling with the chaos of their blended family, and it’s made worse by an unexpected visitor. Meanwhile, David is getting back on his feet and cancer treatment ends for…

Worried parents Steve and Leanne will face every mum and dad’s worst nightmare – after their son, Oliver, sparks huge concern during a family day out. Our sneaky snaps of the Corrie cast filming on location show the McDonald clan teaming up with Leanne, Nick and Simon for what should be a care-free trip to the park with the youngster. However, it’s not long before panicked Leanne is seen crouching down by Oliver’s pram and wiping away tears, as she tends to her boy… “Teenagers Simon and Amy take turns pushing Oliver along before his mum notices that something is up,” shares our Weatherfield spy. “Steve and Tracy appear to be having a barney a few metres away, while the rest of the group looks on as Leanne investigates. The…

“I’d like Corrie to keep debt-collector Sharon as a regular character. Who knows where she’ll end up? After all, Gemma was once an ‘extra’ at the Dog & Gun, and now she has quads with Chesney. Sharon might end up running the Rovers!” …suggests reader Emma “My wish is for Emmerdale’s Leyla and Dr Cavanagh to calm it the hell down! While I’m shut in my house, I don’t want to see that randy pair trying to have it off somewhere different every five minutes, thank you very much.” …rages reader Rich “I loved the scene in EastEnders with Denise and Sharon talking on the bench in the Square. We need to see more friendships like this – especially for Denise, who has got a bit cold and chippy over…

Mick and Linda Carter have been serving the pints behind the bar of the Vic for over six years, but are they set to leave the pub behind this week? It certainly seems the case, if current rumours appearing in the press are to be believed. Might it be the only way for Mick to help his alcoholic wife beat her battle with the booze and get her life back on track? “We’ve all seen Linda slide into alcoholism over the past few months,” our Walford mole reminds us. “And even though she swore blind she’d go cold turkey following her near-death experience in the Thames boat disaster in February, the reality is – it’s not that straightforward. Linda really does want to quit, but how can she do that…

Grieving Daniel may have temporarily quit Weatherfield, but he’s never far from his family’s thoughts. Having completely unravelled from the grief of losing Sinead – and then suffered a breakdown during his misguided relationship with Bethany – Daniel took baby Bertie away with him in search for some peace of mind. Sinead’s Aunt Beth joined him on the trip, however, so ‘peace’ is probably the last thing any of them have enjoyed! This week, uncharacteristically caring Tracy decides that it’s time she and Steve checked in with her brother in Scotland. The only question is: who will look after Amy while they are away, and walk Eccles the dog? Happily, Steve’s daughter Emma steps up to the plate, offering to mind the house, with assurances that everything will be fine.…

Wendy asks her close pal Bob to encourage Victoria and Luke to reunite this week – but Bob ends up receiving advice on his own love life from Mandy. With Luke and Victoria’s relationship in tatters after Victoria called time on their brief romance, Luke’s mother Wendy wants Bob to intervene. But later, when Bob bumps into Mandy in the village, she proceeds to counsel him on romancing Wendy – and advises Bob to tell Wendy how he feels about her. But can Mandy convince him to reveal his true feelings?…

FAIR CITY Will has a job interview this week, seeing Bronagh agree to put in a good word for him. But it’s not long before his past gets out. Meanwhile, Killo gets in trouble when he’s accused of stealing! And, Dean decides that it’s time for him to move on from Dearbhla… RIVER CITY Tyler ambushes Alex over the disappearance of Dave this week, but when Lenny senses something is wrong, Lou opens up… Elsewhere, Jessie McAllister arrives, looking for her dad, Alex! Plus, Bob is offered the chance to go on a quiz show. THE ARCHERS Shula and Kirsty want to do something positive for the village this week, and organise a special Easter fayre… Meanwhile, Ben bumps into a young lady from his past. Finally, the Aldridges have…

ON THE TOP I really loved Andrea Tate’s cherry pyjama-style shirt that she wore in Emmerdale this week. Do you know where I can get one from please, Alice? Gemma, Portsmouth This lovely shirt is from a website called Kitri Studio, but has now sold out. However, if you like the print, they have the same design in the Agatha Cherry PJ Trousers, and also for a Martina Cherry Jumpsuit. FRIENDLY FACE I was watching the new Channel 5 drama, Penance, and I recognised the young lad in it, who plays Jed. Was he in a soap before this? Jodie You are right, Jodie! Jed is played by a young man called Nico Mirallegro, who is an ex-Hollyoaks actor! He played Barry ‘Newt’ Newton, the adopted son of Jack…

“Felix doesn’t waste any time, let’s put it that way!” chuckles former EastEnders star Richard Blackwood, who joins Hollyoaks this week, as new bad boy Felix Westwood. “Even in my short time of being here, the stuff that I’ve filmed has been so exciting! It sounds clichéd when you tell people to tune in, because that’s what you’re supposed to say. However, I would say if you miss what happens with Felix, you’re going to be upset!” Felix makes his debut in the village this week – but we already know lots about him and his murky past! His ex, Martine, has warned their kids to stay away from him, and his old nemesis Warren is clearly still haunted by the torment Felix put him through years ago. Yet as…

Although he has an impressive CV – which includes roles in Liverpool 1, Blind Ambition and Heartbeat – Mark tells us that he still experiences fears about getting parts. “I’m happy to be working!” he shares. “If you look at my CV, there are periods where I’ve been out of work. When that happens, you always worry, ‘Oh God, will I ever work again?’” Given that both Mark and wife Sam are in the same business, it must be tough sometimes. But he admits that he did take a chance to have extended time off work to be with their children. “I took 2017 and 2018 off – that was when Sam was towards the end of her time on EastEnders,” says Mark. “The kids were still young, so it…

1 Jamie Borthwick was born on 23 June 1994 in Barking, London, to pub owners Simon and Sharon. His love of acting started when he attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School – which has produced stars such as EastEnders’ Perry Fenwick (Billy). “I took to drama while I was at Sylvia’s,” says Jamie. “But I never thought about where I was going – I thought if all else fails, I would become a painter.” 2 Prior to joining EastEnders, Jamie appeared in the BBC show Celebrate Oliver!, playing an orphan alongside Albert Square star Shane Richie (who played Alfie Moon). Jamie also had a role in an episode of Lee Mack’s sitcom Not Going Out. 3 Jamie arrived on Albert Square as Jay Brown in 2006. The son of Jase…

While soap stars may be facing a spell off work due to the coronavirus pandemic, Corrie’s Dolly-Rose Campbell (Gemma) isn’t putting her feet up. Instead, she’s been helping others. She joined Emmeline’s Pantry, a Manchester foodbank that helps women in need, to sort through food donations at this difficult time. What a star!…

“Stand-up comedians have been self-isolating from time immemorial – you spend a lot of time on your own!” When Inside TV calls up The Mash Report presenter Nish Kumar to find out how preparations are going for the new series, it’s not exactly business as usual. With many of us being advised to stay home, he and the team are wondering how they’re going to put the show together… “Realistically, the best-case scenario is that we do the show in a studio with no audience,” he predicts. “But we’re also exploring wilder possibilities – which include me filming myself on my phone!” Hopefully they’ll manage to find a way to get the show on the air, because with so much of the news looking quite bleak at the moment, we…

1936 – 2020 Much-loved comedian, writer and actor Roy Hudd – who died recently after a short illness – is best remembered by soap fans as Corrie’s warmhearted local undertaker, Archie Shuttleworth, but that was just one success among many for the star. Roy began his career as a Butlin’s redcoat, and in the music halls of the 1950s. He fronted his own TV sketch show The Illustrated Weekly Hudd in 1966, and soon his laugh-lined, gap-tooth clown’s face became associated with the top comic telly of the day. His radio series The News Huddlines ran from 1975 to 2001, and helped to launch the careers of a host of top comedy writers, such as David Renwick, creator of One Foot In The Grave. Alongside a glittering stage career, Roy…

EMMERDALE Blast from the past! MANDY’S SHOCKED TO COME FACE TO FACE WITH HER EX… There’s a huge surprise in store for Mandy next week, when she hitches a lift from a man she thinks is a stranger, but he turns out to be none other than her former partner, Paul – aka Vinny’s dad! He tells her that he’s in the village to make amends with his estranged son. But after he walked out on them all those years ago, will Mandy let her ex back into Vinny’s life? CORRIE Steve’s mistake Steve messes up worse than he’s ever messed up in his life next week! He leaves Summer to look after little Oliver, while he helps out Emma. But when disaster strikes, how will Summer cope? EASTENDERS Iqra’s…