Inside Soap UK 8 - 2022

“It can fill Wembley 17 times over every day” Soaps have passed away before, of course. Eldorado was taken to the woodshed. Family Affairs used to have its own column on our ‘What Happens When?’ page. Old shows die, new ones rise. To everything, its time. So why does the cancellation of Neighbours feel so wrong? It’s not just that it’s still watched by enough people to fill Wembley Stadium 17 times over – more than a touring megastar can manage – every day. It’s not merely the nostalgic warmth at remembering Mrs Mangel’s portrait or Harold lost at sea. No, the real kicker is that Neighbours is currently in the best shape it’s ever been: thanks in no small part to its producer, and former Inside Soap writer, Jason…

The shocking truth about Abi’s infidelity comes spilling out in nightmare fashion this week, as Kev overhears a damning conversation. “It’s a horrendous way for Kev to find out” Emotions are running high when Abi makes the big mistake of confessing what she did to horrified Sally. She might be Abi’s best mate, but Sal is also close to her ex-husband Kevin and is conflicted about whether to tell him. But the moral conundrum is taken out of her hands once Abi calls Sally to talk it over – then discovers that Kevin has heard every word! “Abi’s phone is connected to the Bluetooth speaker in the Webster campervan, and her conversation is being broadcast!” reveals our Corrie insider. “While Abi and Sally are talking frankly, Kevin is hearing his…

No matter how hard she tries to do the right thing, poor Abi just keeps getting it all wrong! And actress Sally Carman, who plays her, tells us that she wouldn’t want it any other way… “She’s a law unto herself – she can’t help but mess things up!” chuckles the star. “She just needs to take a breath and count to 10, yet she can only count to three – and then it’s too late, she’s in trouble. You know what, though? I’m all right with that! “I really don’t want her to be happy,” adds Sally. “I like that there are moments of it, and I like the fact that her intentions are always coming from a good place, deep down. But the scrapes she gets herself into…

The twisted mind games between serial killer Gray and his former love rival Kheerat reach a chilling climax this week – and one of the men is left fighting for his life! Kheerat still believes he can get Gray to admit to murdering Chantelle, so when he receives a desperate call from his so-called mate, he rushes off to meet him. However, soon the situation has spiralled well out of control – and a life is left hanging in the balance… “This is definitely a showdown worth watching!” teases EastEnders actor Jaz Singh Deol, who plays Kheerat. “What I can say is it’s one of the best pieces of writing I’ve encountered so far during my time on the Square, and it was the perfect storm of actors, writing and…

Kheerat might not be the only problem Gray has to deal with this week, as it’s surely only a matter of time before Tina’s body is uncovered… Viewers know that her corpse is rotting under the floorboards of the Argee Bhajee – and the abandoned restaurant is the place that young Tommy Moon runs into this week while trying to escape from some bullies (see p20 for more)! The lad is being picked on at school, and the yobs target him and Lily. She quickly runs off to find Phil, while Tommy flees into the Argee Bharjee to avoid a beating from the boys… So what might the youngster find while he’s hiding out in there? And if Tommy does discover the dead body, how long will it be before…

As Inside Soap hits the shelves this week, Emmerdale viewers will have just watched psycho Meena abduct Billy and Dawn on their wedding day. What happens next will surely go down in history as some of the most nail-biting drama to ever rock the village – and none of that would be possible without the soap’s woman of the moment, Paige Sandhu, who plays Meena. Here, the actress reflects on her character’s most sensational plot to date – and teases whether this really is the last we’ve seen of Meena… Hi, Paige! What did you think when you read the climax to Meena’s killing spree? I thought that it was really good! Meena’s return to the village is so intense, and I loved playing it. What reaction did you get…