Table of contents for 26 - 2022 in Inside Soap UK

Nicola struggles in the aftermath of being attacked this week, as she’s gripped by a terrible anxiety and becomes too scared to leave the house. When she hears an intruder outside her front door, Nicola’s convinced that her tormentors have tracked her down to the village – but as she violently lashes out, will an innocent bystander be the victim of her pent-up fear and rage? “Poor Nicola is confused and embarrassed after being attacked by a gang of teenage girls, and is not processing it very well,” reveals Nicola Wheeler, who plays her. “Initially, she sees home as her safe haven and isn’t keen on going out, which everyone assumes is because she’s recovering from her injuries, as she took quite a beating. Nicola is in shock, though pretending…

Maria’s not the only one who has environmental issues on her mind this week – Toyah leads a local protest against waste incineration, which ends with her hijacking a council bin wagon! Toyah launches the protest as a way to distract herself from her troubles, and soon she’s roped in Leanne, Mary, Brian, Asha and Nina to join the demonstration. It’s after the gang manage to successfully block the path of the council lorry that Toyah spots an opportunity to really make her point, so she leaps into the cab… But soon, another protester has jumped into the passenger seat beside her – and Toyah is stunned to see that it’s her ex-boyfriend, Spider Nugent! Given everything she’s been through recently, might a familiar face be exactly what Toyah needs…

Peter is pushed to breaking point by dastardly Dr Thorne this week, and launches a terrifying attack on his enemy with a golf club! The surgeon is being investigated for malpractice after rushing Peter’s life-saving liver transplant operation to win a bet with his mates. But the continued taunting of his disgruntled patient and his arrogant attitude come back to bite him, and the blokes’ bitter rivalry ends up descending into violence. “Thorne has offered Peter £1,000 to drop his vendetta against him, but Peter refuses to be paid off,” begins our Corrie spy. “The Barlows urge him to accept the cash and move on from this mess, yet he won’t rest until Thorne is punished for putting lives at risk. Peter refuses to give up!” Arranging to meet with…

Suki is determined to stop her daughter from moving to Canada this week – but as she tries to bribe her with a new car, can Ash be bought? With the Square’s new GP surgery about to open, Suki goes behind Ash’s back and meets surgery boss Nina, hoping to secure her daughter a position. Meanwhile, Ash is devastated when her job in Canada falls through, and agrees to apply for the local job – while secretly trying to raise some cash by selling the car her mum bought her! But Ash is furious to find out Suki has been through her emails, and knows the truth about the Canadian job… A furious argument breaks out as Suki demands that Ash gives back the car, before insisting that she can…

While Faith is struggling with her chemo, she also remains determined not to let it bring her down! So she’s horrified this week when Bear tells her that Chas has expressed some concerns about how much she’s drinking. We all know that Faith likes to have a good time, but Chas is worried that the booze coupled with her treatment is what’s making her mum so sick. Luckily for Faith, Bear proves where his loyalties lie when he agrees to buy alcohol for her and keep it on the down-low! Are these two naughty pensioners about to get themselves into all kinds of mischief?…

Rhona is fuming this week, after discovering Mary has booked a date for her wedding without telling her! Mary’s meddling is sparked as she declares she wants to see Rhona marry before she dies. But Rhona is far from pleased when Mary tells her to get a move on with the wedding plans. “Planning the ceremony isn’t number one on Rhona’s priority list,” our Emmerdale sneak tells us. “The wedding has understandably taken a backseat after Marlon’s stroke. And while he’s making progress, Marlon still isn’t well enough to organise or go through with such a big day…” Rhona tells Mary to stop pressing her about the wedding. But Mary doesn’t listen, and instead books a date for the special day! Rhona soon finds out what her mum has done,…

Dylan attempts to support David through his grief this week – but is there anything he can do to help his devastated friend? As the dust settles in the aftermath of last week’s school tragedy, David is struggling to make sense of Ollie’s actions. So when a group of angry parents turn up at David’s house, looking for justice for their children, David doesn’t fight back – instead, he encourages them to do their worst… Dylan is stunned when David is rushed into the hospital by paramedics, battered and bruised after receiving a proper beating. He does his best to patch up his pal – but the situation gets even more concerning when a video of the attack surfaces, and Dylan realises that David didn’t even try to fight back.…

Early life… Born on 9 October 1939, Kenneth Barlow was raised at 3 Coronation Street with younger brother David by parents Frank and Ida. He went to grammar school before winning a scholarship to university. His newfound outlook saw him clashing with his traditional dad. The next generation… Ken first became a dad in 1965, to twins Susan and Peter with wife Valerie. He adopted Deirdre’s daughter, Tracy, before fathering Daniel with Denise Osbourne in 1995. In 2010, Ken discovered he had a son, Lawrence, born in 1961 with girlfriend Susan Cunningham. Ken also has five grandkids. Just the job! Ken has had many careers over the years, most notably a teacher and editor of the local newspaper. He’s also been a café worker, trolley collector, and even a male…

Cast your minds back to June 1995: a family called the Kennedys arrived to take up residence at No 28 Ramsay Street. Parents Karl and Susan were joined by children Malcolm, Libby and Billy – but at the time, we had no idea that they would turn out to be one of the most iconic families in Neighbours history. While Karl’s affairs with Sarah Beaumont and Izzy Hoyland gave us some of the Aussie soap’s most memorable scenes, we’re glad that he and Susan are happily back together for Neighbours’ grand finale. Inside Soap has interviewed actors Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne many times over the years – and, as we sit down for a farewell chat with them, it’s clear that their real-life rapport is the secret behind their…

Death In Paradise star Ralf Little’s stint in the genealogy series this week is a far cry from his time spent filming in the sun-soaked Caribbean, as he heads to chillier climes as part of his ancestral investigations… “IT TURNS OUT I HAVE DEEP, HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS TO MANCHESTER…” “The producers basically said, ‘Pack some clothes and a passport’,” he tells us. “I’d just like to point out that some people on this show go, ‘Oh, we’re going to India, how fascinating!’ and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m going to Orkney – apparently it’s freezing!’” Ralf’s trip to the Scottish islands forms part of his fact-finding mission into his grandfather Arthur Bailey’s experience during WWII – which revealed that he was onboard the aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable during the Battle of…

We are back inside the Arconia – an exclusive apartment building in New York – where recently ostracised residents Charles, Oliver and Mabel attempt more murder-solving and podcast recording as season two kicks off… Who are you talking about? That would be Charles-Haden Savage, Oliver Putnam and Mabel Mora, who in season one discover a shared love of true-crime podcasts following a grisly death in the Arconia. Convinced it’s murder, the trio take matters into their own hands – and start recording their very own podcast, ‘Only Murders In The Building’, to document their investigation. Anyone good in it? Oh, yes. Steve Martin – also the show’s co-creator – is actor Charles, most famous for 90s detective drama ‘Brazzos’. Steve’s long-time comedy cohort Martin Short is Oliver, a flamboyant, struggling…

The grand opening of Peggy’s ends in bloodshed this week, after two armed men storm the place – and shots ring out Kat and Sharon are both in the building when the thugs arrive, along with Shirley, who’s there to sabotage their big night. However, as Sam rocks up and defiantly tries to take control, things get a whole lot worse… “We can reveal that someone gets shot, though we can’t tell you who!” teases our Walford insider. “The situation soon becomes very dangerous indeed, as the four women find themselves in a life-and-death situation. But can they put all their differences aside and work together to save the injured party? Or will someone end up paying with their life?” Sabotage! As the week gets under way, Kat and Sharon…

When Nicola prangs David’s car, the troubled bloke spies an easy opportunity to alleviate his financial worries by fleecing his friend. Following the crash, he fakes a neck injury and blames it on the crash, hoping the insurance company coughs up some cash so that he can ease his money woes. With bride-to-be Victoria making plans for a lavish wedding, her future husband continues to hide the extent of his money troubles as he worries how he’s going to afford the upcoming nuptials. Vic has no reason to think David is lying, but Brenda is suspicious he’s trying to pull a fast one, and makes him feel bad for adding to vulnerable Nicola’s stress. Then a conversation with Priya leads to Victoria finding out that her fiancé hasn’t been completely…

Misbah’s world comes crashing down this week, when she finds out that Ali’s rape trial has been thrown out of court. After finally admitting what her colleague did to her all those years ago, Misbah is hoping for justice as Ali stands trial. Yet after he walks free, she must face the prospect of seeing him every single day at work as he resumes his job at the hospital. But as Hollyoaks star Harvey Virdi tells us, Misbah won’t let vile Ali get the better of her… Hi, Harvey! Ali’s trial takes place this week – how does it go? “Misbah thinks she has to find a new job” We don’t actually see the trial, but Ali ends up getting off on a technicality. Well, for me it’s a technicality,…

Peter crosses paths with Daniel’s ex, Nicky, this week, and strikes up a sudden friendship. Could Corrie be sowing the seeds of a forbidden fling? Frustrated after Carla reprimands him for losing his rag with Thorne, Peter heads off for a shift at Streetcars and is called to the police station to pick up a passenger, who turns out to be Nicky. The former sex worker has been wrongly arrested and is full of contempt for how the authorities have treated her, which strikes a chord with Peter after his experience with Thorne. Peter has history of having his head turned by a younger model when the going gets tough with Carla. He cheated on her years ago with Tina McIntyre, setting off a chain of events that ended with…

Dean calls in a favour from the River Boys this week, after PK threatens his family! But how far will Dean go to show the thug who’s boss? Crook Peter ‘PK’ King has caused chaos in the Bay, and now Tane’s life is hanging in the balance after he was stabbed at Salt. Then later, Dean receives a photo of his son Jai, along with an ominous threat! Star Paddy O’Connor, who plays Dean, hints that his alter ego will do anything to keep his child safe… Hi, Paddy! First of all, what state is Tane in after the stabbing? He’s in bad shape, but to get help, they’re going to have to explain what’s happened, which will put Mackenzie in strife. At one point there’s even a blood transfusion…

The preparations for Fiz’s wedding descend into chaos this week – as Phill’s snobby mum Mimi causes fresh ructions at No 9! With the big day less than a week away, Fiz is a bag of nerves while she prepares for Mimi’s arrival on the cobbles. But things are set to get worse as Mimi invites herself to stay on Coronation Street, leaving Evelyn horrified about having to share a house with her… “Neither pensioner is shy about sharing their opinions, and therein lies the problem,” points out our Weatherfield insider. “Evelyn is used to being top dog in her own house, but then this snooty woman rocks up thinking that everyone’s going to wait on her hand and foot. Evelyn is really not impressed.” Fiz is already in a…

Laurel sets her sights on newcomer Kit this week – and as the two shamelessly flirt, it seems as if there could be love in the air… It’s been over a month since Laurel split with Jai after finding his supposed drug stash in Take A Vow. A bitter argument between the pair was the nail in the coffin, so surely it’s only right that Laurel looks for someone new? “Kit catches Laurel’s eye early on,” reveals our Emmerdale sneak. “He has all the attributes she looks for in a man, and the fact he’s helping Marlon on the road to recovery is a plus. Kit’s new in the village and that means there’s absolutely no history between him, Laurel, or anyone else for that matter – and Laurel needs…

Sean is shocked this week, as he learns that Frank was George’s school bully! Todd is determined to expose the spiteful scouser, and deliberately spills a drink on him hoping to provoke the fella into revealing the temper he used to inflict on George. That doesn’t work, but George later shudders to overhear Frank threatening somebody over the phone – and decides to tell Sean how his new squeeze tormented him throughout his teenage years. Confronted with his past sins, Frank insists to Sean he’s changed, but it falls on deaf ears – he’s dumped! How will Frank react to being exposed?…

We use the word ‘classic’ a lot on this page – it’s in big letters at the top – but this week reaches beyond mere classic and into the upper levels of iconic. And it’s just as explosive as you remember… To recap: Pat and Frank have reunited and plan to flee, but Pat’s got cold feet. Cowardly Frank has written Peggy a letter saying goodbye – hoping to be halfway up the M6 by the time she reads it. But now the letter is missing… In the Vic, cleaner Little Mo hands the note to Peggy, who pops it behind the bar as she serves thirsty customers. Pat offers to help out, hoping to intercept the letter. However, Peggy seizes the chance for a quick break – taking the…

NIC’S TERROR IN THE DALES… I know Emmerdale’s Nicola has been quiet for a while, so it was about time she was given a meaty story. But having her attacked by a group of teenagers was not one I would have guessed. I have a feeling this will stretch on for a long time – it’s bound to give Nicola PTSD. | Dave, Brighton CATHY SAYS ‘NO!’ Poor Brian might be a funny character in Corrie, but he really should have prepared more before proposing to Cathy. All ladies deserve to be swept off their feet with romance from time to time. I think Brian took their relationship for granted, really… | Lilian Time was up for Cathy and Brian – hopefully both of them will find happiness elsewhere. KIM’S…

“There was a day on set recently where I was hyperventilating from eight in the morning to about five in the afternoon!” reveals Emmerdale’s Nicola Wheeler, as she joins us for a chat about her hard-hitting new plot in which alter ego Nicola King is plagued by panic attacks. “That was quite tough, but it’s always great to get your teeth into a gritty story.” After she was beaten and humiliated by a group of vicious teenage girls on a night out, post-traumatic stress has taken hold of Nicola and her anxiety is through the roof. Haunted by memories of her ordeal, the villager is a shadow of her former vivacious self as she struggles to process what she’s been through. And it sounds as though things are going to…

Walford’s Zack found himself with tricky questions to answer after his night with Sam was revealed! Thankfully, star James has nothing to hide as he answers our reader queries… “Who was the first person you told when you landed your role on EastEnders?” “Did you prepare what to say to Prince Charles?” My agent called just as my mum and dad arrived at my house, and my wife Ali was also there. She could just tell by my face what the news was! Unfortunately the world wasn’t open at that point, so I couldn’t go out for a bottle of champagne. But I did eventually get a lovely bottle from my agent with ‘Albert Square’ written on it, which was cool. “Did you prepare what you were going to say…

This raw, relevant, and riveting six-part cyber thriller is written by the award-winning Peter Kosminsky, and boasts a top cast – including Simon Pegg, Adrian Lester, Kerry Godliman, Mark Rylance and Maisie Richardson-Sellers. Also starring is newcomer Hannah Khalique-Brown, as government security intern Saara Parvin – who finds herself fighting on the frontline of a high-stakes cyber war on her first day. “IT’S GRIPPING – I WAS SWEATING READING THE SCRIPT!” SIMON The clock is ticking as Saara and the team at Government Communications Headquarters – known as GCHQ – battle to stay one step ahead of their invisible and ruthless opponent, but can this unpredictable enemy be defeated? Inside TV joined Hannah and Simon (who plays GCHQ top dog Danny) at an exclusive screening event to find out more……

Cinema GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT This film focuses on the formative period in the late Grammy Award winner’s life and career, leading up to and following the making of his acclaimed bestselling album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Filmed before Michael’s untimely passing, the documentary is narrated by the singer, who was heavily involved in the making of the film that serves as his final work. BOOK ODD HOURS  by Ania Bas Meet Gosia: about to turn 30, she works shifts as a cashier in a budget supermarket. She spends her spare time trying to be an online poet, if only to avoid her prying flatmate. The one promising man in her life is a guy who appears to prefer her checkout to the others – or is it all…

Maria is left seriously scared for her family’s safety this week, after she’s targeted by vile online trolls! It all started when Maria launched her new recycling scheme, which came under fire from local refuse collectors who would be forced to work longer hours under the new initiative. After a rap video of her went viral, Maria was appalled – yet there’s far worse to come once a deep-fake porn clip of her leaks… “It’s awful – Maria is absolutely mortified,” reveals Samia Longchambon, who plays her. “She tries to hide the original rap video from her son, Liam, then she gets a call to say that he’s been in a fight with another boy at school. It’s not until she gets home that he tells her about the new…

We knew this moment was coming, but Inside Soap shed a little tear on the day that Neighbours wrapped filming for the final time. Behind-the-scenes pictures and videos from the last-ever day on set revealed emotional cast members calling “that’s a wrap” one last time, as the sun finally set on Ramsay Street for good. “It’s sad and tears were shed, but we’re also enormously proud,” says the show’s executive producer, Jason Herbison. “Neighbours is more than a TV show to many people. They see us as part of the family and we feel privileged to have been invited into their homes. I know the legacy of Neighbours will live on for many years.” Former Neighbours star Margot Robbie (Donna Freedman) sent 37 bottles of champagne to the set –…

Inside Soap called it months ago, but the simmering attraction between Eve and Suki finally bubbles over this week, as they share a steamy kiss! It’s after Suki opens up to Eve about her abusive husband that the women have a heart-to-heart, and it’s clear there’s a spark between the pair. However, as Eve leans in for a smooch, how is Suki going to react to her bold move? “This isn’t the first time that Suki has locked lips with a woman,” our Albert Square spy reminds us. “The last time was with Honey, and Suki was the one making all the moves. She was devastated when Honey rejected her, but might she be open to romance with someone who seems genuinely attracted to her?” “Eve realises the attraction between…

Chas and Al prepare for another lusty liaison this week – but after Faith collapses, guilty Chas calls off her secret fling! Although Al is a sworn enemy of the Dingles, and someone who has caused Chas untold misery for months, the pair found themselves embroiled in a shock snogathon last week. But far from regretting cheating on her lovely hubby Paddy, Chas suggests that she and Al book a hotel room to take things to the next level… “There’s no denying there’s always been a spark between Chas and Al, even if she didn’t want to admit it!” points out our Dales spy. “There’s a fine line between love and hate, and it’s a line that Chas and Al have well and truly crossed. But now that they’ve given…

Rainie’s offered a lifeline this week, after Bernie agrees to give Roland back to her – but only if she gives her hubby the elbow! In the aftermath of Stuart handing the baby over to Bernie, Rainie is at rock bottom. So when Bernie attempts to broker a deal about Roland’s future, Rainie is delighted – until she realises that future won’t involve Stuart… “Bernie agrees that Rainie can still officially adopt Roland, but only if she leaves Stuart!” gasps our Albert Square insider. “Bernie’s very worried for Roland’s welfare, given that Stuart has been honest about the fact that he doesn’t love him. All Bernie wants is for the little boy to have the best parents possible – and while she doesn’t doubt Rainie’s love for him, she now…

Maxine clashes with Serena this week, and their sibling rivalry leads to a shocking accident! Worried she won’t be able to afford Minnie’s childcare, skint Maxine turns to dad Dave, who offers to lend her some loot by dipping into the money the family was saving for Serena’s sporting future. Serena smarts at her father’s financial decision, so Maxine ropes in Lizzie and suggests a night out to smooth relations between the bickering sisters. However, the evening ends with a drunken incident that leaves Serena in danger……

Amy is looking for love this week, and literally falls at the feet of a handsome stranger – could he be the man of her dreams? The path of love has never run smooth for Amy, and her last boyfriend Ned cheated with one of the neighbours! So with encouragement from daughter Zara, Amy organises herself a date in an attempt to find a new love connection. But poor Amy’s disappointed to realise that after waiting for ages, she’s been stood up… However, all hope is not lost as Amy then has a spectacular meet-cute with good-looking Barry. He sweeps Amy off her feet – though just as she starts to consider that Barry could be boyfriend material, she discovers he’s married. Despite her bad luck, Amy feels more optimistic…

One of Corrie’s fieriest love stories kicks off this week, as Steve and Karen share a moment. Elieen’s housewarming party to celebrate her moving into No 11 gives Steve the perfect chance for a bit of banter with Karen. The only problem is that Karen is currently dating Steve’s best mate, Vikram. This could all end up very messy! (Looking back, though, if a spat with a pal was the only mess Karen was going to get him into, Steve would probably count himself lucky.) Talking of trouble brewing, smitten Deirdre accidentally lets slip to Dev about the existence of Adam, which puts Dev in a difficult position when he and Geena pop round to Mike’s trendy flat for dinner. As the drink flows, Dev starts to feel sorry for…

The senseless assault has had a huge impact on Nicola’s mental health, and part of her post-traumatic troubles is the knowledge her tormentors are still at large. But Nicola hints her character may be prepared to go to great lengths to track them down and draw a line under all this… “Like any victim, she wants justice,” she says. “Nicola didn’t deserve what happened to her. She has a lot of healing to do, not just physically, but once she’s got her strength back Nicola will want to find these girls. Then she herself can go on the attack…”…

The final episode of Neighbours has been filmed, though we have a feeling there may still be a few surprise reunions thrown in that we’re yet to hear about! And Alan and Jackie have Lauren guilt- their own ideas about who staying they would have liked to see in the final episode of the soap… “I’ve always loved Joe Mangel, so I was very happy to see him back,” grins Alan. “But just the whole pack of Kennedys would have been fantastic.” “I would have loved a little visit from Lyn Scully, because it’s nice when Susan has some female friends,” chips in Jackie. “There was a period where it was Susan, Lyn, and Liljana Bishop, and we had some really terrific, girls-on-the-town storylines that were just so much fun.”…

We’ll not miss a moment of this year’s 135th Wimbledon Championships, as the BBC serves up all the action across the tennis tournament’s fabulous fortnight. Sue Barker is our legendary host for one final time, having announced she’ll be stepping down after three glorious decades. Sue is joined again by Clare Balding and a host of former Wimbledon champions, including John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert – and with former British number one Andrew Castle back to ace it in the commentary box, Inside TV ‘court’ him to share what the deuce is happening… Hello, Andrew! How much do you look forward to Wimbledon each year? It’s the number one tennis tournament in the world, and it’s on my doorstep. So, to have been able to contribute both as…

After a three-year wait, Glastonbury is back! And BBC Radio DJs Lauren Laverne, Jack Saunders, Jo Whiley and Clara Amfo will be bringing us coverage live from Worthy Farm. BBC1 is set to broadcast a Saturday-night headliner for the very first time in Sir Paul McCartney, and on Sunday, the channel will also air Motown legend Diana Ross’ performance in the illustrious ‘teatime slot’ on the Pyramid Stage. But with such a vast array of artists on the bill, who is Jack keen to see? “Obviously there are some phenomenal headliners, but I’m really excited about seeing punk band Turnstile,” he cheers. “They’re fresh, exciting and thrilling.” And on Friday, BBC2 will show a round-up of the very best of Glastonbury 2022 in a highlights special, once weary festival-goers are…