Inside Soap UK 40 - 2022

One of my favourite moments in soap – and it comes when you least expect it – is when a character you’ve long reviled, hissed and tutted about suddenly catches light, and flips in an instant from zero to hero; from profound irritant to life-and-soul of the show. It happened for me this week with Corrie’s Stephen Reid, and he didn’t even have to toss Lusty Leo into a bin to achieve it. (That was a bonus – poor Leo was never going to go down as an iconic Corrie creation). “He didn’t even have to toss Leo into a bin” Instead, it was watching Stephen struggle to weave an ever-more tangled web of lies for the Platt family, who are always that bit more canny than Stephen expects. Even…

First with the week’s HOTTEST headlines Aaron Dingle makes a surprise return to Emmerdale this week – just in time to save sister Liv! A nightmare unfolds in Mill Cottage when vicious Terry arrives to strongarm Liv into retracting her statement against Sandra, and violence ensues. Liv tries to fight off her mum’s boyfriend, but he throws her down and she hits her head, leaving her unconscious. But just as Terry tries to flee, Aaron arrives and knocks him out… “Aaron walks in to see a stranger in his house, and deals with it by punching him!” explains Danny Miller, who plays the returning favourite. “Just as that happens, Harriet turns up and has no choice but to arrest Aaron. She comes to arrest Terry, but ends up arresting them…

Hi Isobel! How much has Liv missed Aaron? Aaron leaving was a massive hole in her life, and she’s had to work hard to get over that. To let him back in would require a lot of forgiveness and understanding of why he left. I don’t think she got the answers she wanted. Is Vinny right to turn Aaron away at the hospital? Vinny knows how broken Liv is, and he’s the person who’s seen her go through this. Rightfully, he should be putting his foot down, but it’s a complex issue. In the end, it’s Liv’s call, and if she wants to forgive Aaron, she will. I think it might take a bit of time, though. Have you enjoyed having Danny back in Emmerdale? It’s been really nice to…

Secrets and lies bring chaos to Phil’s door this week – leading to scenes of utter carnage at Peggy’s nightclub! All the double-crossing, bitching and backstabbing from the past few months comes to a head as Phil finally learns that his sneaky sister, Sam, is plotting to seize control of the Mitchell empire. However, Sam is the least of Phil’s worries once vengeful Shirley stumbles across his meetings with DCI Keeble – and secures evidence that could ruin Phil forever… “These revelations light the fuse for what promises to be an explosive week of drama in Walford,” explains our Square spy. “By the end of it, Peggy’s is under siege – and not everyone stands to make it out in one piece…” Dirty dealings Disaster strikes as Phil struggles with…

Jay declares that Lola is the love of his life this week – but the pair face being torn apart after she’s caught up in the raid at Peggy’s! The former couple look set to be rocked by a tragic twist as Lola finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. But will the Walford Gods really be so cruel as to deny her and Jay their happy ending? “A reunion for Lola and Jay is long overdue, so of course it won’t be plain-sailing – this is Albert Square, after all!” says our EastEnders source. “Finding their way back to one another was written in the stars, but fate could be about to deal them a terrible blow…” Jay and Lola have grown close again in recent…

As the stars align for Jay and Lola, it’s no secret that star Danielle Harold is poised to bow out of EastEnders. News broke of her Square exit a few weeks back, with a tabloid newspaper reporting that poor Lola is destined to die. “Bosses are staying tight-lipped on how Lola will leave, but it’s not looking good, considering that she’s caught in the crossfire at the club this week,” points out our spy. “Either way, Jay looks set to be with her until the end…”…