Inside Soap UK 43 - 2022

Last time, I pondered what outlandish method of extermination Emmerdale might bring to bear upon the village of the damned during ‘Storm Week’. Even so, nothing could prepare me for the fate of poor The Reverend PC Harriet Finch, of blessed memory. In the space of about 10 minutes of screen time, she was crashed, crushed, struck by actual lightning and then exploded. It was such a comprehensive execution, one wonders if a stalwart of the Emmerdale story office was once badly dumped by someone called Harriet. Or maybe that lightning is the clue: a genuine heavenly thunderbolt! Is it retribution for all those times our randy Rev was defrocked in the vestry? Or for when she double-decked Malone’s corpse with an innocent parishoner, as if in some graveyard bunkbed.…

Lola’s life is turned upside down this week when she collapses, and doctors break the terrible news that they’ve found a tumour on her brain. Her nightmare unfolds as the young mum gets her daughter Lexi ready for her first beauty pageant, but begins to feel poorly. With all the excitement about the pageant, Lola thinks it’s just stress making her dizzy, and she heads to the bathroom for a quiet moment. But when she’s alone, Lola collapses on the floor. “They are just getting ready for Lexi’s pageant, and Lola starts to feel unwell, so she takes herself off to the toilet,” explains Danielle Harold, who plays her. “But as she begins to wash her hands, her vision blurs and then she collapses and has a seizure.” Ben and…

EastEnders has confirmed that it’ll be working with two major brain tumour charities to tell Lola’s story. They want to ensure the experiences of young people with Lola’s form of brain cancer are faithfully and realistically captured in this plot. “We are extremely grateful to EastEnders for helping to raise awareness of brain tumours,” says Sue Castle-Smith, head of PR and communications at Brain Tumour Research. “Sadly, Lola’s story is all too familiar to thousands of families. Brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age, they kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.” Meanwhile, Dany Bell, strategic advisor for treatment at Macmillan Cancer Support, said the charity hopes the story can help viewers recognise brain cancer symptoms early on. “Storylines…

It finally dawns on Paddy this week that Chas could be hiding something – but will all the pieces fall into place for him to uncover her secret affair with Al? With Aaron still seething over his mother’s betrayal and threatening to reveal all, Chas is pushing hard for her son to leave the village. However, after Aaron does indeed decide to make tracks, Paddy’s suspicions grow when Chas appears less heartbroken than she ought to be… And star Lucy Pargeter (Chas) – who joins us with screen lover Michael Wildman (Al) – is bereft at the thought of Paddy finding out! Hi both! So, it looks as if poor Paddy is on course to get the shock of his life… Lucy I know, and I hate what Chas is…

As Emmerdale celebrated its 50th anniversary, actress Lucy marked two decades with the show – and she didn’t even realise it! “I knew I’d been there for 20 years, but I had no idea that it coincided with the date for the show’s birthday,” explains the star, who made her village debut on 16 October 2002 – in an episode coincidentally screening on Classic Emmerdale this week (see p34). “It’s an utterly bizarre crossing of dimensions – I’ve been getting away with this for a long time, babe!”…

Desperate Stephen finally breathes a sigh of relief this week, as he prepares to pull off his plan and flee to Canada. But just as he’s about to escape the living nightmare he’s been trapped in since killing Leo, disaster strikes once again. Painted into a corner, and with his wife Gabrielle growing tired of her desperate hubby’s excuses, how far will Stephen go to make his escape? “Just as Stephen manages to put out one fire in his life, another just seems to ignite!” laughs our Corrie insider. “The week begins as Stephen spots Jenny with Leo’s dad, Teddy. The pair are talking about how they can track down Leo, who they think has fled to Canada. Desperate to put them off the scent, Stephen sneakily takes a pic…