Inside Soap UK 9 - 2017

“Emmerdale is the king of the slow burner...” Although I love a shock affair, big explosion or dirty catfight (and that’s only on a Saturday night!), my favourite soap storylines of all are often the really slow burners. Those ones that subtly progress for months on end, without big peaks or sensational scenes, then one day you suddenly realise you’re completely addicted to the characters’ situation more than any other in soap. Emmerdale is the king of this at the moment, with Ashley’s heartbreaking descent into dementia, as his family and friends slowly lose him, even though he’s still there – and the creepy tale of Rhona and Pierce, which we can’t look away from no matter how uncomfortable the scenes may be. We have some sneak peeks of where…

“Adam foolishly thinks that money will solve all his problems” There are awful consequences for Adam this week, after he crosses dangerous drug dealer Ronan. Having plotted to sell the cocaine that Rosie unwittingly smuggled from the US, Adam suffers a crisis of conscience – just as Ronan learns Adam has been sleeping with his girlfriend Trina, and targets the Barlows in a ruthless bid for revenge… “Adam is desperate for cash,” admits Sam Robertson, who plays him. “Whether that means getting it from a drug dealer or his grandad, or whoever it may be, he’ll find a way! Adam is ruthless, but I think ultimately he’s just a bit lost. He foolishly thinks money will solve all his problems.” GRAVE CONCERN Despite his determination to make a profit, Adam…

While Adam may have reached a bad decision this week, his Uncle Daniel is desperately trying to make the right choice. However, as he begins to get things straight in his head regarding Sinead’s unplanned pregnancy, Daniel gets a shock that changes everything when he’s offered a place at Oxford University. Will he choose a quiet backstreet life with a baby, or follow his dream of becoming an academic? “Poor Daniel – he’s never even considered being a father,” shares our informant. “He has a chat with Peter, who has no real idea of what’s going on, but tells Daniel that he wishes he’d put his family first over the years. It’s an emotional moment because it makes Daniel realise what he’s giving up if they end Sinead’s pregnancy. Rana…

“Shirley doesn’t trustWhit – and she makes no bones about it!” Angry Shirley spots the concerning closeness between son Mick and his daughter-in-law Whitney this week – so she warns Whit to back off from her boy. Following the breakdown of Whitney’s marriage to Lee, and with Mick struggling to cope while wife Linda is away with her mum, the duo are getting dangerously tight. Shirley is well aware that Whitney once made a pass at Mick, and she has no intention of letting his life crisis lead him to making a huge mistake. So when she gets an opportunity to collar Whitney, Shirley takes it. MANIPULATIVE MOVE? “Shirley isn’t well known for her tact and diplomacy,” laughs our EastEnders spy. “Whitney seems completely obsessed with Mick, and is doing…

Confused Sylvie has a moment of clarity this week – when she stuns Tina with a revelation about the Carter clan’s past. Tina feels overwhelmed by the demands of looking after her mother, who is suffering from dementia. She has taken on a lot by becoming Sylvie’s primary carer, especially as the rest of the Carters aren’t doing much to support her. However, there’s more cause for Tina to feel angry when Sylvie takes her on a trip down memory lane. She and Shirley are with their mum as Sylvie starts remembering something that happened to her years ago. And while her words leave Tina shocked to the core, Shirley isn’t buying it. Not only is Shirley certain Sylvie can’t be trusted, but she also thinks their mum deserves everything…

We suggest stocking up on as many tissues as the shops will sell you, as Emmerdale prepares to air Ashley’s devastating exit. Tragedy will rock the Dales later this year as the village favourite loses his battle with dementia and passes away… “I’ve just signed off on the final version of the episode in which Ashley dies, and it’s unbelievably beautiful,” reveals the show’s producer, Iain MacLeod. “It’s oddly joyous, actually – a celebration of the character. “We didn’t want to do a story where Ashley just absconded from a care home and was discovered dead from hypothermia or something, as that would be too bleak,” he continues. “In a story that is already desperately sad, we wanted to make this the best possible death. It’s…