Inside Soap UK 39 - 2021

“Look out for a homicidal nurse in a canoe” Hear ye, hear ye… With the power vested in me by the ancient spirits of Elsie Tanner, Annie Sugden and Ethel’s Little Willy, I hereby declare a new national holiday. Yes, I name Super Soap Week – and we are determined to make that a thing – to be from Monday 18 to Friday 22 October. It will be a time for partying in the streets and exchanging coy looks with that neighbour you secretly fancy, before rushing home to enjoy insane stunt-based disaster in the ITV soaps (and Issue 39 25 Sept – 1 Oct 2021 I’ll bet EastEnders has something up its jumper). For the latest news, turn to p12. But remember, while out celebrating, that this is the…

Scheming Janine spots the perfect opportunity to put herself right back at the heart of Walford this week – by bagging herself a job behind the bar at the Queen Vic! Janine has a long history with Albert Square’s iconic boozer, having previously helped Archie Mitchell to snatch it away from Peggy, and then later tried to buy it herself. So, when she sees a chance to plant her feet back behind the bar, Janine seizes it with both hands… “This is the pub that Janine’s dad Frank once owned, so she sees it as her rightful domain,” points out our Square spy. “She’s always fancied herself as the landlady there, right at the centre of everything, yet somehow Janine has never quite managed to make the pub her own.…

If you’re wondering why Mick and Linda aren’t around to keep their beady eyes on Janine, it’s because star Kellie Bright – who plays Linda – is currently on maternity leave. The actress and her husband, Paul Stocker, revealed their baby news to OK! Magazine, saying, “We’re thrilled to announce the safe arrival of the latest addition to our family. Mum and baby are doing well.” The couple already have two sons – Freddy, nine, and four-year-old Gene – but there was no news at the time of going to press on whether the boys have a little brother or a little sister. Meanwhile, after welcoming baby Annie to their family, Mick and Linda have been keen to keep her true paternity a secret – so expect them to be…

Imran’s secret liaison with ex-wife Sabeen comes back to haunt him this week – after she uses it to bribe him! The court rivals slipped off in a cab together after tough Sabeen managed to secure a ‘not guilty’ verdict for killer Corey, while Imran’s client and foster daughter, Kelly, was sent down for the murder of Seb Franklin. “Sabeen is ruthless to use Imran’s lies as leverage over him…” Imran was the picture of a broken man following the jury’s decision, prompting Sabeen to offer him a set of keys to her house before luring Imran away for the night. However, did he really go so far as to cheat on Toyah with Sabeen? And will Imran be forced to comply with her demands to keep the truth from…

How does Toyah feel when she realises Imran is lying to her? It’s horrible – I really feel for her because she’s almost being made to feel as though she’s going a bit crazy. It will turn out that there are things he’s lied to her about that night, so she is justified in feeling like this, but at the time she’s made to feel as if she’s the one going mad. What does Toyah think of Sabeen? I think it’s fair to say that Toyah has been wary ever since Sabeen came back on the scene. That’s not because she doesn’t trust Imran, she just doesn’t trust Sabeen! Toyah doesn’t want this woman around, yet it seems as if she’s popping up more and more. Toyah and Imran have…

Paddy’s involvement in horse doping comes back to bite him this week, as Kim threatens to expose his dirty deeds – then Al tries to blackmail him! Vet Paddy was forced to resort to extreme measures to stop nemesis Al from buying into the Woolpack last week, and agreed to dope Kim’s racehorse in return for a large amount of money. Now the police are sniffing around, and Kim is more than willing to drop Paddy in it if it means saving her own skin… “Paddy gives a booster to Kim’s horse in the hope that there’s no random testing, but it backfires!” gasps Dominic Brunt, who plays him. “Though he’s desperate for the money, he doesn’t want to do it. The major problem is that he’s intimidated by Kim,…