Inside Soap UK 45 - 2016

I’ve never got over the death of Deirdre or the tragic untimely demise of Anne Kirkbride, who played her. Since then, the Barlows have been rather in the background of the action, and while Tracy has still got up to her terrible deeds, we haven’t been getting the family scenes at No 1 that have been such a backbone of Corrie for so many years. This week, I’m delighted that hot on the heels of Peter’s return, there’s the arrival of two new Barlows. Okay, I know that technically one’s an Osbourne, but he does have Ken’s blood coursing through his veins, so he’s a Barlow by any other name! Adam and Daniel look like just what the clan needs, and the Barlow house seems set to be a buzzing…

Here s your first look at the all-new Barlow dynasty – as Coronation Street breathes fresh life into the soap’s original family. The ranks of Ken’s brood were boosted by the recent return of errant son Peter. But this week, Ken’s rabble-rousing grandson Adam roars back into Weatherfield, too – and the clan are further surprised by the sudden reappearance of Ken’s estranged son Daniel, who has been secretly visiting his dad in hospital. Throw wicked Tracy into this new mix and you have the perfect recipe for drama. So watch out Weatherfield, the Barlows are ready to take over the Street! It’s something Corrie producer Kate Oates is looking forward to… “I’m super-excited!” she grins. “The reason I wanted to bring the Barlow boys back…

“ADAM IS A WOMANISER - IT’S IN MY CONTRACT!” It’s fair to say that the last time we saw him, Adam Barlow’s most memorable contribution to Weatherfield was his Liam Gallagheresque barnet. However, as the son of Mike Baldwin and Ken’s daughter Susan, there’s great potential for this young buck, which is why Corrie has decided to bring him, and actor Sam Robertson, back… Tell us about Adam’s first scene back, Sam. He arrives in a burgundy Jag, rolls up to the spot where his dad Mike died and lights up a cigar, as you do when you are a flash 28-year-old! Then he goes into Underworld, and gets comfy in the office till he’s rudely interrupted by the Connors. There’s a little face-off between them,…

“THERE’SA CHANCE THAT ROBERT MAYHAVE LEFT HIMSELF EXPOSED…” Robert’s carefully laid plans look set to be blown apart by Diane this week, as she storms over to Home Farm for a gun-toting showdown with arch-nemesis Chrissie! During the heated exchange, Diane manages to extract a confession from shell-shocked lady of the manor Chrissie – and it begins to look as though Robert’s scheme to ruin the White family has a determined new boss… “Diane is on the warpath – she’s very upset!” admits Ryan Hawley, who plays Robert. “The reason Robert hasn’t been as upfront with Diane as he should have been is that she’s too honest – she’d be straight in to say something. Robert and Aaron have been trying to expose the Whites sneakily and stealthily, so didn’t…

Whether or not Chrissie ends up banged to rights, Ryan reckons Rebecca’s drive to seduce Robert remains a threat to his relationship with Aaron… “Robert and Aaron are very happy to have avoided death in the car crash, and are trying to put their lives back on track,” insists the actor. “They’re engaged – but Rebecca still wants Robert. The fact she’s hanging around the village is going to irritate Aaron, and it would be very easy for him to misinterpret what’s going on between Rebecca and Robert. “As to whether Robert can remain faithful, though, I’d rather not comment,” adds Ryan. “I don’t want to make the audience believe just one thing!”…

“POOR LEE SPENDS HIS BIRTHDAY MORNING TRYING TO WORK OUT A WAYFORWARD” Desperate Lee continues deceiving bride Whitney this week, as she pushes him to snap up their dream flat. Whit has been on a mission to get them their own home in Stratford, away from interfering mother-in-law Linda. So she’s excited after going to view the perfect place, and is hoping a deposit will secure it. What Whitney doesn’t know is that Lee hasn’t got the readies to make her dreams a reality – but is he about to take a foolish step to please his wife? “What is desperately sad is that Whitney loves Lee and would understand if he told her the truth,” says our EastEnders source. “But Lee’s pride is stopping him from coming clean. He’s…