Inside Soap UK 45 - 2019

“We had an audience with a legend this week!” The title ‘legend’ is bandied about far too often these days. As far as I can tell, you can become a ‘legend’ for just doing a mate some boring favour, or downing 10 pints of lager without sicking up! So, I’m very proud this week that Inside Soap had an audience with a true legend – and I mean that in the non pint-sinking sense, although I’m sure he could if we asked him! It was an honour to meet up with Ray Meagher, aka Home and Away’s Alf, someone we’ve all watched on our screens for over 30 years. We don’t often get star-struck on Inside Soap, but we did a bit with Ray. Elsewhere this week, there’s drama for…

Michelle is a woman on a mission this week, as she finally pieces together the truth about Robert’s secret double life – and confronts pregnant Vicky! Robert’s two worlds collide when he’s driving home from Vicky’s house and a phone call from Michelle distracts him – causing him to crash his car. As the accident is pretty serious, the police contact Michelle, who rushes straight to Robert’s bedside – where his tangled web of lies begins to slowly unravel… “When Michelle hears that Robert has been taken to Macclesfield Hospital, she’s really confused,” explains actress Kym Marsh, who plays his bewildered fiancée. “She can’t understand why he’s even in that area, since Robert is supposed to be 40 miles away on a work errand. Why has he lied? The seeds…

Corrie viewers have been flabbergasted by Robert’s behaviour. And while actor Tristan Gemmill has jovially responded to some of the flack his alter ego has had on social media, Kym is also amused by the reactions her character has received… “I get people warning me about Robert’s affair all the time,” grins the star. “I posted a picture of a few of us cast out for dinner recently, and someone commented [about Tristan], ‘That bloke behind you is cheating on you!’ “Everyone is always saying, ‘Get rid of Robert!’ – and there has been a lot of support for Michelle,” adds Kym. “I hope that continues in the future!”…

As if Michelle didn’t have enough on her plate this week, sleazebag Ray is causing her yet more grief. After ’Chelle warns Alya to be careful working for the business mogul – alerting her to the fact that Ray has form when it comes to acting inappropriately with his female colleagues – feisty Alya is quick to challenge him. However, it’s Michelle who finishes up on the receiving end of Ray’s backlash when he turns up at the Bistro and hands her a letter, accusing her of defamation and breach of contract… “Michelle had previously threatened Ray that she would tell everyone what he’s really like, so this is the tipping point for him,” explains Kym. “I get the impression that Ray must have done this a few times before,…

Cheating Sharon races to the airport to meet Phil this week – with Mel hot on her heels and determined to expose her baby secret. But will their high-speed chase end in tragedy? “Never underestimate Sharon Mitchell!” As she ramps up her revenge against the Mitchells, manipulative Mel throws a surprise party for mums-to-be Sharon and Louise at E20. It’s a deliberate move designed to bring everyone together, so Mel has the biggest possible audience for her bombshell announcement. However, is an even bigger storm set to hit? “Phil has lingered in Portugal on business – but when he hears from Mel that Sharon has sold her share of E20 to Ruby, he jumps on the next plane home,” reveals our Walford insider. “Little does he realise that Sharon is…

Mel’s plan to embarrass Sharon in front of all her friends brings back memories of another famous Walford revelation – falling as it does almost exactly 25 years after the infamous ‘Sharongate’ scandal. It’s remembered as one of the greatest soap moments of all time, and we can’t help but feel that EastEnders is planning to top it with Sharongate II. It might happen this week at the end of the airport dash, although, as we know this story will build till Christmas, we advise you to book your place in front of the TV on the night of 25 December – for the biggest shock to hit the Square in a quarter of a century!…