Table of contents for 18 - 2021 in Inside Soap UK

“This week brings the sudden gear change…” Something the soaps can do like no other TV is what we call the ‘gear change’. It’s that sudden shift from comedy or sentimentality to high drama that makes your stomach lurch and your head spin. Of course, it’s a tool the writers like to use to manipulate our emotions. And yes, sometimes they do it crudely, such as when an EastEnders heroine trills, “Oh, I’ve never been so happy!” moments before their beloved goes under a car, bus or the westbound Heathrow service. Recently, Corrie has taken care to show us what a kind and emotionally mature young woman Nina is, while easing us into a charming romance for her and Seb. But this week brings that gear change – and we…

FAMILY The only blood relative that Janine still has in Walford is her niece Tiffany, who, much like her aunt, has recently been venturing into the risky business of conning people for money. Will Janine return to show Tiff how it’s done? BUSINESS Janine has owned her fair share of Walford properties and businesses in her time. Perhaps when Ruby departs (to suit Louisa Lytton’s maternity leave), she’ll leave the club in the very capable hands of Ms Butcher… ROMANCE Looking around the Square, we have newcomer Zack Hudson, or perhaps even murderer Gray, as men who Janine might sink her talons into. Perhaps Janine will have her head turned by Zack’s sports car, or Gray’s bank balance? REVENGE There’s no love lost between Janine and the Slaters following her…

Callum’s confession isn’t the only issue he and Ben have to deal with this week. After Ben invites Callum’s gradmother Violet (played by television favourite Gwen Taylor) to Walford as a wedding surprise, all hell breaks loose! “Vi is quite homophobic,” says Tony. “She’s from a bit of a bygone era, and she makes quite a lot of quips to Ben and Callum along the lines of, ‘Oh, things aren’t the same since the gays took over this place!’ And Callum’s like, ‘Are you for real?’ “We’ll get to see how that relationship pans out between Granny Vi, Callum, Ben and Stuart,” continues the star. “But from the offset, she embeds herself in the community, and she quite quickly becomes involved with other people on the Square…” • For more…

Trish is stunned this week, when her former dance rival Marco applies to be her new teaching assistant! Despite Marco’s skills, Trish is reluctant to give him the role – and tells Fergus that she’s worried Marco might tarnish her reputation, as rumours were spread about her in her previous job. However, Fergus thinks she should give him a chance. Later, Marco meets his brother Jacob, and it’s clear they’re plotting something sneaky! Is Trish in trouble?…

We were thrilled by the news of Bernice’s forthcoming return to the Dales, because her reappearance is sure to present a delicious dilemma for Bernice’s ex-fiancé, Liam! “I think Liam is going to feel sick to his stomach when he sees Bernice again,” reckons Jonny. “He didn’t bet on her heading off to Australia to care for her first husband, and now that he’s met Leyla, Liam’s certain that she’s the one.” Meanwhile, star Sam Giles is thrilled to be reviving Bernice. Speaking to Inside Soap last year, the star admitted that she was disappointed with her Dales exit – and that she wouldn’t have minded if bosses had killed her off! However, she’s now very pleased they didn’t… “I’m delighted to be returning to play out Bernice’s storylines, which…

In addition to her appearances in EastEnders and Hollyoaks, Danniella is no stranger to the world of reality TV, having competed in the likes of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2003, Dancing On Ice in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2016. However, there is still one particular reality contest that has so far eluded her… “Strictly Come Dancing would be my dream job,” grins Danniella. “And I’d really love to be paired with [professional dancer] Giovanni Pernice – wahey!”…

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Line Of Duty comes to a cracking close this week – but there’ll be no spoilers here, fella. The show is so tightly bound by secrecy, there’s no risk of revealing what the hell is going on… “A lot of big questions get answered!” was promised of this sixth run by Martin Compston (aka DS Steve Arnott), ahead of the series’ return. And after yet more cliffhangers, plot twists and unfathomable police lingo, we’ve had plenty to ponder in the week-long wait between shows. “I think people enjoy that we don’t drop the episodes all at once,” reckons Vicky McClure (DI Kate Fleming). “And social media is great for everybody to share their thoughts!” Indeed. We’ve wondered what the jiggins ‘CHIS’ meant; applied Who Do You Think You Are?-style scrutiny…

The Dingle clan is the stuff of soap legend, and for audiences, Sam and Lydia are now the head and heart of the family. Viewers even see the couple as the new Zak and Lisa – but what does Karen make of that suggestion? “It’s massively flattering because those are big shoes to fill!” she tells us. “It would be absolutely amazing to continue in a role for as long as Jane Cox [Lisa] did. Each of us brings something unique and individual to our characters. But if James Hooton [Sam] and I are filling a gap somewhere, then that’s wonderful, and a huge privilege.” Speaking of career longevity – is Karen aiming to stick around for the long haul? “There are no guarantees in this job, but I’d love…

Karma caught up with PC George Kiss in a big way after he faked his death as part of his cruel abuse of John Paul – only to then be bumped off for real! We can confirm that this is definitely the end of the horrid cop, as ex-Hollyoaks star Callum Kerr teases what will happen next in the shock ‘whodunnit?’… “George has accumulated quite a lot of enemies during his time in the village,” notes the star, as he waves goodbye after a year of playing George. “It could be one of many people responsible, or perhaps several, as we saw in the ‘Who shot Mercedes?’ storyline. Whatever the case, it’s going to be a shock. It’ll be fun leading up to the reveal, trying to work out who…

“Now that we have Nancy Carter back on Albert Square, can Johnny Carter make a return as well please? People seem to forget that he’s a trained lawyer. He could take down evil Gray Atkins in a dramatic courtroom battle!” …says reader Jack from Southend-on-Sea “Does anyone else think Corrie’s Paul and James would make a good couple? Paul already works as an apprentice for Ed – possibly his future father-in-law!” …ponders reader Luke from Darlington “I really think that once Connie Beauchamp steps down from the Holby ED to focus on her daughter Grace, it’d be a wonderful opportunity for Dr Adam Trueman to step back in and keep the place going.” …suggests reader James from Huddersfield “I love how Cathy in Emmerdale seems to be growing up completely…

One person who’s keen to help out with the search for missing Bailey is her school teacher, Isaac. However, Lola’s left confused when she finds him ripping down the posters Keegan has put up to help find his sister! When Lola confronts her boyfriend about his actions, Isaac points out that Keegan has missed a digit off the phone number on the posters, rendering them totally useless. Keegan himself feels foolish when the teacher points out his mistake, and he’s left scrabbling to get together enough cash to print some more flyers… Meanwhile, Lola remains concerned about Isaac, gently expressing her worry that he hasn’t been sleeping well recently. So imagine her shock when he admits that he’s stopped taking his schizophrenia medication! Alarmed by her boyfriend’s admission, Lola pushes…

Pregnant Mackenzie prepares for her termination this week – but the night before her appointment, she collapses in crippling agony. Is she losing her baby? “Mackenzie is by herself, and she’s struck down with pain in the middle of the night,” explains Emily Weir, who plays her. “She goes to the kitchen to get a glass of water, and that’s when she collapses…” Finding out that she was expecting a baby was a huge shock for Mac, especially as she’d just been dumped by her boyfriend, Ari! Knowing that he’d left her for his ex-girlfriend Mia was bad enough, but the prospect of bringing up a baby alone has been difficult for Mac to come to terms with. “Mackenzie has been very conflicted about what to do…” “Mac was shocked…

GRAY’S DARKEST HOUR Viewers were horrified when Walford villain Gray murdered Kush, taking his kill count up to three! And his cold-blooded attempt at keeping Whit certainly had you all talking… It was so sad when Kush was brutally murdered. He was in EastEnders for seven years, during which he experienced a lot of heartache, so he deserved a happy ending! His last scenes with Martin were so touching. I wish actor Davood Ghadami all the best – Kush will be missed! Manisa, Middlesex I think it would have been an even better twist if Gray had actually died, and then Kush went on the run. I feel as though the way Kush was killed by Gray was actually kind of predictable. Ben To say I’m devastated about what happened…

“To be honest, I was approaching an age where most people would have put their feet up and sat in a conservatory to watch the flowers grow – but that’s not good enough for me!” laughs actress Gwen Taylor, as we sit down for a chat with her about joining EastEnders as Stuart and Callum’s grandmother, Violet. “I told my agent, ‘I’d like to work, can you look for something special?’ So when she told me about EastEnders, I did my first ever Zoom audition. That was quite exciting, and I felt trendy! Then they offered me the role. How thrilling is that?” Gwen’s enjoyed a highly successful acting career on the small screen, stretching from the 70s to the present day, starring in hit shows such as Duty Free,…

It’s tough to get under the skin of Queen of the Dog Mercedes, but Cher has taken a good shot at it after mercilessly trolling her online. With her cruel comments, Cher is determined to drive a wedge between Mercedes and Sylver – and this week, she tries to sabotage Mercedes’ chances of winning Businesswoman of the Year… “Cher’s very young and still so immature, so she’s sees everything she’s doing as a bit of fun,” muses Bethannie Hare, who plays her. “If you get along with Cher, you’re safe, but if you’ve wronged her like Mercedes did – when she told everyone Cher had killed her sister – she won’t get over it! “All Cher really wants, at the end of all this, is to have a dad,” adds…

WIT AND WISDOM “Your track record is nothing to write home about, Eileen Grimshaw. Grim by name, grim by nature.” Gail “Run along home now, Gail. Those curtains won’t twitch themselves, you know.” Eileen “Do you fancy a bed in A&E?” Eileen fronts up to Sally “One day, someone will take that beak of yours and shove it where the sun don’t shine.” Eileen to Norris THE KEY RELATIONSHIPS TODD & JASON Eileen brought up her sons single-handedly, and they mean the world to her. Both Todd and Jason have given her plenty of sleepless nights over the years, though she would do anything for them. However, scheming Todd regularly tests her devotion… STEVE Boss Steve is Eileen’s favourite banter partner. They bicker all day, but would still do anything…

CASUALTY Faith Cadogan...................... Kirsty Mitchell Leon Cook....................... Bobby Lockwood Iain Dean...................... Michael Stevenson Charlie Fairhead.............. Derek Thompson Ethan Hardy.................... George Rainsford David Hide................................ Jason Durr Jan Jenning............................... Di Botcher Dylan Keogh........................... William Beck Fenisha Khatri....................... Olivia D’Lima Marty Kirkby................ Shaheen Jafargholi Jade Lovall.......................... Gabriella Leon Lev Malinovsky........................... Uriel Emil Rashid ‘Rash’ Masum............. Neet Mohan Jacob Masters....................... Charles Venn Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson CORONATION STREET Aadi Alahan......................... Adam Hussain Asha Alahan......................... Tanisha Gorey Dev Alahan........................ Jimmi Harkishin Aggie Bailey......................... Lorna Laidlaw Edison Bailey......... Trevor Michael Georges James Bailey..................... Nathan Graham Michael Bailey....................... Ryan Russell Ronnie Bailey........................ Vinta Morgan Adam Barlow................. Samuel Robertson Carla Barlow............................. Alison King Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Sarah Barlow........................... Tina O’Brien Simon Barlow.............................. Alex Bain Leanne Battersby................... Jane Danson Toyah Battersby.................... Georgia Taylor Sharon…

It’s been clear to Corrie viewers from the start that Corey is bad news – and this week it finally dawns on Asha exactly the type of guy she’s become involved with… Now the teens are living together, it’s obvious they have different ideas of what constitutes ‘fun’. So when Asha suggests a night in with a box-set, Corey instead heads out to meet his dodgy mates. “Corey goes to Speed Daal, where he openly flirts with Kelly!” gasps our sneak. “His appalling behaviour is witnessed by both Summer and Nina, who worry about whether they should tell Asha what he’s up to. In the end, Nina decides that telling her is the right thing to do – but will Asha believe her?” The next day, Asha is horrified when…

We already knew that EastEnders star Kellie Bright will be leaving the soap to have a baby, but now Linda might be expecting, too! Not only will a Carter pregnancy save producers having to hide Kellie’s bump, but it also brings huge dramatic potential… Linda has been a one-man woman her whole life, but late last year, she did the unthinkable and began an affair with Max Branning. We know that the couple slept together, and that Linda bitterly regretted it. Linda and Mick have tried to put it behind them, but what if Linda discovered she was carrying Max’s child? Might he even return to lay claim to the baby? A Carter pregnancy would certainly get the gossips talking, and we can well imagine Max’s detective brother Jack counting…

According to a tabloid, former EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks is to reprise the role that she quit seven years ago, with Janine set to feature in a huge story later this year… “Janine certainly has a lot of history in Albert Square, so whether she will be welcomed back with open arms remains to be seen,” a source told the paper. “Although one thing that the viewers can be sure of is that wherever Janine goes, drama is never far behind.” As the daughter of legendary car salesman Frank Butcher, Janine made more enemies than her dad shifted second-hand motors. Her most memorable storyline of all was when she married Barry Evans for his money, and then shoved him over a cliff! Killer Janine then went on to claim the…

Faye’s reprieve! Although Corrie’s Faye has been handed a three-year prison sentence, a spokesperson for the soap has confirmed that the character is not leaving the show. Faye will continue to appear in jail as her story continues. Take pride! Emmerdale will celebrate Pride later this year, uniting the village church and the LGBTQ+ community. “It’s a real day of celebration,” says boss Jane Hudson. “It doesn’t matter who you are – just be the best version of yourself.” You’re fired! Former Neighbours star Scott Major is popping back to Erinsborough for a guest appearance next month – so that his character Lucas Fitzgerald can give Bea the elbow from her job! Awkward.…

Ben and Callum’s relationship hangs by a thread this week – just days before the couple is due to say “I do”! “Callum and Ben are at loggerheads – there’s a lot on the line” MAX With Whitney convinced that Ben either killed Kush himself or organised his murder, Callum is forced to put his fiancé on the spot – who of course denies any knowledge of what happened that night. However, this confrontation leads Callum to confess that the real reason he went undercover for the police was to collect evidence against his future father-in-law Phil! And understandably, his bombshell leaves Ben questioning their whole future together… “Callum feels that he has to be true to himself – he can’t go into another wedding with secrets and lies hanging…

“Don’t play dumb with me, sweet cheeks. Or do you want your little secret getting out?” “Please don’t tell me you know about the cross-dressing? Because that was a one-off, I was curious – and I’m sorry.” Mack is so quick and subversive, it’s almost as if he knows he lives in a soap. “Whitney, I’m going to make you happy every single day of your life.” Alas, it turned out to be only every single day of his. “This is a real woman, but it’s clear you want some fancy version.” “I didn’t mean that! I wasn’t the only one to start wearing pyjamas and going straight to sleep at night!” Tyrone digs a deeper hole than Gary Windass on a Wednesday afternoon in the woods. “I can’t not…

FAIR CITY • Nora confronts Liam about his actions this week, and so troubled Liam decides to seek guidance from Father Art. Elsewhere, Juliet learns that Amy has turned her influencer pals against her! Plus, Seán is unhappy about one of the new ‘lodgers’… RIVER CITY • Amber’s suspicions are aroused over Jessie’s strange behaviour this week, and she soon discovers Alex’s DNA quest to uncover the truth about the Murdochs… Meanwhile, Rory’s health continues to deteriorate. And Tyler makes Stevie an offer! THE ARCHERS • There’s panic at Lower Loxley this week, as Lee’s second thoughts suddenly throw their event into chaos – and Elizabeth tries to find a solution. Elsewhere, will Martha’s christening go off without a hitch? Finally, Emma finds herself playing referee… See TV listings for…

BOOT IT UP I really like the boots that Tracy has been wearing recently in Emmerdale. Do you know where I can get a pair from? | Anna We’re not sure where to get these exact boots from, but we’ve found some very similar ones at ASOS. They’re the ‘Design Wide Fit Elderberry Chunky Boots in Black’, and you can pick them up for only £30! TRAINS OF THOUGHT I’m confused about how the tube station works in EastEnders. We often see characters go upstairs to the trains, or trains passing over the bridge, so why was the platform underground when Gray and Kush fought? | Dan, London As Kush and Whitney were off to Dubai, we presume they were heading to Heathrow Airport by tube, so would have…

Over the course of their relationship, Leyla and Liam have sent each other more mixed signals than a set of faulty traffic lights. So, it’s remarkable that they get engaged this week – with all the hijinks we’ve come to expect! But while their road to love has been full of stops, starts, turns and reverses, stars Roxy Shahidi and Jonny McPherson – who, on our Zoom call, sound even more like an old married couple than their characters – believe Leyla and Liam are truly meant to be, even if the return of Liam’s ex-fiancée, Bernice (see box), throws a spanner in the works… Congrats on your Dales engagement! What holds Leyla and Liam together? Jonny I think there’s a sense of fun and innocence about the both of…

It’s not just Callum and Ben who are set to feel the sharp end of Vi’s tongue. Rainie’s in trouble when it emerges she forgot to invite Vi to the wedding! “Vi can’t believe it!” laughs Gwen. “She’s very protective over Stuart and doesn’t approve of Rainie, so they butt heads.” Gwen is also happy that her character quickly crosses paths with Phil – and Vi doesn’t hold back in letting him know what she thinks of him! “Steve [McFadden, aka Phil] is such a presence, and I loved working with him,” she grins. “I was a bit nervous and he was so helpful. He made sure I was all right. He was so kind and made me feel very welcome…”…

As the first EastEnders actress to play Phil and Grant Mitchell’s youngster sister, Sam, Danniella Westbrook’s life changed overnight when she made her first appearance on the soap in July 1990, having been cast in the role at the tender age of 16. Her Walford alter ego would go on to wreak havoc in the Square – though it was the star’s real-life dramas that would dominate newspaper headlines, with Danniella speaking openly over the years about her struggles with addiction. However, the traditional media image of Danniella is a world away from the down-to-earth mum-of-two that we chat to on the phone, as she talks to Inside Soap on the back of her recent interview for the weekly podcast, Soap From The Box. If you’re not familiar with the…

Animal magic! THE CORRIE STARS SHOW OFF THEIR FURRY FRIENDS… Spring is definitely in the air – and to celebrate, our favourite soapies have been hanging out down on the farm! Street star Colson Smith, who plays copper Craig, recently swapped collaring crooks on the cobbles for feeding some cute lambs. Meanwhile, Colson’s co-star Tina O’Brien (Sarah) is clearly yearning to see her loved ones of the feathered variety, as she reposted a memory on Instagram. “Throwback to when you could visit friends and hold their pet chickens,” she clucked. Egg-cellent idea! Finally, ex-Corrie star Cath Tyldesley (Eva Price) wins the award for best furry pal, for this pic of her with a llama. We love a llama drama… SCHOOL DAYS! We love seeing…

DVD BLITHE SPIRIT Novelist Charles is struggling with writer’s block, and his second wife Ruth is doing her best to keep him focused. But when Charles invites a medium to perform a séance in their home, she summons the spirit of his deceased first wife Elvira – which kicks off the most unlikely and hilarious of love triangles! With Dame Judi Dench and ex- Home and Away fave Isla Fisher. Available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. DVD DEUTSCHLAND 89 The Berlin Wall falls on 9 November 1989, and spy Martin Rauch returns to deal with the consequences that brings. The peaceful revolution has thrown his world into turmoil. His government has collapsed, his organisation is in chaos, and his future is uncertain. So, how to…

EMMERDALE Stop, thief! AARON’S IN THE FRAME FOR ROBBING POLLARD… Aaron finds himself in huge trouble next week, when Pollard accuses him of breaking and entering! The evidence against Aaron is compelling, but has he really sunk as low as to rob from one of his neighbours? Or is there some other explanation for his out-of-character behaviour? Meanwhile, Pollard is adamant that Aaron should pay a high price for his crimes – and as things get out of hand, there could be dire consequences… YOUR NEXT ISSUE ON SALE TUESDAY 4 MAY HOLLYOAKS Old flames reignited? Trish has a big decision to make next week, as her ex-boyfriend Fergus begs her to give him another chance. But does she know what she’s letting herself in for? NEIGHBOURS Nicolette in grave…

BULLSEYE! Poor Fiz. No woman should be forced to see selfies of her fella and his new bit of skirt in a hotel jacuzzi, because the berk uploads his pics via Family Sharing. But hasn’t Jennie McAlpine delivered every gut-wrenching scene like an absolute boss? We cherished Fiz’s random exchange with Ed, who, for a fleeting second, was a passing lifeboat in her sea of despair. Keep paddling, lady. You’ll make it! There are many things to feel angry about in soap this week. But Meena smirking as she masqueraded as Ethan’s missing mum sent us over the edge. Worra bitch! Surely telly’s Most Important Debate Of The Week? One-coat character Ronnie finally has new clobber. More on this top story as it unfolds. You know the UK is emerging…