Inside Soap UK 35 - 2018

“It’s been a bumper year for the ’Oaks!” We’re all about the ’Oaks this week, as those treasures from Chester campaign for your votes in this year’s Awards. No soap can juggle bonkers, high-octane drama with powerful issue-led stories like Hollyoaks – and I think no other soap could ever tell the range and breadth of stories it does. This has been a bumper year of drama for Hollyoaks – something you can tell from the on-screen body count! – but it’s been the slower, deeper plots that have truly impressed. Lily’s self-harming storyline won praise from charities, and the award-winning episode that focussed on it truly should be watched by all parents of teenagers. Meanwhile, Alfie’s ongoing battle with his mental health, and the abuse currently being suffered by teen…

Get ready for a hugely eventful week on EastEnders – when Stuart Highway’s ongoing feud with the Carters comes to a head in the most devastating way possible. There’s a shooting at the Queen Vic, and a police investigation gets under way to try to determine what happened. But whose life hangs in the balance, and who’s the person who fired the gun? The astonishing drama kicks off as the Carters try to move on from recent events and get their lives back to normal. But ‘normal’ in Albert Square means that it’s only a matter of time before the next earth-shattering incident happens… “After all their troubles with gangster Aidan Maguire earlier in the year, the Carters have really drawn the short straw by attracting…

Sharon finds herself at the centre of the unfolding drama this week – in more ways than one! After Keanu notices someone acting very suspiciously by the canal, he confides in Sharon about what he has seen. His words leave Sharon stunned, though she warns the young mechanic not to go to the police with his information. Instead, she promises to get to the bottom of what’s going on herself. Keanu agrees to keep quiet – but is the mysterious incident connected with Stuart and his campaign of terror against the Carters? And does Sharon know more than she is letting on? Sharon then hands Keanu a huge wad of cash, telling the young man that he deserves it after the way Phil treated him by firing him from the…

“Belle’s eyes are opened to who she’s been living with…” Lachlan flips out this week, when his other half Belle starts asking too many questions regarding the whereabouts of her brother, Sam. How far will the killer go to protect his secrets? Could he even go so far as to murder the person he loves most? Homicidal Lachlan has been finding it increasingly difficult to carry on acting normally, as evidence of his wicked deeds has been creeping out into the open. This week, he faces an even tougher test, as he tries to hide his panic when the police arrive in the village to ask him a few questions. “So far, Lachlan has got away with everything because no one has thought to connect all the dots,” muses our…

“Jude doesn’t consider the consequences when he makes decisions” Liar Jude pulls out all the stops to rescue his marriage this week – but he ends up telling the whole Street another huge fib in the process! With mother Mary’s help, the determined fella has been secretly arranging for him and Angie to renew their wedding vows, in the hope that she will agree to give their failing relationship another chance. However, disaster strikes on the big day when Roy’s life is thrown into danger –presenting opportunistic Jude with a golden chance to play the hero, and shamelessly dupe Angie into believing yet another one of his tall tales… “Jude just doesn’t think of the consequences when he makes decisions,” despairs actor Paddy Wallace, who plays him. “His whole reason…

Jude has a new nemesis… Inside Soap has said before that Jude reminds us of Weatherfield villain John Stape, whose web of lies became so tangled that he resorted to bumping people off! So, if Ali – Roy’s true saviour – threatens to blow Jude’s secret, how far will he go to keep it? “If a situation arises and he is put under pressure, who knows how Jude might react?” questions Paddy. “If he is backed into a corner and feels that Ali is in the way, he might have to push his way out. Scenes between the pair become very tense!”…