Inside Soap UK 33 - 2016

Over the years in soap there have been many plots that have been left feeling slightly unfinished, or with loose ends not quite tied up. But none have intrigued and frustrated fans in equal measure more than Mark Fowler Jnr – the son of Square original Michelle Fowler and one of Walford’s most popular characters ever, Grant Mitchell. With Michelle long gone, and Grant not looking like he’d be heading back anytime soon, we thought this story opportunity was dead and buried… then things started to happen. Michelle writing that letter to Peggy? Intriguing. Sharon’s shock when she found the note? Interesting. The fact that Grant was heading back for another visit to the Square. Now we’re excited! And we were right. It’s been great to meet Mark Fowler Jnr,…

“ NICK DOESN’T KNOW THAT THE BABY IS STEVE’S - IT’S A TIME BOMB…” Heartbroken Leanne boards a coach for a new life in Liverpool this week – but just as she’s resolute a fresh start is for the best, along comes Nick to beg her to stay! When he also offers to take on her child as his own, Leanne considers his proposition. But little does she know, there’s drama ahead – after Tracy discovers her baby secret! “Leanne’s leaving as Nick’s feelings for her are becoming more apparent, and Leanne realises she has feelings for him, too,” explains Jane Danson, who plays her. “Given what he’s been through with Carla, she almost sacrifices herself to stop him getting hurt. So when Nick tries to persuade her to stay,…

LEANNE AND STEVE’S NEW PLOT HARKS BACK TO THE PAST… This storyline opens a whole new chapter for Leanne after almost 20 years on the show, but Jane is enjoying the fact it is also playing to the past. “Steve and Leanne had big storylines together a long time ago, so it’s nice to revisit that,” she shares. “Simon [Gregson, aka Steve] and I had a scene together about 18 months ago where they both sat together on a bench, chatting about the old days – and I think that’s where this story was born.” And as Leanne considers her next move, Jane is also looking to the future – and has already been thinking about filming the birth… “I’ve never had to do it on TV before,” laughs the…

“ HONEY WANTS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND SEE IF SHE CAN HELP JAY” Honey is stunned to find something unexpected while she’s doing the housework this week – Jay’s drugs stash under her sofa! The mum of two is left cold after she stumbles across the curious bag, and while she doesn’t know for sure that it’s Jay’s, she’s soon on a mission to find out the truth… “Honey isn’t as stupid as people think, and she already senses that things are a bit strange,” sighs Emma Barton, who plays Honey. “She, Billy and the kids arrive back from a lovely holiday, but Billy tries to stop her going into the flat. Jay is there, and Honey sees him and Billy whispering together. And then she…

HONEY AND BILLY ARE CURSED BY JAY AND HIS CLAN… If Honey learns Billy has been keeping secrets, there’ll be a horrible sense of déjà vu for the poor woman. In 2008, Billy agreed to be a getaway driver for Jay’s criminal dad, Jase. The dodgy deal led to Jase’s brutal murder at the hands of gangster nemesis Terry – who stabbed Jase to death while Billy cowered nearby. Only the year before, Terry had started a riot at the Queen Vic, in which Honey was injured. So when she discovered Billy’s involvement in Jase’s demise – and that he had kept his driver’s fee – Honey was horrified. Desperate for forgiveness, Billy promised to give the cash to charity, but when Honey learned that he’d secretly kept some of…

“THE KISS IS PHONEY - CHRISSIE HAS ONLY DONE IT TO BE MEAN AND MANIPULATIVE” Desperate Rakesh’s problems go from bad to worse this week – as Chrissie takes a photo of him kissing her behind wife Priya’s back, and uses it to ensure he will continue to do her bidding. Rakesh made a deal with the devil when he agreed to cover up the truth that Lachlan shot Lawrence, all as part of Chrissie’s revenge plot against cheating fella Andy. Rakesh only agreed as he thought the super-rich White family could be the answer to his prayers, as he slipped further into financial oblivion. But when Chrissie is finished with him, Rakesh may wish he’d just gone bankrupt… “You’re going to see Chrissie do a number of things against…