Inside Soap UK 43 - 2016

Well, wasn’t ITV’s ‘Super Soap Week’ last week just... well, super! I don’t think I have ever seen a stunt like Emmerdale’s car crash pile-up, while I let out a scream of horror as poor Anna Windass found herself ablaze in Corrie. But while the big week may be over, the drama is not! We have the Dales’ Emma trying to cover her tracks by setting her evil sights on poor Ashley (don’t you dare, missus!) on p8. Over on the cobbles, Anna struggles with her injuries, and actress Debbie Rush reveals the inside story on the stunt – as well as her very personal connection to this heartbreaking plot. And over the page, there’s a Walford wedding to enjoy – and doesn’t bride Whitney look amazing? It’s anyone’s guess…

“LEE’S HEAD IS IN COMPLETE KNOTS - HE’S HIS OWN WORST ENEMY!” The big day finally arrives for Whitney and Lee this week, as the lovebirds prepare to marry in a beautiful fairytale wedding ceremony. However, with both old and new secrets weighing heavily upon anxious groom Lee, it’s touch-and-go as to whether Whit will end the day as Mrs Carter. Is Lee set to break her heart into a million pieces? “I think Lee is scared and really feeling the pressure of getting married,” explains actor Danny-Boy Hatchard, who plays him. “Essentially, he probably thinks the whole thing is a bit premature, but he wants to prove himself to Whitney and show her that he’s committed. “At the same time, though, Lee’s head is in complete knots,” continues the…

With Whitney having customised her stepmother Bianca’s old wedding dress (the one she wore to marry Ricky Butcher for the second time), she’s ticked the boxes for her ‘something old’, ‘something new’ and ‘something borrowed’. But what about her ‘something blue’, we hear you cry! Well, this sparkly gown saw its fair share of misery on Bianca’s big day in 2010 – when her mum Carol stormed into the church with an axe to grind! The ceremony almost didn’t happen as mother and daughter had an almighty slanging match in the grounds – though thankfully, furious Carol was able to grit her teeth long enough for Bianca and Ricky to marry in peace. However, the couple’s wedding reception happened to take place on the same evening that Bradley Branning fell…

“TO THOSE AROUND HER, EMMA IS HEARTBROKEN AT LOSING HER HUBBY-TO-BE” As James is laid to rest this week, the pressure is on for his vicious ex-wife Emma to continue hiding the awful truth behind his demise. Having locked him up and tortured him in the days before he fell to his death – causing a catastrophic road accident which has devastated the village – Emma is mourning James’ passing, all the while knowing that she is his killer. Despite barely being able to live without the man she loved to a psychopathic degree, Emma is determined to maintain her ruthless facade – whatever the cost. And knowing Ashley saw her on the footbridge shortly after James had fallen, he’s her most immediate problem. So how far will Emma go…

While Ashley deals with Emma’s brutal treatment alone, his family are torn over the best way to deal with the former vicar’s deteriorating condition. Although they’re relieved when the police inform them that Ashley won’t be prosecuted for driving without a licence on the day of the crash, the issue of how best to care for Ashley while his health continues to decline remains troubling. Laurel believes that they can cope without day care – even after she cuts her hand on a knife Ashley has absent-mindedly put into the bread bin. However, her father Doug and Ashley’s former wife Bernice are convinced that the time has come for Laurel to accept professional help in looking after Ashley – and that she should be considering her own needs as well…

“I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW BAD THIS GETS - CAZ HAS LEFT NO STONE UNTURNED” Maria returns to a nightmare on Coronation Street this week – as the police come to suspect that she’s murdered Caz! Crazy Caz took Maria’s rejection extremely badly, and while Maria has been in London trying to smooth over her sham marriage to Pablo, she has no idea that Caz has ordered a credit card in her name and told Tyrone that Maria has been sending her abusive texts! And once unsuspecting Maria comes back to Weatherfield, she discovers the nasty surprise Caz has in store for her… “Maria returns to the cobbles on Halloween, and when she opens the door to her flat, it’s been trashed,” explains Samia Longchambon, who plays Maria. “Then she finds…