Inside Soap UK 33 - 2019

“Emma feels as much a part of the Street as the cobbles!” As soapie coincidences go, Corrie’s Emma turning out to be Steve McDonald’s long-lost daughter is rather at the stretched end of the credibility scale. But we’re fully on board if it means we get to see more of the wonderful Emma, played by Alexandra Mardell. Emma was one of those characters who could have gone either way. After all, she’s a bit ‘out there’, and has no connections to anyone in the Street, so you could easily imagine her coming in for a few weeks, then quickly slipping off, consigned to the Corrie history books. But thanks to Alex’s wonderful performance and the great writing, Emma feels as much a part of the Street as the cobbles –…

Brave Bethany has been trying for two years to move on with life following her sexual exploitation at the hands of rapist Nathan Curtis. But this week, the teenager’s nightmare comes back to haunt her once more – with terrible consequences for one Street resident… Bethany is horrified when she sees a family at the Bistro, as she recognises the dad as one of the guests at the parties run by Nathan. Bethany was manipulated into having sex with men at these events, so the sight of someone from that time makes her blood run cold. “When Bethany spots the man, all her memories of that horrendous ordeal come flooding back,” says our Corrie source. “She’s petrified to see him, and doesn’t know what to do – so she confides…

As the dust settles on events at the Bistro, Bethany finds herself once again unable to put her terrible ordeal behind her, but decides the time has come to take control. Bethany tells Daniel that she’s been giving a lot of thought as to how she can help others to avoid going down the same path she did. Daniel is impressed when Bethany tells him how she plans to write about what happened to her, and how Nathan operated, hoping that her story could save other girls. As Daniel is a keen writer himself, Bethany hopes he can help her in her task. Will Bethany finally be able to turn her terrible experiences into something good?…

Phil Mitchell arrives back in Walford this week – hell-bent on finding out who came very close to killing him. He still can’t recall what went down that fateful night in the Arches, but he does know that whoever attacked him almost finished him forever. When Phil returns to the Square, twisted Ben tries to cover his tracks by throwing Phil a welcome home party. Yet instead of getting in the spirit of the occasion, Phil makes it clear that he’s not interested in celebrating – he wants answers! “Things aren’t adding up for Phil – and he has a suspicion that Ben has something to hide,” says our Walford insider. “All this fuss is a cover, and Phil knows it. As soon as he gets Ben alone, he demands…

DROWNING! The Mitchell brothers crashed a car into the Thames, but escaped with their lives. FIRE! Deranged Phil set the Vic alight with mum Peggy inside. They miraculously escaped. HEART ATTACK! Surprisingly, it was Ian Beale who saved Phil when he collapsed and nearly died. SHOT AGAIN! A tussle with ex-love Shirley and new beau Sharon could have ended tragically. BLOOD CLOT! After the Sharongate reveal, Grant beat his cheating brother almost to death. SHOOTING! Phil’s former partner Lisa tried to take the ultimate revenge by taking aim and firing! CRACK! The booze nearly finished him – however, when Phil turned to crack, it was almost the end. CAR CRASH! Phil wasn’t wearing a seat belt when wicked Carl White deliberately crashed his car. LIVER FAILURE! Alcoholic Phil’s years on…

She’s been doing her best to keep Nate at arms length, but this week Moira can resist her lusty farmhand no more – and gives in to passion! Despite their stolen kiss in the barn a couple of weeks back, Moira’s been determined to ignore the chemistry which is continuing to sizzle between her and Nate, in order to focus on her oblivious husband, Cain. However, Nate is nothing if not persistent, and when he makes yet another passionate move, Moira wholeheartedly submits. “There’s no going back now,” tuts our Emmerdale sneak. “While Moira pledged to stay loyal to her marriage and dismiss the farmhand’s cheeky advances, Nate won’t take no for an answer. Well aware that she’s struggling to ignore the searing attraction between them, Nate’s simply been waiting…