Table of contents for 13 - 2016 in Inside Soap UK

Soap history is littered with the forgotten. So many characters have come and gone that you’d have to be on Mastermind to recall them all. But what always fascinates me is the forgotten who never actually went away. Their characters are still here, entertaining us with their dramas, but the actors who once played them have been replaced by a new face and the originals are now relegated to soap history. Look at this issue – just over the page, Emmerdale’s Robert Sugden is up to his devilish deeds once more. But he’s not the first Robert – he’s actually the fourth! Skip on and you’ll find Coronation Street’s Tracy Barlow in bother – that’s the fourth Tracy Barlow as well! All credit to the actors who take over these…

Tracy is going to turn to an unlikely ally in her mission to convince Robert to stay with her – arch-rival Carla! Tracy demands that her nemesis convince Robert to forgive and forget, or she’ll tell oblivious Nick everything. Carla has fought so hard to keep her fiancé from knowing about what happened – and she’s close to getting married and getting out of Weatherfield to start their new life together. While Carla has no love for Tracy, she knows that if she and Robert break up, Tracy will no longer keep her secret. But when Carla tries to talk to Robert about his relationship, how will the lost man react?…

The wards are under scrutiny this week, as the teams compete for their hard work to be recognised at the hospital’s in-house awards. However, AAU consultant Serena finds herself distracted after her nephew Jason’s carer, Alan, suffers a mini-stroke. When she postpones her elective surgeries to perform a procedure on the man, Hanssen wonders if Serena is prioritising her personal life. She insists the operation is necessary – but is she right to compromise the ward’s standards on such a critical day? Also this week… Dom struggles around Arthur following his diagnosis.…

“CHRISSIE AND ANDY SHARE A LOT OF COMMON GROUND” KELVIN After sneaking around for secret liaisons, Andy and Chrissie are finally about to reveal their relationship to the rest of the village this week. However, events soon take a dramatic turn when Lawrence sets some heavies on Andy – before collapsing from a heart attack (see p4)! But while we wait to find out how the White family fares, Louise Marwood (Chrissie) and Kelvin Fletcher (Andy) tell us what makes this unlikely pair a match… We’re loving Chrissie and Andy being together, but do you think it’s really love for them, or is it just lust? Louise I think it has come about because they’re both vulnerable, but they both deserve something nice. It’s been great for me to read…

King of Walford Danny Dyer (Mick) was in the thick of the recent Sport Relief Games. He was joined by his own family and his on-screen son Danny-Boy Hatchard (Lee), as they took part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile event at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Danny stuck close to his eight-year-old daughter, Sunnie, the whole way round the course, and they were all smiles at the finish line. Also starring...…

Looking ultra-glam, Coronation Street favourites Sally Dynevor (Sally) and Kym Marsh (Michelle) were among the VIP guests who attended the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention charity ball at the Hilton Deansgate Manchester. Showing off her terrific toned figure, Kym looked as stunning as always – while Sally, who is a long-standing patron of the charity, also looked beautiful. Having been clear of cancer herself for six years, Sally obviously enjoyed spending the evening celebrating the charity that she holds very close to her heart.…

NORA WHITE Carl’s wicked mum Nora begged the Mitchells for answers after Carl mysteriously vanished – headed to the big scrapyard in the sky. Ronnie responded by having Nora’s other lad, Adam, beaten up – so Nora could be out for revenge. HANNAH REYNOLDS Hannah – the daughter of Ronnie’s first love Joel – holds the Mitchell madam responsible for her parents’ demise. Death by speedboat crash is an icky way to go, so does Hannah want Ronnie to suffer in a similarly painful way? TIM REYNOLDS Hannah’s uncle and Joel’s brother, Tim, conveniently happens to pop up whenever Ronnie is being watched. She rejected him when he tried to kiss her, so maybe he’s decided that if he can’t have her, then no one will… CHARLIE COTTON Dot’s grandson…

Splitting up one of soap’s best-loved pairings is not for the faint of heart! So Denise Black, who plays Joanie, was ready for the public reaction to her character’s shamelessness… “Oh, this isn’t the first time I’ve done bad things on TV – when I was in Corrie in the 90s, my character [Ken Barlow’s girlfriend Denise Osbourne] ran off with her sister’s husband and abandoned her baby!” she grins. “But what’s different now is social media – and some people are really upset about what Joanie has done. “I went on to the Emmerdale Twitter feed at one point, read a couple of bits and thought, ‘Hmm, I don’t think I need to read any more!’. That said, I did see one tweet from a lass who said: ‘My…

SNEAK PREVIEW! The soap rumour mill is buzzing excitedly, following the news that Walford legend Pam St Clement is returning to her role as Pat Evans! Reports suggest that the Square icon – famous for her mahoosive earrings – will be back for a guest appearance to coincide with her old pal Peggy Mitchell’s emotional farewell… “Pat and Peggy never did get to enjoy that last drink, did they?” says our Walford insider wistfully. “To have the pair back on screen together for Peggy’s sad goodbye is something every EastEnders fan wishes for.” Word on the street is that Pat – who died of cancer at the start of 2012 – will appear in a hallucination of Peggy’s as she loses her own fight with the deadly disease. Show bosses…

“EVEN AFTER LEARNING THAT HE HAS A WIFE, BELLE KISSES DR BAILEY” Belle’s visit to the surgery strays into uncharted territory this week – as she locks lips with Dr Bailey! An attraction developed between the unlikely pair after the village medic stepped in to tend to a cut on Belle’s hand. The smitten teen failed to tell the truth about her age, so Dr Bailey – first name Jermaine – had no idea he was flirting with a schoolgirl. This week, however, Belle is mortified to find out that Jermaine is married… and she shockingly responds to the news by planting a kiss on him! “Just what on earth is Belle thinking?” sighs our Emmerdale source. “It was foolish enough that she chose not to be honest with Jermaine…

FAIR CITY Bob and Renee confront Ellie after they find a welcome-home card for Heather this week – and their concerns grow when she makes a prank call to the police! Is Ellie out of control? Elsewhere, Caoimhe causes trouble by suggesting to Dermot that Jo is having an affair. Also, Charlotte persuades Oisin to watch a football match with Decco. RIVER CITY The locals prepare to say goodbye to Malcolm this week – but as Liz removes herself from the preparations, she confesses that she feels like an afterthought in Malcolm’s life. Can Molly reassure her? Meanwhile, Ruth goes behind Eileen’s back and invites her estranged son Brian to the funeral. Also, Gabriel returns to town and reaches out to Kelly-Marie. THE ARCHERS Kirsty is tested to the max…

KIM TATE & DAVE GLOVER Kim started an affair with farmhand Dave, but when she later became pregnant and was unsure who the father was, hubby Frank offered her a million big ones if she dumped Dave and named him as the dad. Kim took the cash, but reunited with Dave, and he was killed in a fire saving their baby. TOM KING & CHARITY DINGLE Tom struggled to believe much younger Charity cared for him more than his cash, but eventually decided that life was too short and proposed. However, Tom’s malicious daughter-in-law Sadie showed him photos on the morning of the ceremony of Charity kissing Cain, so the wedding was off. Charity was heartbroken – and poor once again. DECLAN MACEY & CHARITY DINGLE When Charity stopped Declan…

“MICHELLE WAS THE FIRST PERSON WILL WAS EVER IN LOVE WITH” As the fella who looks set to drive a wedge between Steve and Michelle, Coronation Street newcomer Leon Ockenden – who plays Michelle’s teenage sweetheart Will – is already making waves as the Street’s new heart-throb. Much to the star’s amusement, however, his Weatherfield debut could have been very different… “I’ve auditioned for Corrie in the past,” reveals the actor, who is best known for his roles as PE teacher Hector Reid in Waterloo Road, and Serge de Bolotoff in Mr Selfridge. “Last year I screen-tested for the part of Robert, and a long time ago I went up for the role of Nick, which Ben Price got. I also tried out for the part of Trevor Dean [the…

“I loved filming any scene that involved the Roscoes. I will miss those boys so much! And there’s a really small scene that sticks in my mind with me and Gillian [Taylforth, who played Sandy], where we were eating lots of ice cream – and I had so much that I was sick!” “All the Dr Browning stuff was really exciting. We did about three weeks of night shoots in the village – me, Jen [Metcalfe, who plays Mercedes] and Steph [Waring, aka Cindy]. That was absolutely brilliant, and I enjoyed it so much.” “Filming Lindsey’s wedding to Freddie was fun, although you can never get comfortable in a wedding dress. I’ve worked with Charlie Clapham solidly from the start, so I’ll really miss him. Freddie has just spent three…

We always thought she was a tough cookie on the Street (well, until her character was bumped off by that knock to the head!) but Michelle Keegan’s latest character is all kinds of strong. Posing in full Army attire for her new role as Corporal Georgie Lane in BBC1 drama Our Girl, the soap stunner spoke about her exciting new adventure. “The first time that I put on the uniform, it was quite surreal, but then I immediately felt a sense of duty - as if I was actually in the military,” says the actress, who takes over from Walford’s Lacey Turner (Stacey) as Our Girl’s leading lady. “I’m a huge fan of the series, so I can’t wait to be a part of it.” Michelle also posted a pic…

THE NEED FOR SPEED! In Emmerdale he’s often found on a tractor, but away from the soap, Kelvin Fletcher (Andy) is fast-tracking his way to achieving his motoring dreams! The actor has announced that he’ll become a racing-car driver when he takes part in the British Touring Car Championship later this year. OLYMPIA GAMES Stunning Olympia Valance (Paige) had heads turning at the Jameson Empire Awards – and one of those heads was none other than comedian and host of the awards, David Walliams. It’s reported the comic took a particular liking to the gorgeous Neighbours actress. SPLITSVILLE! After falling in love on the cobbles 10 years ago and welcoming daughter Sienna-Rae in 2013, one of soap’s strongest couples, Corrie’s Alan Halsall (Tyrone) and Lucy-Jo Hudson (Katy Harris) have called…

IN JUSTICE Tim Roth and Samantha Morton will star in new BBC1 drama Rillington Place. The three-part series explores the real-life killings committed by John Christie in 1940s London. BODY TALK Game Of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth) will join Elisabeth Moss for the second series of BBC2 drama Top Of The Lake. The story will begin with an unidentified Asian girl’s body washing up on Sydney’s Bondi Beach… GAME ON Dara Ó Briain is to host a new game show for Dave. Dara Ó Briain’s Go 8 Bit will see two celebrities each week battling it out in a variety of video game challenges, taking on anything from retro favourite Pac-Man to Grand Theft Auto.…

1 SATURDAY DVD HAPPY VALLEY - SERIES 2 The much-anticipated second series sees the return of no-nonsense police sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire), as she deals with a new detective and her suspicions that another serial killer may be on the loose. Also starring James Norton and Matthew Lewis. WIN! For the chance to win a copy, tell us in which soap Sarah starred as Raquel Watts: A) Neighbours, B) Corrie, or C) Doctors. Text ISWIN1, a space, then A, B, or C and your name & address to 87080 (50p). Or see below for postal entries. 2 SUNDAY DVD JERICHO Penniless widow Annie Quaintain (Jessica Raine) and her two children are turfed out of their village, and forced to start a new life in Jericho – a…

It was the cruelest of twists. The Dales’ Ashley enjoyed a wonderful wedding to Laurel, only to be struck down by a dementia-related stroke and lose months of his life. It’s a story that means a lot to many of you… At 65, my own father is only a little older (I think) than Ashley in Emmerdale, and was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. On bad days, he completely loses his short-term memory – even though he seems to remember every time he had to tell me off as a teenager! Dad’s feelings of frustration and anger are the hardest thing to cope with, as those of us who care for him try to make him feel safe and secure. So I just want to praise the Emmerdale team – and…

ARIES 21 MARCH - 20 APRIL Spending a rainy day indoors will leave you reminiscing over your past, but it may actually do you some good! Thinking things over will help you to reach the sense of closure that you’ve been seeking. TAURUS 21 APRIL - 21 MAY Your birthday isn’t far away, yet you can’t decide whether you want a big party or a quiet celebration. This week you’ll be in a good frame of mind to decide - either option will have its benefits! GEMINI 22 MAY - 21 JUNE This week is when you should spend time with some old pals. However, don’t get carried away and forget all your responsibilities! It will only mean you have more to do when you’ve finished catching up. CANCER 22…

It’s hard to be optimistic that Robert might do the right thing for once and help Lawrence. After all, he wasn’t exactly a knight in shining armour when Andy’s wife Katie plunged to her death! After sticking around long enough to check Katie’s pulse and make sure she was actually dead, Robert raced off to Chrissie’s side like nothing had happened. So it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he did the same thing this time around……

As the hotel explodes, there’s a familiar face among the casualties: Sarah Beaumont! We caught up with returning star Nicola Charles… Sarah’s back in town! I know! The thing about Sarah is that you never know when or why she’s coming, so it’s always a shock. But it’s a very interesting story. When do we first see her? She comes face to face with Karl for the first time in ages, and it’s very traumatic. It was supposed to be very orchestrated and calm, but it turns into the opposite! Is she back for Karl, then? Oh yeah, he’s definitely the reason. If Sarah’s ever known what love is, it’s because of Karl. So when something important happens in her life, she’s drawn to him. What is Susan’s reaction to…

Brooke is set to embark on a brand-new job later this year, when she takes a sabbatical from the Street to appear in a stage show. The actress will be playing a pregnant mum in Be My Baby at Salford theatre The Lowry this autumn, opposite Hi-de-Hi! star Ruth Madoc. “It’s still a way off, but I am nervous as I’ll be out of my comfort zone,” says Brooke. “I won’t have everyone I know around me, but that’s the reason I’m doing it – I want to stretch myself. Now people keep tweeting me to say they have booked tickets, and that makes me really nervous!”…

Connie and Jacob are plunged into a terrifying life-and-death situation this week, as they’re called out to treat a patient injured in a building collapse – and end up buried in a cellar! Jacob heads out with the paramedics for the day after a heated argument with Connie, during which she breaks up with him so she can focus on her daughter Grace. But when Connie hears he’s in danger, she just can’t keep away… “After the call comes in requesting a doctor at the scene of the accident, Connie doesn’t hesitate,” reveals our Casualty insider. “As soon as she hears that Jacob is there, she’s out of the door and on her way! Although she’s chosen to put Grace first, it’s obvious to everyone she’s still in love with…

Emmerdale’s Chrissie is set to delve into her family’s past – to find out who her biological father is. Not so long ago, viewers witnessed a furious argument between the heartbroken woman and her dad, Lawrence, who wouldn’t confirm or deny whether he and Chrissie’s mother, Ellen, had an open marriage. Chrissie quickly realised that Lawrence might not be her dad – and her fears are set to be elevated when she stumbles across an old love letter to Ellen from a man named Ronnie Hale. Will he turn out to be the fella in question? “In Ronnie we have a character who will unearth every painful fragment of love and loss buried in the White family’s past,” teases Dales boss Iain MacLeod. “There’s the odd unexploded bomb…

In a bid to show off her new home this week, Zara throws a housewarming bash – but the awkward gathering soon leaves the bossy medic drunk and humiliated! With Zara’s colleagues reluctant to attend, it’s up to her husband Daniel to talk them round. And there’s even more embarrassment in store on the night, when some of Zara’s pals back out at the last minute. Knocking back the booze in an attempt to take the edge off, Zara shames herself in front of new neighbour Roz after she starts an argument with Al about taking off his shoes. But just when it looks as if the evening couldn’t get any worse, it does… Also this week… Heston refuses to go back to work until Anthony’s left, and…

“LOUISE IS AFRAID OF BEN – HE USED TO BURN HER WITH SPOONS!” If there’s one thing scarier than the prospect of joining a show as big as EastEnders, it’s joining EastEnders as a member of the infamous Mitchell clan. While taking your place at the table of that formidable family might seem like a dream, it’s also a terrifying prospect to be in scenes with iconic characters played by revered actors. So it’s clearly an advantage to be as young, confident and up for a challenge as star Tilly Keeper – though it helped that her character’s true identity was kept from her during the auditions… “I didn’t know I was going to be Louise Mitchell until I got the part and they said, ‘Steve McFadden is playing your…

BEN MITCHELL EASTENDERS Joshua Pascoe was the fourth actor to play Ben Mitchell, who returned from juvenile detention in 2010 with an angsty manner and a secret sexuality. But his time in the Square was cut short when he bludgeoned poor Heather Trott to death… Two years later, Ben returned from prison again, still with the angsty manner and secret sexuality, but now played by Harry Reid, whose sensitive performance as the troubled lad has won plaudits from viewers. AARON LIVESY EMMERDALE Young Danny Webb played Chas’ tearaway son on and off for three years from 2003. Aaron’s visits to the Dales – and his estranged mum – usually ended in trouble for both of them… When the character was earmarked to make a permanent move to the village in…

It’s usually the ladies who steal the thunder on the red carpet, but the men took the lead at the 11th annual Screen Nation Film And Television Awards. EastEnders’ Joivan Wade (Jordan) and Casualty’s Charles Venn (Jacob) were snapped looking dapper in their suits – with the latter awarded the Favourite Male TV Personality trophy. His co-stars Crystal Yu (Lily) and Azuka Oforka (Louise) did offer some competition in the style stakes, as they arrived dressed to the nines.…

Do you think you’d make a good teacher in real life? …asks Kelly from Stirling Well, my older brother is a high school teacher, and he’s watched the show and doesn’t think that I’m a good example at all! He thinks I lack discipline and let the kids get away with murder! That’s his professional assessment. It’s amazing, actually, that Zac could become a teacher with a criminal record – I thought that was pretty much impossible! But things do work differently in soap… Do you think Zac can make his marriage to Leah work? …asks Helen, via email Yeah, 100 per cent! I think what they always say about a good marriage is that you start off as friends, and Zac and Leah are definitely good friends, so I…

Look as pretty as a petal – like Lacey – in this floral doppelgänger from Very.co.uk Bag yourself this sassy pair of spring trews from Next. Floral blooms are not just for clothes – they are popping up everywhere on accessories. Floral just got fabulous with Miss Selfridge’s dash of petal power. Wear a kaleidoscope of spring colours with Primark’s floral detailed blouse.…

THIS SCI-FI COMEDY DRAMA set in a world where aliens walk among us (well, sort of - they’re mostly confined to a ghetto) has been tremendously good fun so far, thanks to its infectious energy and some absolutely charming performances. Michael Socha is perfect as reluctant hero (and the first half-human half-alien) Lewis, while Chewing Gum star Michaela Coel is effortlessly cool as enigmatic alien Lilyhot. In this week’s instalment, endearingly hapless alien Dominic (played by Jim Howick, also excellent) is forced to become a hit man, which we’re sure will go brilliantly. Meanwhile, Lewis decides it’s time to come clean about his identity.…

“KIDS, ANIMALS, POP STARS, MR BLOBBY - I’VE HAD MOST BRICKBATS THROWN AT ME. NOT MUCH FAZES ME.” Dogs Might Fly host Jamie Theakston reflects on his career in broadcasting “BECAUSE I’M THE ONLY GIRL, I DON’T WANT TO LET THE SIDE DOWN, SO I’M GIVING IT LOADS!” Line Of Duty star Leanne Best really pushed herself during the action sequences “I SAID TO MY AGENT, ‘IF ANYTHING COMES UP FOR TWO DOORS DOWN COUNT ME IN!’” Elaine C Smith was very keen to land a role in the neighbourly comedy after seeing the pilot “WE WERE EITHER GOING TO END UP HATING EACH OTHER OR BECOMING REALLY CLOSE-AND IT WAS THE LATTER!” Nikesh Patel reveals how the Indian Summers cast bonded during six months of filming in Malaysia…

The nominees include Dame Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, David Suchet and Benedict Cumberbatch – so this year’s Olivier Awards are sure to leave us seeing stars! In fact, it’s a particularly big year for the Oliviers, as the ceremony is marking its 40th anniversary – and host Michael Ball hopes to deliver something really spectacular… “We want it to be special,” he tells Inside TV. “We want to find ways to surprise and thrill the audience. I think the advantage we have is that we’re not just showing clips of TV programmes, so we’re able to put on big, well-structured live performances that will be thrilling for the audience both in the theatre and at home.” As a former winner of the Best Actor In A Musical award himself, Michael…

PHIL ’ER UP I loved the scene between Phil and Shirley in EastEnders where he tried to get her back. I know it would be wrong for her to dump Buster, but the chemistry between Shirley and Phil is still amazing. The look of longing on Shirley’s face as Phil hugged her just broke my heart. Jennifer, Maidstone I’m Team Buster! He’d never break her heart like Phil did. PAIGING MARK Paige and Steph’s catfight in Neighbours was hilarious – I was totally rooting for Steph to win. Paige has been acting like such a drama queen recently – if she’s stupid enough to dump Mark Brennan, of course he’s going to be snapped up by someone else! Duh! Viv, via email I actually really like Mark and Steph as…

She’s been abroad helping out at her parents’ donkey sanctuary – but is Maria about to make an ass of boyfriend Luke? He is very happy to see her return, but after she’s spotted with another man, it’s clear that she’s hiding something… NEIGHBOURS Who’s arrested? HOME AND AWAY Hannah hits the deck! HOLLYOAKS Simone’s big shock… EMMERDALE FRIENDS & ENEMIES As Gordon’s trial begins, vulnerable Aaron finds himself leaning on Robert - but is the bad boy good for him? EASTENDERS OH, BROTHER! Stacey has finally accepted Kyle as her sibling and is overjoyed to have him in her life - but how will Jean react to this? PLUS! JOHNNY BE GOOD! The new face of the Carter family talks to Inside Soap… ALL WILL BE REVEALED IN THE…

BULLSEYE! We were gripped listening to Walford newcomer Kyle as he opened up to half-sister Stacey about his transgender journey. Their conversation was captivatingly honest and real, with newcomer Riley Carter Millington shining brightly as the show’s new star. Top marks, gang! When Sarah went into labour early, an ambulance arrived to take her to hospital! But why? It would have been far more fun for Mary to have delivered the baby in the flower shop. What a swizz! It was Cute Kids In Hats Week in Emmerdale. Adorable! Kathy’s present to Ben prompted the happiest reaction we’ve seen since Hev Trott took him to see the musical Wicked. Bless his little gay socks! Over in Weatherfield, micro pigs rampaged at the allotments! Couldn’t we have watched that instead of…