Table of contents for 40 - 2016 in Inside Soap UK

As you read this, we’ll be nursing sore heads and swapping gossip, because we’ll just have completed this year’s Inside Soap Awards. You can see the full list of winners over on p34. But what I love about the world of soap is that it just keeps moving on, so the stories you read about this week will be the plots that will be fighting it out in next year’s Inside Soap Awards. In fact, I think I’ll hand out some of those trophies right now! The award for Best Steal From A Hit Movie goes to Emmerdale’s James and his new life of Misery (see over the page). The gong for Exit We Most Don’t Want To Happen goes to Les and Pam on p36 (please change your mind,…

The love triangle involving Eva, Aidan and Maria is slowly but surely moving towards a dramatic climax! So far, clueless Eva has no idea that her fella cheated on her with Maria, but the situation will become even more awkward when Eva attempts to strike up a closer friendship with her back-stabbing pal… “I’m getting my scripts and my toes are curling – it’s getting so cringeworthy!” revealed Eva’s real-life alter ego, Catherine Tyldesley, while appearing on ITV’s This Morning. “Eva lost Kylie, who was her best mate, so she’s sort of hoping to have that relationship with Maria – not knowing what has gone on between her and Aidan.” And when asked if she’d filmed the scenes where Eva finally learns the truth, the actress said, “No, but I…

KARL PLAYS THE HERO - BUT IS HE FIT TO WORK? Luckily for the crash victims, trusty Dr Karl is soon on the scene – and we all know that he’s a real jack-of-all trades when it comes to medicine! Surely he’ll be able to save them all – won’t he? “One of the passengers has sustained severe head injuries, and there’s pressure on the brain,” explains Alan Fletcher, who plays Karl. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave Karl with many options. He has to use whatever implements are available to him to release the pressure – and in this case, that’s an electric drill.” What nobody else realises, however, is that Karl had a few drinks the night before! So although he’s perfectly qualified to perform the procedure, the delicate work…

CINDY & IAN & WICKSY Nearly 30 years ago, the love triangle between Cindy Williams, Ian Beale and Simon Wicks was the talk of Walford. Both men grew up calling Pete Beale ‘dad’, and while the truth would prove more complicated, Ian and ‘Wicksy’ both saw each other as a brother. Cindy ran a hat stall, but had dreamed of bigger things, and hitched her wagon to local café tycoon Ian. But Ian’s wallet proved his only virtue, and so insatiable Cindy set her sights on handsome barman Wicksy. Cindy fell pregnant by Wicksy, but went through with her wedding to Ian, while making eyes at her husband’s best man. Cindy’s son Steven Beale was born, and Ian thought he was the dad. When he learned the truth, Cindy and…

Bipolar sufferer Zosia slowly begins to unravel again this week, as the pain she feels over Arthur Digby’s death returns with a vengeance. Memories of her late friend and colleague resurface after known cancer patient Michael Malone comes back to the ward. He was the man who gave up his stent operation for Arthur, and now needs further assessment after his tumour returned. When Jac encourages Zosia to work with Michael, her guilt over not being there for Arthur when he died hits her again. But as Zosia battles on, is there more to her emotional inbalance than meets the eye? Also this week… Jasmine’s attempt to impress Ric has devastating consequences, and Raf starts to question his career choice.…

PAT’S YOUR LOT! As a ‘former client’ of the late, great Ms Butcher, Les organised her funeral at a discount rate. “I met Pam St Clement [who played Pat] before I shot those scenes,” reveals Roger. “She said to me, ‘There aren’t many people who get to meet their own undertaker!’” ASK FOR THE MOON! It was revealed that crafty Les was looting the houses of people who died and selling their possessions to Anthony and Tyler Moon to flog at the Emporium! “I think Les justified it on the basis that he had to keep his business going,” cringes Roger. ROTTEN COTTON! Dodgy Les sank to an all-time low when he helped Charlie Cotton fake the death of his father, Nick. “That surprised me,” admits Roger. “I think there…

WHILE WE ARE eager to know what happens in the crash, the question we really want to ask Mavournee is whether there’s any hope of a reunion for Piper and Tyler, aka ‘Typer’… “There’s definitely a future for them, but they need to rebuild their friendship first,” the star tells us. “They didn’t speak for a long time after the school formal – which I was really grateful for, because normally in Neighbours you fight with someone and you’re friends again the next day! “But they are slowly getting back that trust, and Piper will need a good friend after the balloon crash. I’m not sure if their future is romantic or just platonic – although I don’t think that you could keep them apart!”…

The current Street drama sees Nick and Leanne right at the heart of the action, just as they were back in the late 90s, when the starstruck teenage lovers eloped to Gretna Green together. Of course, the big difference is that today’s Corrie sees Ben Price playing the role of Nick – but that could have been different had Adam Rickitt, who played Nick from 1997 to 1999 with a couple of stretches in the noughties, chosen to return when the show decided to bring Nick back full-time in 2009… “I was living in New Zealand when I got asked to return,” explains the 38-year-old actor. “But I was loving everything I was doing down there so much that I just didn’t want to lose it. I don’t regret my…

“I thought I was good with spicy food, but this had a chemical burn, almost” Last year, inspired by his mother Shanthi’s desire for her son to understand his roots, comedian Romesh Ranganathan went to Sri Lanka to meet some of his relatives and find out more about the country that his parents grew up in. That’s not the end of the story, though, because other members of his extended family left Sri Lanka in favour of settling elsewhere. Many of them chose North America, and Shanthi has always wanted to visit. Inside TV got on the phone to Romesh to find out how it all went… What was the response like to the first series of Asian Provocateur ? I was quite surprised. You think you’re…

“I CAN PUT MY HANDS IN MY POCKETS AGAIN. BUT WITH THAT FREEDOM CAN COME BAD HABITS AND BAD ACTING.” The Level’s Robert James-Collier on his change of pace after seven years on Downton Abbey “GREGG WALLACE AND ADELE, THEY TAKE AGES. IRONICALLY, RUSSELL BRAND? NOT SO MUCH.” Morgana Robinson on which characters in The Agency require the most time in the make-up chair “IT FEELS AS THOUGH SHE GETS CHANGED IN CRAPPY BATHROOMS, BUT TAKES CARE OF HER DRY CLEANING.” Gillian Anderson speculates on how The Fall’s Stella Gibson conducts her toilette “IT WAS A NICE ENVIRONMENT. IT HELPED PARTICULARLY THAT WE FINISHED AT 5PM EVERY DAY!” Alan Davies had a nice time filming Damned, and beat the traffic on the way home…

OZZY’S LAST RUN The most popular soap characters in history – think Mick, Cain or Liz – could be brutally murdered and it wouldn’t prompt half the number of letters we receive following the death of a beloved soap dog… It was very sad news that Ozzy, Maria’s gorgeous black Lab in Coronation Street, would be going to doggy heaven. This story is particularly poignant for me as I lost my beloved golden Labrador this year. I am pleased that Corrie will be raising awareness of pet bereavement. So very few people understand just how much losing a loved pet affects an owner. I have taken my darling Lab’s passing very badly, as she was the daughter I never had, and I will continue to miss her until the day…

BULLSEYE! We’d like to congratulate the Corrie writers for their amazing work in turning Todd Grimshaw into our favourite character on telly. Rebounding from his heartfelt romance with Billy straight into the welcoming claws of Phelan and Vinny, Todd has proved beguilingly complex, rich and layered – so all kudos to the writers and the talents of star Bruno Langley! “You have no idea how much money you can make from these little rat-faced pedigree things,” sneered Ross to Charity, on his evil dog-napping scam. And to think we used to like him. We applaud Leyla’s clever scheme to skive off work by leaving a waxwork of herself at her desk. We’ve got a horror story for you, Andy. It’s about this fella who pretended to…

STEVE’S ON VERY THIN ICE… If Steve doesn’t keep to his word, there is nothing stopping Leanne from telling Michelle the whole sordid truth. And if that happens, will his marriage be over? “Yes, without a doubt!” declares Simon. “Maybe if Steve hadn’t run off with Becky [Granger] when he and Michelle were first together, he might have got away with it. But the fact he’s done it to her before means there wouldn’t be any coming back for them this time. “Unless Steve and Michelle choose to move away from Coronation Street, he will be at the mercy of Nick and Leanne for the rest of his life…”…

Weatherfield bosses are in the process of rewriting scenes for the Nazir family – following the dismissal of actor Marc Anwar, who played Sharif. The fired star faces a police investigation after posting a series of racially offensive messages on social media, leaving show chiefs with no choice but to instantly terminate his contract. “We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar,” said a spokesperson for ITV. “We have talked to Marc – and as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect.” The actor has since apologised for his behaviour in an online video, describing his shocking rant as “a moment of madness”. Meanwhile, the team at Corrie are in the process of figuring…

As the Cokers prepare to leave Walford this week, Billy is petrified about making his mark at the undertakers without the pair’s expert guidance. Having been thrown in at the deep end as new boss of the family business, Billy struggles to face up to the task in hand – and is a bag of nerves as he turns to Les for a last-minute pep talk before taking the reins. With every faith in his trusted employee, Les does his best to support wavering Billy – but it’s not long before he’s distracted by more important matters (see p36). Consequently, his new manager is forced to face his demons alone, as he attempts to crack on with his new job back at the parlour. But when Billy inevitably hits his…

THE FIRST THING Rebecca does upon landing is wallop Robert for his treatment of her sister Chrissie. But while Chrissie is pleased to have someone fighting her corner, she shouldn’t be so trusting… “Rebecca is Robert’s spy!” our source tells us. “He’s her woman on the inside, helping to get all the dirt on the Whites and justice for Robert’s brother, Andy.” But Rebecca has a scheme of her own, and sets about seducing Robert – offering him half of everything at Home Farm if he sleeps with her. Robert would like nothing more than to ruin the White family – so will he succumb to the temptation of Rebecca’s bed? If so, he will shatter the heart of his devoted partner Aaron……

They recently enjoyed a romantic trip to Disneyland Paris, but sadly there isn’t a fairy-tale ending on the horizon for Casualty’s Robyn and Glen. Not long ago the nurse found out her bloke had been diagnosed with a brain tumour, and doctors predicted he only has two years left to live. Robyn was devastated – and so are the show’s regular viewers… “I’ve been reading some of the comments on Robyn’s Facebook fan page, and people have been really supportive,” shares actress Amanda Henderson, who plays the nurse. “A lot of them are thinking ‘poor Robyn’ because she can’t seem to catch a break with her love life. And when she finally finds someone who she adores, this happens!” Despite the odds being stacked against them, Robyn wants to cherish…

TIFF & GRANT REUNITED! Lucky EastEnders fans were treated to a reunion between Grant and Tiffany Mitchell last week! Ross Kemp (Grant) appeared on Loose Women, where Martine McCutcheon is a regular panellist, to talk about his new TV series. Grant sure caused Tiffany a lot of marital misery, but Martine was clearly ecstatic to share the screen with her old Albert Square hubby for the first time in 18 years – and gave the hard man plenty of cuddles to prove it! DOCTOR, DOCTOR Casualty’s Amanda Mealing (Connie) excitedly revealed that Doctor Who’s Peter Capaldi had parked his Tardis on the ward! As both shows are filmed in Cardiff, the Doctor visited Amanda and co-star Jaye Griffiths (Elle). And Amanda couldn’t resist a joke, tweeting: “Knock, knock. Who’s…

Adam may have cut his teeth on a British soap, but he’s known by millions Down Under for his work on New Zealand soap Shortland Street, in which he played Kieran Mitchell from 2007 to 2010. “Shortland Street is my favourite job to date,” enthuses the actor. “That show didn’t have the budget of Corrie and was done very much on the hoof, so I was glad I’d had the training of working fast. I was only meant to be there for three months, but ended up staying three years. They gave me free rein with the character and let me come up with some of my storylines – it was brilliant.” However, when Adam decided he wanted to leave, he made sure it was final. “I asked if they…

HOPEFULLY NOBODY HAS DISMISSED this new series as “just another cop drama” yet, because it really feels like a genuinely classy product that’s trying to do something a little bit different. The murder case is complex in the way that it would be in the real world - with the twists sending the detectives straight down a dead end, rather than just providing an easy cliffhanger for an ad break. They feel believable as a small team working on a case much bigger than anything they’ve experienced before. It’s also a great showcase for some actors we don’t see enough of on the telly, particularly Robert Glenister and Indira Varma.…

Chef Gino D’Acampo is heading back to his homeland for another series of travel and cookery, but this time it’s unfamiliar territory. Having already visited Italy’s main tourist hot spots, he wants to show another side to the country… “I said to ITV that I want to go where there are no tourists,” Gino tells Inside TV. “I want to show viewers what it means to live in the mountains of Italy, or around the lakes – that’s why it’s called Hidden Italy.” In fact, many of the Italian destinations in this series were places that Gino himself hadn’t been to before either. “I’m learning something too,” grins the chef. “Every time I go to Italy, I always learn something new. I really enjoyed it!” The series opens in the…

1 SATURDAY DVD AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL - THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON Check in to the fifth season of this deliciously diabolical series, as a sinister countess finds her hideaway at LA’s Hotel Cortez disturbed when a string of grisly murders are traced back to her. Starring a killer cast – including Lady Gaga and Kathy Bates. WIN! For the chance to win a copy, tell us who in Hollyoaks has a sister called Kath: A) Mercedes, B) Kim, or C) Tegan. Text ISPRIZE1, a space, then A, B, or C and your name & address to 85010 (50p). Or see below for postal entries. 2 SUNDAY Book THE EMMERDALE CLUB by Angie Stanger-Leathes Would you believe that Emmerdale is the only soap with an official fan club? It was…

ON THE COBBLES Hiya Inside Soap! Do you know if Coronation Street will be offering tours of their set again any time soon? Abigail, Southport Alas, the old set (which ran tours until last year) is currently being demolished, and there are no plans to allow public access to the new set in Salford. But if you fancy a trip to Glasgow, there’s a display of interior sets and assorted knickknacks. Check www.itv. com/coronationstreet/tour CLAM TO FAME I’ve enjoyed the lovely sunshine of Neighbours’ episodes set on the Gold Coast. Xanthe’s shell-shaped bag really caught my eye, too – is that something I can buy here in the UK? Clare, Walsall We think so, Clare – or at least a good match. Head to…

AS DAVID PREPARES TO DO THE UNTHINKABLE, HIS CLAN LEAP INTO ACTION… Next week, Gail and her family will unite as David’s revenge plot anchors a blockbuster week of Corrie episodes. The Platts have spent years at odds, but they’ll have to work together to stop David from doing something diabolical… Over the years, David has tried to wreck his sister Sarah’s life – even crashing his car into a canal during her wedding to Jason Grimshaw – and tried to kill brother Nick for sleeping with Kylie. But family feuds will be forgotten as Gail leads the charge to prevent David from wrecking lives. The show has filmed some explosive scenes as this plot reaches its shock conclusion. But the question is: who will make…

TOMMY DUCKWORTH CORONATION STREET Tina McIntyre’s fella would surely have been one of the prime suspects for her murder. But when Chris Fountain, who played Tommy, was captured on film performing an offensive rap about violence towards women, bosses cooked up an off-screen break-up for the couple, and Tommy was never seen again. SINEAD O’CONNOR HOLLYOAKS Once it emerged that star Stephanie Davis had been axed – following warnings for lateness, lack of attendance, and allegedly an incident in which she turned up to work drunk – viewers were robbed of the chance to watch Sinead confront her babydaddy Ste about his fling with Harry. Instead, the character disappeared with her daughter Hannah, and that was the end of that.…

Ste tells Amy and Ryan that he’s been having blackouts this week – and with Harry’s support, he musters the courage to find answers. Tensions between Ste, Amy and Ryan are higher than ever, and only get worse after Amy discovers some shock news and little Leah goes missing while they’re arguing! Following a dramatic sequence of events and a heated row, Ste comes clean about his blackouts – prompting concerned Harry to persuade him to go to the hospital for some scans. What is Ste about to find out?…

FAIR CITY Eoghan continues to suspect Debbie is having an affair this week, and is proved correct when he finds a text from Tommy on her phone! He’s even more furious when he learns Rose knew everything… Elsewhere, Dean tells Laura that Sash is having doubts about their relationship. Also, Dermot joins Niamh in her revenge plan against Paul. RIVER CITY Amber feels patronised by her family this week, and seeks solace in her old cellmate Belinda. But Alex doesn’t approve, and orders his sister to get rid of her… Meanwhile, Bob is struggling to cope in Jimmy’s absence, so Cassie suggests they go on a singles’ night as a distraction. Also, Alasdair offers Molly a rather unexpected remedy for her arthritis. THE ARCHERS Kate tries to help Adam with…

“IF LES AND PAM CAN COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING, THEN GREAT” As Walford’s local undertaker, Les Coker might as well have had the Grim Reaper on speed dial. But when fate assigned him the cruel task of organising his grandson Paul’s funeral, it was the final nail in the coffin as far as he and wife Pam were concerned. With that horrible task completed, the couple prepare to leave the Square for a fresh start in Worthing this week. And as Inside Soap sits down for one last chat with star Roger Sloman, who plays Les, he tells us that the grief they feel is overwhelming… “The question that Les and Pam keep asking themselves is, ‘Why did this happen to us?’” explains the 70-year-old actor. “They lost their son,…

HOME SWEET HOME Tina and fiancé Adam Crofts have just moved into a new house with Tina’s daughter Scarlett, seven, and their one-year-old son Beau. “Moving in day tomorrow,” tweeted the star. “And doing a 12-hour work day. And breathe!” KIDDING AROUND Scarlett, whose father is ex-Corrie star Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw), is following in her parents’ footsteps by becoming a model. She’s just starred in a campaign for Boohoo Kids. “I’m so proud of her,” gushes Tina. SPLIT DECISIONS Scarlett’s proud mum and dad amicably co-parent their daughter. “It took a while to find a way to make it work, but now it does – really well, in fact,” enthuses Tina. MY TWO BOYS Ryan remains great friends with Tina and is even close to Scarlett’s stepdad, Adam.…

“My favourite stunt to film was for an episode soon after I first started. It involved a fairground where the ghost train crashed – and I was working with Daisy Ridley, who is now a huge star thanks to Star Wars. I think Casualty might have been one of her first TV jobs.” “Crystal Yu, who plays Lily, would probably make the best doctor in real life, as she seems to retain the medical information we have to learn. Don’t get me wrong, though, she is absolutely nuts! We’ve lived together in Cardiff for almost a year now.” “The one person I always had the giggles with was Suzanne Packer, [Tess Bateman]. There was one episode where Robyn was stoned after eating some suspect cookies, and as I filmed the…

What was your first reaction when you found out that Mercedes was having yet another wedding? …asks Simone from Brighton Exactly that! I went, “What, another one?”. But the more the merrier – I think it’s fab. She should have plenty before she pops her clogs! Mercy is yearning for a guy to love her, so she will just say yeah and try to make it work. Filming weddings is like water off a duck’s back now – another day, another dress! Which of Mercedes’ men has been your favourite? …asks Petra from Bradford I’ve loved all the people I’ve been partnered with on screen, and I still speak to every single one – all five! I see Glen Wallace who played Malachy, Rob Norbury who played Riley, Stuart Manning…

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I thought Brief Encounters was brilliant. It was really funny, and I loved that it was about ordinary women becoming more independent – they were getting out and earning their own money, and you really got behind them. This was a few months ago now, but I loved the second series of Happy Valley . It was superbly written, and the acting is incredible. Sarah Lancashire and Siobhan Finneran are British acting at its best. They work so well together playing sisters. My favourite film is Rosemary’s Baby ! I watched it for the first time about eight years ago, and it had a massive effect on me. It’s so gripping, it messes with your head and you don’t know what’s going to happen…

LONG TO REIGN ITV has ordered a second series of Victoria. The period drama has been the channel’s highest rated drama of the year so far, which means Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes will be back in 2017. AFFAIR’S FAIR Tom Hughes is also set to star in new BBC2 thriller Paula opposite Denise Gough. The three-part series explores the fallout of a teacher’s heated affair with a handsome but dangerous man. FOUR SCORE ITV has confirmed the coaches for The Voice UK’s first series at its new home next year. Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am will return to the red chairs, joined by Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale.…

ARIES 21 MARCH - 20 APRIL It’s your natural instinct to take the lead, Aries - but this week, there may come a time when you have to follow. It might put you out of your comfort zone at first, but it could just teach you a thing or two. TAURUS 21 APRIL - 21 MAY While some have a natural love for the outdoors, you’re much more keen on staying in! This week, some unexpected free time will allow you to shut the door to the outside world, sit back and relax. GEMINI 22 MAY - 21 JUNE As a Gemini, you always have one eye on the future - and this week your focus prematurely shifts to Christmas! It may be too early for most, but you’ll be…