Table of contents for 20 - 2017 in Inside Soap UK

“The Taylor family look like trouble!” Oh, there’s a new soap family in the offing – and they look like trouble! EastEnders has announced the introduction of the Taylor clan, and it doesn’t seem as if they’re going to arrive quietly – as you’ll see when we reveal all about them over on p12. It’s a bold move deciding to bring in a whole new family in one foul swoop, with soaps these days often playing it safe by extending an existing character’s clan and introducing the new members slowly. Even the Carters, who arrived with quite a bang a few years back, were brought in around Shirley to give the audience something familiar among all the new faces. So, will the Taylors be the next big thing, or will…

RYAN MALLOY Lauren thought she’d hit the jackpot after seducing Whitney’s edgy older brother… BUT the payout was measly when Ryan had to flee Albert Square after killing his sister’s evil pimp. Hard luck, love! JOEY BRANNING Brooding bad boy Joey had the potential to be Walford’s next big thing and the love of Lauren’s life… BUT the fact that he was her cousin made it slightly icky. And as it turned out, Joey was pretty dull. JAKE STONE Lauren was convinced she’d found her soulmate when she bonded with fellow recovering alcoholic Jake… BUT it came to light that he already had a mate in the form of snooty wife Sadie. (Who, you ask? We barely remember ourselves.) PETER BEALE Her teenage sweetheart and Lauren’s true love, Peter was…

Following speculation, Dales bosses have announced that Emma Barton will be leaving the soap in spectacular fashion! It was rumoured she’d be bumped off by Lachlan, who will reportedly turn serial killer after he does away with his grandad, Lawrence. Actor John Bowe, who plays Lawrence, seemed to confirm the gossip when he announced that his alter ego is being written out of the show – but at that point there was still no word on Gillian Kearney, aka Emma. Until now… “Gillian was going to leave the show this month, but we asked her to extend her contract to play out the last chapter of Emma’s story,” a Dales spokesperson tells us. “Gillian was happy to stay till the end of the year, in the knowledge she’d be involved…

D IS FOR DESPERATE! Denise envisaged a fresh start when she quit the Minute Mart. Unfortunately, she never imagined she’d remain out of work – and with no money coming in, D is struggling to find her next meal… I feel terrible for poor Denise. Everyone warned her that quitting her job was a bad idea, but I felt positive she’d go on to better things. No wonder she’s so embarrassed about her situation – she’s proved everybody right! Larry, Worcester I’m so sick of the misery EastEnders is inflicting on Denise. Don’t get me wrong, Diane Parish is an amazing actress, but after the adoption hell and all the fallout from that, do we really need to see Denise suffer even more? Can’t she just enjoy being with Kush…

With the Street heading for its 57th year, Dolly-Rose has just celebrated her 30th birthday. She hit the town in Manchester recently for a night of cabaret and dancing, and was joined by co-stars Lucy Fallon (Bethany), Sam Aston (Chesney), Rob Mallard (Daniel), Lisa George (Beth) and Daniel Brocklebank (Billy), to name but a few… “I had a nice party at a bar called New York New York with friends and family,” she reveals. “And one of the girls from the Corrie styling team did my hair and make-up.” And how does Dolly feel to have hit the big 3-0? “Fine!” she exclaims. “I’ve been told your 30s are the best, so I’m looking forward to it.”…

James has accomplished remarkable things as a lawyer – who knows how he managed to get Warren out the nick? But his steely reputation was jeopardised when Mercedes and Scott uncovered humiliating videos from his law school drama society. And it turns out that Gregory found the experience as embarrassing as his character did… “I was dreading filming those auditions until I started doing it,” confesses the actor. “Afterwards I thought, ‘Oh God, that’s going to be on TV – what have I done?’! But I’ve probably done hundreds of terrible audition tapes in my time. I’ve never played Danny Zuko in Grease, though – I learned pretty early on that my singing voice doesn’t stand up to much!”…

Blaze of GLORY! Revenge is a dish best served cold, or so the saying goes – but Weatherfield’s Mad Maya Sharma clearly preferred her vengeance smoking hot! After her fiancé Dev dumped her for his ex, Sunita , Maya devised one of the most elaborate revenge plots in soap history. First, she posed as Sunita and married a string of men, resulting in Sunita’s arrest for bigamy as she tried to wed Dev. Then Maya set fire to all of Dev’s shops, before leaving him and Sunita to burn! She may have been madder than a box of frogs, but you’ve got to give her 10 out of 10 for effort… Best man? Poor Andy Sugden . Here he is on his wedding day to Katie , oblivious to the…

She does a right good northern accent on the cobbles – but when it comes to learning her husband Sylvain’s native language, Samia Longchambon (Maria) has revealed that she finds it difficult. Discussing the culture barrier between them, she said: “I’m learning bits of French. Sylvain’s family don’t speak English, so I have to speak as much French as I can.” Yet Samia revealed that their one-year-old son, Yves , is already better than her – having started to copy Sylvain’s voice. “Oh it’s really cute – he’s got a sweet French accent when he speaks,” gushed the star.…

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I really love Line Of Duty . I saw the first two series on Netflix and I ended up buying the third. And then the new series was just on proper telly, so I’m going to watch that the minute this interview is over! It’s a great show. I watch a lot of box-sets of American shows . I really enjoyed the first season of Homeland and I kept watching it, hoping it would be as good as the first season again. Billions is great as well, and I love Suits and Narcos. Of all the ones I’ve mentioned, Narcos was probably my favourite. My favourite comedy is Modern Family , which is a sitcom in the style of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, like Hospital…

The truth about Robert and Rebecca may be out, but the fact remains that Rebecca is pregnant with Robert’s baby! He’s been pressuring her into having a termination – but Ryan reckons that a child would put the cat among the pigeons… “It would certainly affect his relationship with Aaron if there was a baby,” he muses. “There would be two tangents drastically different from each other. “I enjoy everything they write for us – we’re very lucky,” adds Ryan. “Emmerdale gives us great opportunities and fantastic drama, and we’re both fortunate to be involved in that.”…

Here is your first look at the raucous clan set to shake up Albert Square! The locals will be in for a rude awakening when single mum Karen Taylor and her children burst on to the scene, making quite an entrance as they move in next door to Dot… “The Taylors are noisy, brash and not to be messed with,” insists EastEnders boss Sean O’Connor. “The summer is going to be explosive as they settle in – and the Square will never quite be the same again.” So what’s the story with this lot? And who’s who? Inside Soap has the lowdown on all the characters. KAREN TAYLOR On the surface, the no-nonsense matriarch is fiercely protective of her brood and won’t hear a bad word said about any of…

It started out as a joke, but Maria and David’s ‘romance’ in Corrie could turn into the real deal if actress Samia Longchambon has her way! The star reckons that her beleaguered character should wash her hands of cheating Aidan – and hook up with David instead. “I’m campaigning for Maria and David to get together,” she confesses. “We’ve had so many messages on Twitter from people who are rooting for the two of them. I think they should just crack on!” Maria might soon wish that she’d fallen for a different fella, judging by what Street bosses have planned for her and love rat Aidan. The pair recently resumed their shameless affair behind his girlfriend Eva’s back – but the situation is set to move…

The police investigation into who attacked nasty Josh takes a surprising turn this week, when Tracy makes a shocking confession! The evil schoolboy and his mates had been running riot in the village until a mystery assailant took the law into their own hands – and battered Josh over the head with a cricket bat. After Dan became the first person to discover the lad’s unconscious body, he found himself squarely in the frame for a crime that he didn’t commit. So what exactly does Tracy have to do with it? Well, this week David’s other half is feeling very guilty about something, and heads to see the police with a recording linked to Josh’s attack that she has stored on her phone. Viewers will have to wait and see…

Excited Eva looks set to finally get a ring on her finger this week – when Aidan says he has big news to share at the Underworld party. She’s been determined to get Aidan to propose for ages, even though he’s made it clear that marriage isn’t his priority. Of course, Eva is oblivious to the fact that love rat Aidan is sleeping with Maria behind her back, so she has no reason to think he doesn’t see her as the future Mrs Connor. So, when the factory girls are asked to gather around for Aidan’s big announcement, Eva is almost delirious with excitement. Is Aidan about to make her dreams come true – and will Eva get the happy ever after she’s been craving?…

Ex-EastEnder Michael Greco (Beppe di Marco) guest stars in Casualty this week, as a police officer who ends up being admitted as a patient! After he collapses while attempting to apprehend a suspect in the ED, officer Phil is given a stern warning by Elle to take it easy. But when Connie’s young pal Hugo goes missing, Phil discharges himself against Elle’s orders, and races off in order to find the boy. However, his heroic behaviour has catastrophic consequences as he suffers a cardiac arrest! Can Connie and Hugo save Phil’s life?…

RABBITING ON EastEnders’ Louise was wearing some very cute yellow rabbit pyjamas before Alex and Madison turned her girlie sleepover into the party from hell. Do you know where can I buy the same set for my teenage daughter? Amirah, Newhaven Louise’s ‘Bunny Print Long Sleeve Tee and Legging Pyjama Set’ are available online at ASOS for £24 – and they’re in stock! CRIME OF PASSION Adam Barton has made plenty of stupid mistakes since he’s been in Emmerdale village, but I don’t remember him ever getting into trouble with the law. What’s the story behind the criminal record he rather stupidly declared at the adoption open day? Nigel, Carlisle Adam was distraught after his father John’s death, and blamed Cain for starting the affair with Moira that caused his…

I personally own one dog, a German shepherd called Tessa. However, my family has five dogs on the farm, so although I am close with them all, they’re not mine! I love dogs and support a few dog charities, including Oscar’s Law – which is all about eliminating the puppy farms. When you’re buying a dog, it’s important to be responsible and make sure they come from a good environment. Every week, we put your questions to a star of the soaps. Look out for requests on our Facebook page, or email your questions to youask@insidesoap.co.uk, putting the actor’s name in the subject line. Our favourite question each week will win a £20 prize !…

“It’s incredibly daunting for Rebecca to consider being a mum” Who’d want to be in Rebecca White’s Louboutin shoes right now? She’s pregnant, alone and about to face a backlash of epic proportions once the Emmerdale locals find out that the father of her baby is Robert Sugden. As usual, Robert has got nasty in the face of the consequences of his cheating antics, and has demanded that Rebecca has a termination. But as he uncharacteristically confesses his sins to stunned Aaron this week (see p8), there’s plenty of drama to follow – and it’s heading Rebecca’s way… “Unfortunately, Aaron is a casualty of Rebecca’s love for Robert,” explains Emily Head, who plays the troubled girl. “There’s no malice from her towards Aaron, and she took a step back from…

Fifteen years ago, Little Mo whacked her abusive husband Trevor over the head with an iron in an iconic EastEnders scene – but luckily there was no violence on display when stars Kacey Ainsworth and Alex Ferns got back together recently! The pair were reunited at the opening of Alex’s new play Out There On Fried Meat Ridge Rd. at London’s Trafalgar Studios. Discussing their thoughts on returning to the soap that made them famous, Kacey admitted she would consider going back if the right story came up – and despite his wicked alter ego ending up meeting his maker on the show, Alex joked: “I would never say never…”…

The cast of Hollyoaks certainly know how to put on a glam display, and they are well aware of what’s needed to perk up a selfie, too – just add a cute doggy! Take a look at Chelsee Healey (Goldie) puckering up with her teeny sausage dog – and don’t get us started on Jimmy Essex (Adam) and his pooch Stevie snoozing in bed. We can’t decide which one is cuter……

THIS PERIOD DRAMA served up several shocking scenes of violence in its opening episode, but it definitely got the message across – this is no cosy corset-fest. Upon their arrival in the British colony of Jamestown in 1619 , the first women of the settlement realise that this is a new country where the rules are still being figured out. Telling the story through the eyes of three women gives a fresh perspective on an otherwise male-dominated point in history, and we’re hooked already – smart, shrewd, ambitious Jocelyn is one of our favourite characters on TV right now.…

HEIR RAISING DRAMA! Scandals above and below stairs plague the Crawley family in this everyday tale of rich aristocrats and those who serve them. WHET YOUR APPETITE! Revenge is a dish best served with extra seasoning in a tasty tale of love and betrayal, starring Dawn French and Emilia Fox. MAKING A MEAL OF IT! A restaurant review tour sees Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in fine sarcastic form - and cracking out some great impressions. CHECK OUT THE BEST OF BRITISH BOX SETS THIS WEEKEND WITH A 14-DAY FREE* TRIAL! * 18+. UK only. Pass renews at £6.99pm unless cancelled. Streamed with min speed 2.5Mbps. For further terms and conditions visit nowtv.com © ITV Studios…

BULLSEYE! Congratulations, Corrie , on redeeming killer Rob . His courtroom heroics for Tracy (followed by their decision to go at it like rabbits for the seven minutes they were left in a cell together) reminded us just how much we’ve missed him. Please say that this story was simply to test the waters for Rob’s full-time return… We’d have him back in a heartbeat. Lauren’s new office is crackers. What’s that window? Is she supposed to be up in the clouds? Even Canary Wharf isn’t that high. Pull the other one! We were reminded this week that Sharon and Phil are planning to build a holiday home in Italy… Perfect for when Tish and Steve need that nice long break from Walford during panto season! Rhona’s…

PHELAN Outsider Phelan was arrested first, but ruled out after stepson Todd provided taped evidence that he was working at Luke’s flat on the night. PETER Ken’s son Peter got nicked, but with both bunny boiler Chloe and his arch-rival Nick able to place him away from the family home on the night in question, he’s clearly innocent. TRACY Sickened Tracy believed her daughter Amy was guilty, and confessed to the crime – before fugitive Rob turned himself in and gave her an alibi. AMY Innocent Amy was shocked when her mum confessed to attempting to murder Ken in order to cover for her, as she had never laid a finger on her beloved grandfather. ADAM With a grudge against his grandad, Adam was arrested – but while the police…

The cast of Hollyoaks are heading to Ibiza to film some sizzling summer scenes, and they’ll be bringing home two rather striking souvenirs – newcomers Brody and Damon. By the looks of this behind-the-scenes shot of actor Adam Woodward – who plays Brody – filming his first episodes on the Spanish party island, we can expect lots of sun, sea… and stripping! “Brody will return from Ibiza with a dangerous secret for one set of regular characters,” reveals our Hollyoaks source. “Meanwhile, his wingman Damon [played by Jacob Roberts] has a history of his own. His connection to one villager will soon become very clear, but will Damon be welcomed with open arms?” We’ll find out that the lads have been best friends since meeting at…

As the new boss of the Queen Vic, ruthless businesswoman Fi Browning has already made a string of enemies who are desperate to see the back of her. However, as Lisa Faulkner settles into her EastEnders role – and recalls the time she was killed off in Holby City – the actress is hopeful that Fi is in Albert Square to stay… “I begged to die in Holby,” laughs the star, whose alter ego Dr Victoria Merrick was stabbed to death. “I wanted to have a grisly death, and I remember saying to the show’s producers, ‘Please make it gruesome! Please can I die?’. “Then it was only a year later that I thought, ‘Oh, I can’t go back now!’ You can’t…

How does it feel to be working on the Street? I’ve been an actress for 27 years, and it’s always been my dream to be on Coronation Street. I grew up with the show, and I was so excited about the role – I felt like I knew Gina straight away. Do you get on well with your screen sister, Sally Dynevor? I can’t begin to describe how gorgeous Sally is! Everyone who’s worked with her told me, “Well, you’ve lucked out!” when they knew I was playing her sister. Not only is she a brilliant, professional actress, she’s a lovely person. Which character would you like Gina to share scenes with? There are so many, but I’d have loved to have had a scene with Hayley – Julie Hesmondhalgh…

“I’d love to see Emmerdale’s Faith have a fling with a much-younger man. We often see men in soaps hooking up with people half their age, but it’d be great for Faith to have a romance with a toy boy like Pete Barton . They would be the talk of the village.” …suggests reader Katie Brown “Has Stacey forgotten that she’s a Slater ? She’s so calm and sensible now. Don’t get me wrong, I like her being married to Martin . I just wish that we’d see a bit of the Slater spark again – especially when her family is under threat…” …argues reader John “It would be amazing to see Toyah reveal something about her personality that isn’t connected to her IVF struggles. Let’s…

Peter and Toyah are delighted when they receive the money they need to buy the Rovers this week – but their dreams are in tatters when Steve changes his mind about selling up! While Toyah was hesitant about her recovering alcoholic other half becoming the pub’s next landlord, Peter convinced her that the Rovers would provide them with a stable future, and also raise enough money to continue with their expensive IVF treatment. After Steve learns that Peter has the cash from the sale of the flower shop in hand, he visits Michelle to tell her she’ll soon have the money that she has demanded from him. But sly Nick overhears their chat, and comes up with a plan… As Peter and Toyah prepare to celebrate their good fortune, Steve…

FAIR CITY Emmet is unsettled after Katy sides with Ciaran this week, but breaks free from the hostage situation when Ciaran exits the room. Can he get Katy to go with him? Elsewhere, Damien fumes at Rose for leaving Saoirse alone in the street. Also, Charlie gets a call from John Deegan. RIVER CITY Angus is shocked to learn he has a brain tumour this week, and tells Bob he’s terrified of surgery. Can Bob get him to accept treatment? Meanwhile, Scarlett jumps to conclusions when she sees Stevie taking pills. Also, Suzie tells Jules that Alasdair has been paying her rent. THE ARCHERS David is pleased after Josh agrees to help with silaging at Brookfield this week, but ends up fuming when his son doesn’t show! Elsewhere, Lilian is…

The Murrays are still very much a mystery. However, we do know that they’re not complete strangers to everyone in Albert Square – thanks to a shared history with Dot! “We find out that they and Dot were neighbours in the flats years ago,” explains Christopher. “Ted says, ‘Guess who lives next door – Dot Cotton’. Joyce replies, ‘Oh, she was always poking her nose in!’” After the trio realise they’re going to be living close by again, will it be a case of love thy neighbour? Or will their old rivalry be reignited?…

“I like storming into the police station to stop interviews!” “Playing James is such a roller coaster,” chuckles Gregory Finnegan, who plays Chester’s go-to legal eagle. It’s clear he’s in high spirits today, with the actor erupting in laughter as we talk through his character’s delicious schemes. It’s no wonder he’s in such a good mood, seeing as he’s just found out he’s a Best Actor nominee at this year’s British Soap Awards – and with James now a potential suspect in the Amy Barnes murder case, the drama has only just begun for the Hollyoaks star… Hi, Gregory! Are viewers starting to suspect James could be Amy’s killer? Oh yes! I think things like the ringtone and him sabotaging Harry’s posters have tipped the wink…

Is Emily surprised by the vitriol aimed at Rebecca since she got between Robron? “Well, yes and no,” she says. “I knew it would be an issue, but I was still quite surprised by just how angry people were. It’s really intense. I can understand that fans are upset – but some are very angry. “When Rebecca and Robert slept together, there was a whole thing online about how, because Robert was drunk, he had no fault in all of this. People were saying, ‘How dare she?’ and saying Rebecca should have left. “But Ryan Hawley [Robert] and I were very careful on the day of filming to make it seem like a progression. Rebecca wasn’t just turning up to sleep with him – it was more the case that…

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“HE’S PART PRIEST , PART SOCIAL WORKER AND THERAPIST” SEAN Father Michael Kerrigan has the difficult job of being the guardian of the faith in a struggling urban parish in the north of England. He finds that many of the people who attend his church are in trouble financially, emotionally, or indeed both. And while he feels compelled to help, Father Michael is also battling demons of his own. “Father Michael has a very multi-layered and intriguing story,” explains Sean Bean, who plays him, as we join him for a chat on set in Liverpool. “I can identify with all the characters in this, which is a good thing because I’m playing a priest who has to identify…

Most of us will never know what it’s like to sit on a jury unless we’re randomly selected to serve on one. This new five-part series, however, aims to demystify the judicial process by setting up a fictional case that will be tried by a real judge, real barristers and a jury of real people. The only actors involved are the accused, the victim, and some of the witnesses… “I hesitated about doing this for a long time,” reveals Max Hill QC, who is the prosecutor in this case. “But there’s an abiding interest in what we do, which is the reason why there are so many dramas about the courtroom process. What ultimately grabbed me is that this was going to dispel all the myths and, I believe, come…

TONE POLICE Gareth Malone and Kelis will be the full-time judges on BBC1’s choir contest Pitch Battle . They’ll be joined by weekly guest judges, ranging from Will Young to Chaka Khan… GIVE US A SHIRL Shirley Ballas is to replace Len Goodman as head judge when Strictly Come Dancing returns this autumn. Known as the ‘Queen of Latin’, Shirley is a three-time ‘British Open To The World’ champion, with many more dance titles to her name, too! DUTY CALLS There’s good and bad news for Line Of Duty fans. Series five and six have been confirmed, but it won’t be back until 2019. That leaves plenty of time to hone your theories on who the crime boss ‘H’ is……