Table of contents for 24 - 2020 in Inside Soap UK

So, our fears have become reality – EastEnders is coming off the air, albeit temporarily, after running out of episodes filmed before the current crisis. It’ll be the first time in 35 years that the show hasn’t been on screen, and I’ll be lost without my Walford fix, as I know you guys will be too. But never fear, Inside Soap is here to fill the gap, with some great “Inside Soap is here to fill the Walford gap…” EastEnders treats in store to keep the fires burning in the weeks ahead. And as the Square gears up to resume production, Corrie and Emmerdale are already filming, meaning this is a very exciting time. Soon, we’ll have news of new plots, exciting fresh actor castings and behind-the-scenes snaps. Like so…

Hi, Bradley! Why is Vinny so desperate to find Paul? It’s a weird situation, Vinny had started to build a relationship with his father, and then he left. Vinny is worried about his dad, he cares about him a lot, and he wants to make sure that he’s safe and that he’s okay. What does Vinny get up to while stuck in the salon? There’s lots to keep him occupied – he won’t sit quietly in the corner. We might find him giving himself a manicure or tinting his eyelashes! How will being stuck in lockdown together affect Mandy and Vinny’s relationship? If you’re stuck with someone for that length of time, you are either going to kill each other, or your relationship is going to become stronger. This will…

“With filming being difficult, have the soaps ever considered single-character monologues? There’s some great actors in soap, and a whole load of history. Imagine Sharon musing on her woes by sending voice messages to Michelle while self-isolating at home.” …says reader Gavin “Instead of locking down families in Emmerdale, they should have put unlikely characters together for a while. Imagine the secrets that would come out, as well as the arguments, and all the awkward silences!” …muses reader Anna “I love Bernie’s insistence that Dev secretly fancies her in Corrie. He could do a lot worse. Frankly, he already has done!” …muses reader Tina from Southampton “Now Toadie is back with Dee in Neighbours, I’d love them to tie the knot again. His previous weddings have involved a car going…

To get us through while EastEnders is off air, show bosses have made sure we’ll still have a weekly visit to Walford, with a new series featuring cast members’ favourite memories and a sneak peek of the future – plus, a repeat screening of classic episodes. EastEnders: Secrets From The Square will be hosted by Stacey Dooley, and will see stars sit down each week to reflect on their time on the show, as well as take a look behind the scenes. Letitia Dean, Adam Woodyatt, Diane Parish, Tameka Empson, Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright are already signed up for the show, which also promises some juicy titbits of what’s going to happen when we return to Albert Square! We’ll see that show every Monday from 22 June, while Tuesdays…

“Everything is on the up! That’s how life works. Just when you think it’s the end of the world – bing! – the sun begins to shine!” A long-time soap resident, Dev should know better than to tempt fate like that. “Being loved by a Mitchell man beats being loved by any other man. It’s worth giving up everything for.” Frankly, that raises more questions than it answers. “Andrea’s found her spirit animal at last, and it’s a snake.” We imagine Kim’s spirit animal is a sort of winged fire-breathing horse. “It’s like a menagerie, Roy’s flat, with all his injured little birds.” “Mum, it’s 2020, we don’t call women birds any more.” Quite right. The only birds in Roy’s Rolls is the custard. “My sock drawer is like the…

“How would Daniel cope in lockdown? To be honest, I don’t think it’s much different from his normal life!” chuckles Corrie star Rob Mallard, aka Daniel, as we ask him how his character would fare with the current real-life situation. “I do think new parents – especially when they’re on their own like Daniel is – do effectively live the first couple of years of their child’s life in lockdown, because you can’t really go far anyway. So when someone tells you they’re going to pop in and see you, that can end up being the highlight of your day.” Daniel gets his hopes up this week when Adam offers to arrange a boys’ night in for his birthday – so after Adam cancels at the last minute, the single…

When Dales bosses contacted the stars they’d chosen to appear in these special episodes, Nick Miles (Jimmy) was expecting the worst. “I always panic when I get a call from a producer,” admits the 57-year-old, who has played Jimmy since 2003. “I thought it might have been a call to fire me, but it was about Jimmy and Nicola’s two-hander! I was thrilled to be asked.” Ironically, Nick says it’s Jimmy’s staying power that should convince Nicola to fight for their marriage. “The thing with Jimmy is that he is the ultimate survivor,” he says. “He’s the only King left, and he is sort of bulletproof – that’s why Nicola needs him!”…

WIT AND WISDOM “All I wanted was a fresh start…” Max “You had your chance, and you blew it. For once, do the right thing and leave this house. Just go.” Tanya “It’s not about the money… it’s never about the money. It’s about revenge!” Max “That ginger ferret!” Martin describes his rival Max THE KEY RELATIONSHIPS TANYA CROSS Max’s second wife was his biggest relationship – together they had three kids, and some happy years (the ones when she didn’t catch him cheating). Sadly, Tanya wasn’t around when Max wed her sister, Rainie – we’d have loved to have seen her reaction! JIM BRANNING Many of Max’s issues can be traced back to his dad, bullying champion boxer Jim ‘Basher’ Branning. The pair were at loggerheads when they were…

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We chatted to Tamla Kari, who’s currently starring as football club PR Olivia Talbot in The First Team, about her favourite TV shows… What was the last programme that you binge-watched? Like much of the rest of the nation, Normal People! I think it’s just really well-observed, especially in how things are communicated between men and women. It’s beautifully done, plus the acting is exceptional. What show do you most like to relax to? I’ve been getting back into ER, although once Dr Greene left, it was never quite the same. I’m persevering, anyway… What have been your favourite comedies during lockdown? Keeping me going recently has been Joe Tracini [Hollyoaks’ Dennis Savage] with his Twitter dance tutorials! They’re brilliant. And sports commentator Andrew Cotter’s online videos with his Labradors,…

2014 Less than a year after moving into the pub, Linda is raped by her brother-in-law Dean on the kitchen table. It takes her months to tell husband Mick what happened. 2015 While pregnant with son Ollie, Linda falls down the stairs, sending her into premature labour! Thankfully, baby Ollie arrives safe and sound. 2016 A fight between Mick and Linda’s children Nancy and Lee leads them to knock poor Ollie out of his high chair! The lad stops breathing, and later suffers a seizure. 2017 Aunt Babe puts a curse on the pub after the Carter family throws her out! Was it just coincidence that the pub’s roof collapsed shortly after? 2018 Stuart frames Mick for shooting him – resulting in Mick being banged up! As if that wasn’t…

It’s the news story we thought (or at very least hoped!) you would never have to read in Inside Soap, but alas it’s true – EastEnders is going off air! Don’t panic, however, as the show’s absence from our screens will only be temporary. Episodes screening this week are the last filmed before production shut down due to the Covid-19 crisis. And the show does go out with a bang – the big drama including the future of the Queen Vic hanging in the balance, Karen torn between Mitch and Billy, and Ben’s medical emergency. EastEnders is due to resume filming soon, with BBC Elstree – the studios where the show is shot – recently reopening to start preparations for the cast to return, and new episodes set to begin…

Ben leaves his loved ones seriously worried this week, when he collapses! Ben hasn’t been feeling well for weeks, and as Callum realises that his boyfriend still has a fever, he makes him take stronger medication. Later on, however, when Jay calls round to see Ben, he’s stunned as his best mate suddenly falls unconscious! After Ben comes round, he finally admits to Jay that he’s been left completely deaf since a gun went off near his ear during the recent job with Phil, and Jay insists that Ben goes to hospital. What will the medics say when Ben explains what’s happened?…

One of Emmerdale’s most beloved characters shows his face for the first time this week – from under an adorable pudding-bowl haircut. Little Andy Hopwood is in the care of a local children’s home when he’s left behind on a fateful trip to Jack’s farm. Robert takes Andy on an adventure to Demdyke Quarry, but calamity strikes. Little does either boy know that this is the beginning of a feud for the ages… Elsewhere, Kim is chafing under the terms of Frank’s twisted deal, and when Chris slyly mentions that she lost her last baby in a horseriding accident, Kim sets out on her most reckless ride since Dave……

BEN’S BIG MOMENT! EastEnders took a unique approach by showing us the day through Ben’s eyes and ears. So many of you had a lot to say about the episode, and we loved reading your comments… Well, that was a very dark visit to EastEnders! Plus, it’s not as if the Mitchells ever leave Walford – or even the Arches – so surely Danny and his thugs will always know exactly where they are…? Nina, Brentwood It made me laugh that the special episode got so many negative comments about the fact that people couldn’t hear the programme properly – that’s the whole point! They wanted to show Ben’s struggle, and I’m surprised some people didn’t fully understand that. Jen, Chepstow I know Monday’s episode of EastEnders was all about…

Although Rob has been alone during lockdown, he admits to catching up with a lot of friends via video call – including former co-star Katie McGlynn, who played his screen wife Sinead. “We’ve had more contact over the past couple of weeks than we have for a couple of months!” he says. “When Katie left the show, I was still in the thick of the story, and it went on for about another six or seven weeks, so I didn’t see her for ages during that. “But now we’re both free again, we’ve had a lot of Zoom chats,” continues Rob. “We’re planning another gin session soon, which involves us drinking gin, then telling each other secrets! When Katie has enough drinks, she likes to dance – which is really…

Jess tells us that she didn’t have to look far to research this storyline, because sadly she has a very personal connection to the subject matter. “I didn’t have to do any research, to be perfectly honest – my fiancé has lost his two best friends to suicide in the past year, and I have been watching him deal with that,” confides the actress. “So seeing how he’s coped with it has given me all the information that I needed.”…

While socially distanced filming is going to lead to some changes behind the scenes of our soaps (see over the page for more), will EastEnders be referencing the coronavirus crisis within the drama on screen? “EastEnders is set in a version of the here and now, so it won’t be a Covid-free Walford – there will be social distancing and so on,” says BBC Drama boss Piers Wenger. “But we may not dwell on the virus and make it the heart of the story. I think people watch a show like EastEnders for the characters and their relationships. So, Covid-19 will be there, but it won’t be the only thing happening in Albert Square.”…

Sally is left horrified when she finally sees Geoff’s true colours this week, as he corners her and issues a menacing threat! Geoff has been livid with Sally since she kicked him out of the house last week, and he was forced to move back into No 6. Sally makes it clear how she feels about the situation when she gives Geoff and Tim the cold shoulder at the pub, so after Sally leaves for work, Geoff follows her to the factory and confronts her… “Sally is pretty terrified when Geoff approaches her,” reveals our Weatherfield spy. “It makes her realise just how dangerous Geoff can be. The abusive man gets right in her face and tells her that he can’t believe she’s forcing Tim to choose between his dad…

BILLY LET’S GET PHYSICAL They’re Walford’s friskiest couple. We hope Billy has the stamina to keep up with her ‘needs’ long-term! 10/10 PARENTAL PROWESS He’s not perfect, but he loves his kids to the moon and back – and will do anything to keep them from harm. 10/10 JOB’S WORTH A new job – and 1% share – at E20 has boosted his sketchy CV. But he always ends up back as Phil’s gopher! 4/10 EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE Honey broke his heart bedding demon dentist Adam, but we can’t help think Billy hasn’t given up on her. 5/10 THIS CHARMING MAN Billy’s a nice bloke, but hardly one of life’s raconteurs – his pillow talk would help you to sleep, though! 4/10 BILLY 33/ 50 MITCH LET’S GET PHYSICAL For all…

Coronation Street’s, 35th birthday falls into this week on ITV3. The show celebrated with its first-ever hour-long episode (which you can catch on Thursday at 2.15pm), and a host of other big moments… RAQUEL’S CHOICE At the centre of the drama is befuddled Raquel, who once again falls into the orbit of her great love, Des. Stung by Liz’s recent rejection, Des is desperate to salvage his manly ego, and once again sets about the lazy seduction of his devoted ex. The next morning, he tells Raquel that he’s only interested in a casual fling, leaving his poor prey feeling used and abused. When Raquel confides in Betty about what a fool she’s been, the clucking mother hen promises that there will be a good man out there for her…

It’s a relatively quiet few days in Walford, but we do get to witness a key stage in the development of Phil Mitchell. When he first arrived on the Square, Phil was the more responsible of the Mitchell brothers, but that changes following the car lot arson. This week, he falls in with gangster Jimmy Coogan, in the first of many a ‘dodgy motors’ scam. As ever, there’s a spanner in the works, and Jimmy ends up threatening Phil’s nearest and dearest – starting with a brick through the window of Kathy’s caff. Phil’s soon asking for his brother’s help to put Jiimmy back in his box… One place the Mitchell brothers probably won’t be bothering is the Square’s new hair salon – with the classy name of Kool for…

HOUSE PROUD Ruby and Martin had a meeting while drinking from some lovely mugs a few weeks ago. This is a stab in the dark, but do you have any idea where I can get them from? Molly, London These mugs are from the Fox and Ivy range in Tesco. They’re not available online right now, but you might find them in some stores. And there’s more lovely crockery on the website! ADOPTION HISTORY In EastEnders, Denise talked to Sharon about what it means to give up a baby. I remember Denise having a baby with Phil, but what happened next? Zoey, Newcastle Denise was adamant she was going to give up her son shortly after he was born in 2017. Kim and Vincent volunteered to raise him, but Denise…

“Dealing with Jimmy and three kids would be enough to drive anyone crazy!” laughs Nicola Wheeler, as she offers Inside Soap an idea of what to expect from Emmerdale’s lockdown episode with the King family. “I couldn’t imagine being stuck indoors with him or Nicola – goodness, no! With the unlimited exercise we’re allowed to do, I’d be trying to get out of the house!” Usually it wouldn’t be hard to picture the chaos, but on this occasion there’s one difference, as we join Jimmy and Nicola navigating their ‘new normal’ from Laurel’s living room rather than their own. The real ‘behind-the-scenes’ reason for switching sets – as actress Nicola and co-star Nick Miles (Jimmy) have often told us – is that the studio for Victoria Cottage is the equivalent…

So far, Leela and drug dealer Jordan have agreed to keep their romance a secret – but what she doesn’t know is that Jordan has also been seeing her daughter, Peri. Star Kirsty-Leigh Porter (Leela) gives us the lowdown… Hi, Kirsty! Why does Leela keep her relationship with Jordan under wraps? Because Leela’s embarrassed! He’s a lot younger than her, and is a bit rough and ready. Leela just thinks it’s a bit of fun, so there’s no need to involve anyone else. How would Leela feel if she found out about Peri? She’d feel the same way as me – sick to her stomach! Obviously, Leela would be angry, and feel as if she’s been taken for a fool. Are you enjoying being part of a secret-love plot? Leela’s…

CORRIE’S SALLY Match with your mini-me, like Sally and her daughter Hattie, with style-sharing sleepwear… Go wild in these safari-style PJs, featuring a zebra graphic for mums, and pretty pink giraffe print for kids. Don’t let sleep get in the way of style! These woodland and jungle-print sets are great to mix and match, and ideal for boys or girls. With gold pineapple motifs, these chic pyjamas for mums and their little ones can be personalised on the top pocket. Snuggle down in these cosy co-ords, complete with a cute glittery bear design on the front for you and your youngster.…

WHITE HOUSE FARM One of 2020’s biggest TV hits, this crime drama was based on the events of August 1985, when five members of one family were shot dead at an Essex farm. Watch on Amazon Prime QUIZ On a rather less gruesome note, ITV’s three-parter told of Major Charles Ingram and his wife Diana’s 2001 attempt to cheat their way to a fortune on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Watch on Amazon Prime THE TRIAL OF CHRISTINE KEELER The BBC drama told the story of how 1960s model Christine Keeler became entangled in a political scandal involving two of her ex-boyfriends. Watch on BBC iPlayer THE CROWN The drama about the Queen and the royal family has gripped viewers for three series. Olivia Colman took on the lead…

TWO DOORS DOWN The BBC Scotland comedy is coming back for a fifth series, to hit screens next year. The six-part run will see the return of all the core cast, including Arabella Weir and Alex Norton as the Bairds, who have to put up with their insufferable neighbours in Glasgow. TV BAFTAS The show must go on – despite coronavirus! This year’s BAFTA Television Awards will be broadcast from behind closed doors, after being delayed from May by the UK’s lockdown. Richard Ayode is set to host from a studio, with the winners giving their speeches virtually. “I’m as surprised as you are that this is going ahead,” says Richard. The event will be broadcast on BBC1 on Friday 31 July. LOVE ISLAND AUSTRALIA Good news for Love Island…

The last time we saw Tilly on screen, Louise was heading out of the Square, believing she was to blame for Keanu’s murder. While Tilly admitted she would miss EastEnders, she’s thrilled by this new role. “It’s a really exciting project,” shares the star. “Reality TV can be the perfect platform to craft a future career. But sometimes people are sold the dream and it doesn’t work out.” Like Tilly’s Walford alter ego, Helen is also the determined type. “She’s very driven and business-minded,” says Tilly. “And cut-throat…”…

CASUALTY Connie Beauchamp.......... Amanda Mealing Rosa Cadenas......................... Jacey Sallés Faith Cadogan...................... Kirsty Mitchell Charlie Fairhead.............. Derek Thompson Noel Garcia.......................... Tony Marshall Ethan Hardy.................... George Rainsford David Hide................................ Jason Durr Jan Jenning............................... Di Botcher Dylan Keogh.......................... William Beck Fenisha Khatri........................ Olivia D’Lima Marty Kirkby................ Shaheen Jafargholi Jade Lovall.......................... Gabriella Leon Lev Malinowski........................... Uriel Emil Rash Masum........................... Neet Mohan Jacob Masters....................... Charles Venn Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson Will Noble................................. Jack Nolan CORONATION STREET Aadi Alahan...................... Zennon Ditchett Asha Alahan......................... Tanisha Gorey Dev Alahan........................ Jimmi Harkishin Izzy Armstrong............... Cherylee Houston Aggie Bailey......................... Lorna Laidlaw Eddison Bailey....... Trevor Michael Georges James Bailey..................... Nathan Graham Michael Bailey....................... Ryan Russell Adam Barlow...................... Sam Robertson Amy Barlow.......................... Elle Mulvaney Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Sarah Barlow........................... Tina O’Brien Simon Barlow.............................. Alex Bain Leanne Battersby...................…

EMMERDALE Chas & Paddy’s lock-in! WHAT BETTER PLACE TO BE ISOLATED THAN IN A PUB? We can’t think of a more fun place to spend lockdown in than a pub fully stocked with booze! But when Chas and Paddy find themselves confined to the Woolpack with baby Eve, it’s not exactly one long knees-up for them, as they try to work through their recent issues. While Chas frets about how they’ll cope with the loss of revenue, Paddy’s more interested in the beer cellar – can the troubled pair put their differences aside and get back on track before it’s too late? HOLLYOAKS PC Kiss on the case! Sid and Juliet could find themselves in serious trouble with the law next week, after they attempt to sell more drugs at…

BULLSEYE! It was a great week for the sisterhood down Weatherfield way. We were up on our feet cheering Asha as she channelled her inner Michelle Obama and put idiot boy Corey firmly back in his box, and Alya as she devoted every waking moment and fibre of her being to taking down the perfidious Geoff. It’s time to rally the support of Eileen and Sally, and take that sucker down! We’re very impressed that Leyla has the know-how to access texts from a phone, and swiftly re-format them for a USB drive and TV. Would she consider a role in our IT department? And we bet Leyla would be the first to point out that all Geoff’s deleted CCTV files will still be in his ‘Trash’ folder… Now we…