Table of contents for 30 - 2021 in Inside Soap UK

Leanna’s devastated loved ones turn on each other this week, as the plans for her funeral descend into fighting. But while Leyla worries when Liam and Jacob have a major falling out, a bigger drama is on the cards. To Meena’s horror, she could be revealed as the killer, just as Leanna is laid to rest… At the beginning of the week, grief-stricken Liam is locked in his own personal hell and doesn’t want any other input into the funeral plans. Meanwhile, Jacob and Leyla believe that the occasion needs to reflect who Leanna really was and honour her memory. So, when Liam tells his wife and stepson to stay out of it and leave him to do this alone, Jacob kicks off… “Things are getting really nasty!” warns our…

Tiff’s not the only one struggling with her appearance this week – Bernie remains determined to shed weight in a bid to carry her pregnancy to full term. Now she’s Rainie and Stuart’s surrogate, Bernie feels the pressure to deliver them a healthy baby, and she knows her weight could cause complications. But as she continues to push herself at the gym while popping diet pills, is Bernie putting both herself and the baby in danger? “Bernie is so worried about her weight – however, what she doesn’t realise is that the diet tablets are far more harmful than a few extra pounds,” notes our insider. “She’s so desperate for the money to help out her family, but she’s risking her own health in the process. And when Rainie hands…

James’ football career is left in tatters this week, after he’s injured during a brutal police stop-and-search procedure! It’s while James and his brother Michael are out test-driving a fancy new motor that PC Brody stops them for no apparent reason. And as events take a dramatic turn, Michael becomes convinced that the only reason they were pulled over was because of the colour of their skin… “This has happened to Michael in the past, so he feels aggravated,” points out Ryan Russell, who plays him. “He reckons that he and James have been stopped as they are two black guys in a car, and when the police officer doesn’t give Michael a valid reason why he stopped them, it solidifies what he is thinking.” James is also taken aback…

Yashvi, Levi and Sheila end up in a terrible road collision this week – will they all make it out alive? The smash happens after Levi and Yashvi make a shocking discovery about Mitch and Nelson, before giving chase to the criminals. However, while the trio are in pursuit, Sheila speeds around a corner and has a horrifying accident… “Sheila feels she needs to explain how things ended up at this point” “It’s a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” reveals Colette Mann, who plays Levi’s grandmother. “Sheila is driving in her car when it clips Levi and Yashvi’s vehicle as it rounds a bend – then their car flips! It’s all extremely dramatic.” In the wake of the crash, Sheila rushes to help, and…

There’s bad luck for Billy this week, when he’s beaten to a job at Kat’s Cabs by newcomer Harvey. No one knows that broke Billy is sleeping at the car lot, and he’s too proud to ask for help – however, when he finds out that there’s a job going at Walford’s newest taxi firm, he requests an interview. While pal Mitch reckons that Billy has smashed it, he doesn’t realise that experienced cabbie Harvey has already impressed the boss! Kat feels bad after hiring Harvey on the spot and crushing Billy’s hopes. And although Harvey generously offers to split the role, proud Billy rejects his proposal… The next day, Kat clocks Billy at the car lot and figures out he’s been sleeping there. Gathering Phil and Honey, Kat reveals…

The launch of Curtis and Emma’s charity calendar doesn’t quite go to plan this week – but can they still make their fundraising venture a success? After persuading the local men to get their kits off for the saucy endeavour, Emma and Curtis are hoping to raise the extra money required to take Oliver’s fund up to Steve’s target of £100,000. However, when the grand launch is ruined by Todd’s lies being exposed (see p4 for more on that), the pair fear it’s all been for nothing… Meanwhile, Tim, Dev, Steve and Chesney feel guilty for having missed the launch – but when they head to Victoria Gardens to apologise, they’re stunned to hear that the party never took place! So, vowing to do all they can to help sell…

Mia drops the bombshell that she’s expecting a baby this week, leaving Ari thrilled! However, will it be a smooth road to parenthood? After agreeing that he and Mia should try for a baby, Ari is over the moon when she tells him they’re going to be parents. But the pair decide to keep their excitement on the down-low until they find out more. It seems they made the right decision because Mia receives a call to say that her hospital appointment has been fast-tracked due to them previously losing a child. And their minds aren’t put at ease when Mia is told her hormone levels are high, as the results of her ultrasound remain pending… With stress on her and Ari’s shoulders, Mia finally gets a call back. Luckily,…

Ah, a Walford Christmas! And 1997 is proving as miserable as any other year, as we see Tiffany and Grant’s marriage savagely disintegrate. But is it our imagination, or are those lights on that infeasibly large Albert Square Christmas tree burning brighter than usual this year? Must be the sparks of electricity flying between the ever-glamorous grandma Kathy Mitchell, and cockney vicar Alex Healy (brother of Mel, in case you’d forgotten, which she seemed to on her last return). The pair are thrown together while making Christmas dinner at the local women’s refuge. Soon, the warm charitable glow of their good deeds overtakes them, and while they embrace, nothing or no one else in the world appears to matter. Well, apart from poor Peggy, who is set to arrive at…

As Michael completes his scenic trip across wondrous Wales this week, here, he stops off to share with us the TV shows he loves to ‘cwtch’ up to… What have you been most enjoying watching on telly recently? I really enjoyed Mare Of Eastown, it was just so gripping, and Kate Winslet was sensational in it – as was Ewan McGregor in Halston, that’s a brilliant series. I also really love superheroes, so I’ve been working through all the Marvel films again on Disney+. What about comedy shows? I will always watch anything Victoria Wood has done, because I love the bones of the woman: she is the funniest. I also really enjoy American comedies – I thought Ted Danson was brilliant in The Good Place. What were your favourite…

Ahead of a full series later in the year, this three-part special sees host Michael McIntyre take another turn on the rotating question-selector – this time, with added puzzlers on an Olympics theme, to coincide with the Summer games. Among the seven celebs revolving and solving each week will be one sports-based star… “We have a sports expert and category on the Wheel each week, such as Claire Balding on the Olympics and Greg Rutherford on London 2012,” explains Michael. “Then the rest of the Wheel is filled with an array of celebs, including Anton Du Beke on dancing, Rob Rinder on law and Nigel Havers on theatre.” And Michael reckons he might have a better chance of being right with these newly added topics… “I think my extraordinary lack…

Todd finally comes unstuck this week, after Paul gets evidence to prove that Billy’s fiancé is a snake in the grass – and reveals it in the most public way! Just as Todd and Billy set a date for their wedding, Paul finally acquires the evidence he needs, a recording of Todd gleefully confessing to orchestrating his break-up from Billy. It’s young Will – who has been blackmailing Todd over his sins – who gifts Paul the footage. And soon Paul hijacks the big screen that has been erected in Victoria Gardens to launch the Street’s charity calendar, where Todd’s treachery plays out for all to see… “Will reels off a list of Todd’s various crimes...” “Poor Billy is forced to accept that his relationship with Todd is built on…

Dear Jacob, It’s an awful time for anyone who ever loved Leanna, isn’t it? There’s her dad, who’s worshipped her since the day she was born. Then there’s you, the boy who ghosted her for months, came back from out of nowhere to propose, then dumped her on her birthday. So, while we agree Liam’s funeral plans sound a bit rubbish, we’re unsure as to why you’re even in the room! The last decision you made regarding Leanna was, “Shall I discover the world with a beautiful girl, or spend the summer pricing up baked beans in my dad’s shop?” And you made a mess of it. So why would Leanna’s grieving father allow you to decide anything about her funeral? The best thing you can do is keep your…

It may turn out that Whitney’s wasted on Walford, after Rocky puts the wannabe popstar in touch with his friend in the record industry! EastEnders has signed actress and singer Kate Robbins – who is also the real-life mum of telly star Emily Atack – to play music agent Jen Glover… “Jen is an old mate of Rocky’s who is called to the Vic to meet an upcoming musical talent Rocky has discovered – Whitney!” explains our EastEnders insider. “An old-school rocker, no-nonsense Jen is determined to make Whitney a star – but does she have what it takes?” Find out next month.…

Prepare for a very different episode of Casualty this week, as the medical drama kicks off a storyline about coercive behaviour between Jacob and Tina. Jacob finds himself faced with some tricky situations as his relationship with Tina intensifies – but will he take the assertive route and start an argument, or the passive route to keep the peace? Charles Venn, who plays Jacob, tells us more about the special episode which takes two very different paths… Hi, Charles! What was your initial reaction when you read the script for this? Well firstly I thought, ‘Okay, this is different!’ The film Sliding Doors came to mind. I knew the team was planning a slightly left-field episode centring on Jacob and Tina, with alternate outcomes of each situation. So I thought…

After months of worry and heartbreak, Aaron’s frustrations with his alcoholic sister Liv finally boil over this week – as he explodes when it looks as if her behaviour has ruined things for him and new boyfriend Ben. Matters come to a head just as Aaron is becoming a source of support for Ben, who is trying to distance himself from his dad Warren. Aaron has urged Ben to ignore Warren and get on with his life. But faced with more manipulative messages, Ben still can’t bring himself to delete them. And although he agrees with Aaron, it’s clear that he’s torn and struggling… “It’s a tough call for Ben to turn his back on his family,” explains our Dales spy. “Ben’s taking advice from Aaron, but Aaron doesn’t know…

Roxy’s left with a huge dilemma this week, after she catches Harlow’s new boyfriend Jesse getting cosy with Curtis! Horrified at what she’s just witnessed, Roxy breaks the news to Harlow – but she’s shocked when Harlow informs her that her romance with Jesse is fake, designed to get Paul off her back about Brent! However, Roxy is highly suspicious about what it is that Jesse is getting out of this ‘fauxmance’, and decides to do some digging……

Lola is determined to stay by Isaac’s side this week, but Sheree is less than pleased that her son’s other half will be sticking around… When Ben makes a remark about Isaac, Lola becomes upset. And Sheree then hears just how dedicated Lola is to her son and his recovery. Sheree should be pleased that her son has so much support, but she’s disappointed that Lola is sticking her nose in! Will Sheree soon manage to find a way to get Lola out of the picture?…

FAIR CITY Will gets a second job at the Pod this week, but the increasing money pressure leads him to go to Ger for a loan! Has Will just made a massive mistake? Meanwhile, Sharon learns about Juliet’s history, and warns her off Lee… Plus, Tommy finds out that his son, Zak, is back in town. Will it be a happy reunion? THE ARCHERS Ian’s suspicons reach an all-time high this week, but when he decides to confront the matter, Ian is set to land everyone in even more trouble… Elsewhere, Roy has romance on his mind, but will his attempts at dating be scuppered? Finally, Lynda makes it her mission to secure a celebrity for the village fete.…

No 6 Coronation Street will go on to be dubbed the ‘house of horror’ in future years, but the terrace takes its very first victim this week – as Des Barnes finds himself caught up in the war between stepson Tony and some nasty drug dealers. An altercation sees Des thrown to the ground, fatally cracking his head on a swish Ikea triangular corner table – there can’t be a more 1998 way to go than that! Natalie declares her undying love at his hospital bedside, but even a good dose of the Horrocks isn’t enough to save Des. In years to come, the house will claim several more victims, including Charlie Stubbs and more recently Geoff Metcalfe. Down the Street, however, there’s another nightmare unfolding as Alec sneaks into bed…

EAR BLING Neighbours’ Melanie wore a gorgerous pair of gold leaf earrings recently. Where can I get some? Rachel, Hartlepool Exact matches of earrings can be hard to find, but here are some very similar ones! Take a look at the ‘Gold Leaf Earrings’ from Joli Joli Jewellery. Or if you want a longer-lasting pair, check out the ‘Gold Fern Drop Earrings’ by Catherine Zoraida. THE NAKED TRUTH! In Corrie, Dev said he had a naked situation with a woman called Tara. He didn’t go into details – so what actually happened? Rikki Tara Mandal was Dev’s girlfriend back in 2008. But the relationship was doomed from the start, because Dev had a fling with Tara’s mum! After they got back on track, Tara discovered that Dev had an affair…

“My first thought when I heard that Chelsea was going to date Gray was, ‘Please don’t kill me!’” chuckles EastEnders star Zaraah Abrahams (Chelsea), when we quiz her about being paired up with the local serial killer. “It’s an odd thing because her dad Lucas is a murderer, and now she’s dating one, though obviously she doesn’t realise that. But if and when she does find out, I think that would shake anybody…” This week, Chelsea comes dangerously close to uncovering her boyfriend’s grisly secret when she finds Tina’s earring in his car! So might she be the one to finally unmask him for the monster he really is? Or will the discovery see Gray turn on her? What do you think of Chelsea and Gray as a couple? Chelsea…

As the village vicar, Charles is often expected to have all the answers – but how will Kevin fare when responding to your tricky reader questions? “Can you tell us what your Emmerdale audition was like?” “What was your Emmerdale audition like?” Well, it was very stressful at first. I had to do a self-tape, filming myself from home. Luckily, I have a friend and fellow actor called Paul McQuaid who lives locally, and he was happy to assist. His advice and direction was very helpful in making character choices, and picking the best clip to send back to the show. I am really grateful to him for that help. “Charles seems to be a natural as a vicar – how would you fare in the job?” I don’t read…

Tiffany takes drastic measures in her quest to look ‘Insta-ready’ this week, as she desperately tries to make cash for more fillers! Tiff’s hubby Keegan was recently horrified to discover that his missus had spent an extortionate amount of money on facial injections, designed to add volume to her lips and define her cheeks. But is Tiffany’s splurge on cosmetic enhancements just a one-off? “What Keegan fails to realise is that his wife’s self-esteem is at an all-time low,” sighs our Walford spy. “She’s comparing herself to other women – many of whom have tweaked and filtered their photos to look nothing like reality – and poor Tiff doesn’t feel she measures up. She wants to look perfect – but the fact is that perfection is impossible to achieve.” “Tiff…

It’s game over for Nancy and Zack this week, when Mick demands the lying lad dumps his daughter! The fuming dad is outraged over Zack’s part in Nancy’s accident, and he’s even more furious when he realises that Zack has continued to see Nancy on the sly, despite his earlier warnings. However, Nancy still has no idea that Zack and Frankie were responsible for her near-fatal hit-and-run. So, when it becomes clear that Zack is still romancing Nancy, Mick storms over to put him straight. “That little mug needs to watch his back – Mick’s gunning for him!” warns our Walford insider. “To think he’s been busy bedding Nancy after what he did that night! When it comes to his daughter, Mick’s not messing about. Zack needs to end things…

While Liv continues on her downward spiral this week, rumours are rife that things are a lot better for her real-life alter ego Isobel Steele… The actress has been spotted twice this year on ‘staycations’ with her co-star Bradley Johnson (Vinny). The twosome were most recently sighted at a campsite in Cornwall, with an onlooker noting that “they seemed to be getting on very well”. While the pair didn’t post any pictures of each other on social media, and insiders claim they’re “just friends”, we think they’d make a lovely couple!…

Hope’s real feelings about Tyrone’s new baby are laid bare this week – when she rips the head off the unborn tot’s teddy bear! Hope’s behaviour has caused  problems for her family in the past, but are matters about to get even worse? The drama begins as Hope plays games with her parents. When Fiz and Tyrone row over how Tyrone treated her new man, Phill, young Hope sees an opportunity. She slyly tells her parents that she needs help from both of them with her school project – however, as the family sits down to work on it, Hope’s real agenda becomes clear… “Hope may be young, but she’s already a master manipulator…” “She may be young, but Hope is already a master manipulator!” says our Corrie insider. “She…

The arrival of a new British Sign Language teacher brings hope to the Winter-Browns this week – but when Freda introduces Charlie to the couple, Ches admits he’s finding it very hard to learn BSL. He tells Charlie that he’s hoping Aled’s cochlear implant might make it easier for him to communicate with his son. However, Gemma doesn’t want her hubby to give up on learning to sign, whatever happens. So, despite encountering difficulties, will Ches agree to make the effort?…

Donna-Marie is stunned to discover some explosive information this week, but what will she do with the shocking secret? With Romeo still believing the party Cher is organising is for his birthday, he excitedly starts inviting his family. And when his mother gets wind of what’s being planned, she’s keen to come along too… However, Romeo is still not speaking to Donna-Marie, leading Juliet to step in and give her some advice about how to win him over. But while Donna-Marie is trying to sort out a surprise present for her son, she ends up finding out that the party isn’t for him after all! So, will she tell him? The secrets don’t stop there, though, as Goldie blurts out to Donna-Marie that Romeo slept with Mercedes! Will the desperate…

Struggling Brooke begins to question their relationship with Imran this week – and, following a chat with Ripley, their identity as well… After issues with their romance, Brooke turns to Ripley for advice – and comes to a realisation. When Brooke uses the term non-binary for the first time, they decide it’s time to have a heart-to-heart with Imran. Later on, Brooke fills Ripley in on how it went… However, will Imran be able to accept Brooke for who they are? FAIR CITY RTÉ1, RTÉ Player (Ireland only) Sunday 8pm (NI only: Sky 161, Virgin 875) THE ARCHERS BBC Radio 4, iPlayer Sun-Fri 7pm (omnibus Sun 10am) RIVER CITY is currently on a summer break – it will be back on screen in August.…

Poor Rachel Hughes… she endured a two-hour hike through mud and drizzle to be pushed to her death by psychotic Graham Clarke. But for Kathy, who always regarded herself a cut above the rest, there are no such indignities. She’s happily driven to a pretty holiday cottage for her final showdown with Graham. And although Rachel faced the nutjob alone, Kathy has a knight in shining armour coming to her rescue, in the form of Eric Pollard – with his humble serf Marlon bringing up the rear. Sadly, the undynamic duo are as feckless as you’d expect. So Kathy – a past master at self-preservation – is forced to roll up her dainty sleeves and save herself. But when she sets off in the car, Graham scrambles into the passenger…

“GOING ON HOLIDAY NOW WILL BE MORE EXCITING THAN EVER” HOLLY Back at Christmas 2019, Bradley Walsh and Holly Willoughby hosted a one-off edition of this show, and it proved so popular that BBC bosses commissioned a full series. Then, you-know-what happened, and a primetime game show where people win exotic holidays while everyone was stuck at home wouldn’t quite have worked. Thankfully, as we hopefully start to finally come out of the dark, Take Off has been put back on the green list… “You can win amazing trips to incredible destinations,” explains Holly. “So it will be great escapism for everyone right now.” “It’s about time families had a holiday!” adds Bradley. However, in order to win the holiday of a lifetime, the players need to get through a…

There’s a lot going on at Gary and Terri’s gaff, as the comedy returns for a second series this week. There’s their wedding to plan, a fledgling business, a nasty new neighbour… and a skip. And it’s the latter causing Gal the biggest headache, as he’s let his fellow Butterchurn  Crescent residents dump their junk in there, too. Tom Davis and Laura Checkley, who play the hilarious pair, tell Inside TV what’s in store… Hi, both! Just how much of the events in this series are inspired by your real lives? Tom My wife is terrified that our neighbours are going to think it’s about them! But I did get a skip, and someone put a mirror in the bottom. That is the most selfish thing to put in, because…

Having shared his expertise and enthusiasm for the natural world for many years, Chris Packham is admired and respected – particularly for his great work on the hugely popular series Springwatch and Autumnwatch. While his latest programme is just as fascinating and educational as previous projects, it also has a personal message stitched within – as walking the path he trod so often as a child allows Chris reflect on the difficult memories of growing up with undiagnosed Asperger syndrome… “This is a film about an important walk to me,” reveals the naturalist, photographer, conservationist and campaigner, as he introduces the poignant hour-long special. “I’m following in my distant footsteps on a path where I grew up, where I really cut my teeth as a naturalist, and had plenty of…