Table of contents for 19 - 2017 in Inside Soap UK

“Redwater is moody and looks stunning!” Soap spin-offs have a rather chequered history. It seems once you take characters away from the Street or the Square, and the familiar faces we know, audiences just appear to lose interest. For although it was sweet a few years ago to see one-offs like Dot’s early days in EastEnders, you don’t often find that ‘Ricky and Bianca in Manchester’, or ‘That time Steve McDonald went to Brighton and met Bet Lynch’ are in people’s top 10 soap moments. But I would urge you to take a look at Kat & Alfie: Redwater this week. It’s different from EastEnders, and even Kat and Alfie have changed from their Walford days. It’s mysterious, moody and dramatic – and looks stunning by making the best of…

Are you having a good time at Emmerdale ? It’s been amazing! Everyone is lovely and has been so supportive of me. I’m starting to get my head around the filming schedule because it’s been quite terrifying! Do you enjoy playing Nell? I love it. It’s always fun to play someone who is quite different from you in real life, and Nell is very much that. I’m much more grounded and more confident than her! Had you worked with anyone else at Emmerdale before? Yep, I worked with Danny Miller [aka Aaron], who played my fiancé in Jamaica Inn – although I haven’t actually seen him in the village yet, so I’m looking forward to that! Did you watch Emmerdale…

We know the truth about Louis being Daniel’s dad has to come out eventually – but Kirsty is hoping they can have a little more fun with this plot before that happens… “I kind of like having a secret!” she admits. “There are so many more dimensions to this storyline that we could play with – I’ve heard lots of whispers about other things they want to do, and they’re all really exciting! Obviously we know that it’s going to have to come out at some point, but for now I’m quite enjoying the fact that it is still a secret!”…

“Whit’s new resolve comes as the spark between her and Woody is really igniting…” It’s a new chapter for Whitney this week, after she receives confirmation of Lee’s formal request for a divorce. However, rather than wasting time moping around, she decides to put the past firmly behind her and assures Johnny it’s time for her to look to the future! Life has changed drastically for Whitney since her troubled marriage ended, and if it wasn’t for the Carter clan kindly accepting her as one of their own, she could have been left without a home and a job. And although she evidently has no desire whatsoever to consider making amends with her estranged husband after everything he put her through, she has been too busy helping keep the Vic…

“It’s been 12 years since Chrissie went to prison for killing Den – surely she’ll be released soon? She’d make the perfect partner-in-crime for Max. Plus: Tracy-Ann Oberman is an amazing actress!” …raves reader Andy Burrows “I think it’s about time Sean in Corrie had a big storyline. It’s been ages since he’s had anything to do. Perhaps Violet and their son could come back to Weatherfield?” …suggests reader Barbara Simpson “A great storyline would be Rebecca offering Adam and Victoria her baby to adopt – and then Victoria learns her brother Robert is the dad. It would make a great Christmas story for Emmerdale !” …enthuses reader Emma West “After all the recent exits, Hollyoaks has a real…

Mrs Tembe is forced to make a confession to Zara this week, as Zara receives a gift from the relative of a former patient. The practice boss opens up after Zara receives a lily plant from the husband of a woman who died of cancer, having left it too long to receive medical aid. Noting Mrs Tembe’s emotional response, Zara suggests the plant should act as a reminder of what happens when we ignore our health concerns – prompting Mrs Tembe to spill the beans about what’s troubling her. But can Zara help her?…

BAGS OF STYLE Hollyoaks’ Nancy had a beautiful blue silky handbag at Maxine’s engagement party. It’s so much prettier than my boring black backpack. Where can I buy the same one as her? Mandy Nancy always has eye-catching accessories, and her lovely ‘Blue Floral Metal Handle Bag’ is from New Look at just £19.99! STILLBIRTH TRAUMA When Maria was comforting Michelle in Corrie, she said, “I was exactly the same when I lost Paul”. The only Paul I remember is Liam Connor’s brother. Is this who she means? Chelsea Paul was also the name of Maria and Liam’s stillborn son, who they named after Liam’s late brother. Maria realised he had stopped kicking and went to hospital alone to have her labour induced. She decided not to tell Liam right…

Last Christmas, Lee was in the all-star cast of Cinderella at the London Palladium. Big names such as Julian Clary, Amanda Holden and Paul O’Grady topped the bill, and Lee – aka Prince Charming – tells us it’s the most fun he’s had on stage. “In rehearsals, Paul would go off on a rant about what was in his mum’s handbag or whatever, and we’d be crying with laughter,” grins the star. “We’d go right off script, and even the director would be in hysterics!”…

GREG KELLY 1998-1999 It’s no wonder Corrie’s Sal doesn’t mention her former boyfriend Greg at all – because he was a con man and a brutal bully! The long-lost son of Les Battersby only hooked up with Sal after finding out that she’d inherited a substantial sum of money, and sadly poor Sal fell for his scam hook, line and sinker. But after he revealed his true colours and took Sal and her girls hostage, he was eventually thrown into jail for his crimes. Good riddance!…

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STRIKING OUT Sky1 thriller Strike Back is returning with a cast that includes Warren Brown, ex- Neighbours actors Daniel MacPherson and Alin Sumarwata, and Roxanne McKee of Hollyoaks fame. TESTING TIMES Alex Jones is heading to W to host a new six-part series. The Secrets In My Family will follow people who are using a pioneering DNA test to fill in the gaps in their family histories – which will perhaps help to solve some enduring mysteries about their past. PERFECT 10 Warwick Davis’ ITV quiz Tenable is back and looking for contestants. The show needs teams of five to take on top-10 list questions – so if you and your family, friends or work colleagues think you have what it takes to win the big cash prize, email tenable@initialtv.com…

SAD FAREWELL Mick grew up believing Sylvie was his mother until Shirley confessed otherwise, and his auntie Tina was devastated by her tragic death. But while reluctant Shirley was released from jail to attend Sylvie’s funeral, Mick couldn’t make it back home in time. WHO’S THE BOSS? When Linda installed old mate Woody to run the Vic, the team were not happy – and it’s not likely Mick will be, either! Woody has since joined forces with new chief Fi to streamline the pub’s finances – and their sacking of Tracy had punters up in arms. AFFAIR CHANCE And what about that kiss shared by Mick and Whit back on the day of the Walford bus crash? It’s barely been mentioned since – but it’s clear that Whitney still has feelings…

Emmerdale star John Bowe has confirmed that his character Lawrence is leaving! Rumours began to circulate last month when a tabloid newspaper claimed that Home Farm’s lord of the manor would be bumped off by his deranged grandson Lachlan, and that John was unhappy with the decision to write him out. Bosses refused to comment at the time – but John recently announced on Twitter that it wasn’t his choice to quit. So if that part of the story is true, are the whispers surrounding his sensational departure bang on the money as well? “Don’t forget that Lachlan has already tried to kill his grandfather once,” our Dales insider reminds us. “And it would appear that prison has done nothing to change him. The attitude he’s shown since…

Is this the moment that Shona breaks down at Kylie Platt’s grave and confesses her true identity to grieving David? The troubled woman is haunted by the knowledge that she’s the mother of killer Clayton, who stabbed Kylie to death last year. With the support of David’s mum Gail, Shona has so far managed to keep the truth from him. However, these poignant snaps of the pair on location suggest that she’s ready to spill the beans… “Despite their animosity, there’s a spark between Shona and David, and they’ve been growing closer,” says our Street spy. “Her conscience will be nagging at her – but there’s a good chance that Shona’s confession will send David off the rails again.” Our Corrie spies caught a glimpse of stars Jack P Shepherd…

Dan is embroiled in a horrifying situation this week, when he stumbles across the unconscious body of troublesome schoolboy Josh. The vile teen and his best mate Jamie were responsible for the recent attack on Pollard, and have been released from police custody pending an investigation. However, their brush with the law has done little to discourage their bad behaviour, as they continue to bully Jacob. And when the lad fights back and Dan tries to help, the situation spirals drastically out of control… “Jacob finally loses it with these kids and lashes out,” explains Liam Fox, who plays Dan. “He trashes their bikes, and when Josh and Jamie find out, Dan takes the blame to stop them from beating up Jacob.” With Dan having been pressured by the thugs…

FAIR CITY Rose receives a crucial phone call this week – but with her memory in doubt, will anyone believe that she’s spoken to Katy? Elsewhere, Debbie is concerned when Emmet goes missing, and begs Deegan to find him. Also, Heather tries to stop Farrah leaving with Ciaran. RIVER CITY Scarlett reveals the truth about Stevie to Madonna this week, and Madonna turns to Lennie to track him down… Meanwhile, Annie tires of Frankie’s blackmail and opts to confess her infidelity to her sister. Plus, Angus’ suspected hangover turns out to be more serious… THE ARCHERS Kirsty turns up at Grange Farm this week, and Eddie and Joe try to hide the damage that the pigs have done. Will she notice the problem? Across the village, Toby is advised to…

“Charlie misses Matthew terribly, and rues the day he left him” Jack may not be happy to have Charlie back on the Square, but we can’t help feeling a sense of relief that little Matthew’s dad is still in one piece! When Charlie disappeared in 2015, it was very possible he’d been killed by Vincent on his estranged wife Ronnie’s orders. And as we join Declan Bennett, aka Charlie, to chat about his EastEnders return, he admits that even he wasn’t sure of the truth at the time. “It was all left up in the air,” he chuckles. “Was he dead? Wasn’t he? I didn’t know. So it was quite nice to get the call confirming that he wasn’t.” Charlie has come out of hiding for…

After sporting Cathy’s cardies most days in Coronation Street, actress Melanie Hill took the opportunity to showcase an edgier style when she married film producer Jim Daly in London’s Muswell Hill recently. Wearing her heart on her boots rather than on her sleeve – in a fabulous pair of Doc Marten boots – the bride brought a bit of Corrie to her big day with an eye-catching leopard-print coat and bag. And Melanie wasn’t the only star to hit the spots recently! Turn to p60 to see what we mean – and how you too can follow the leopard-print trend……

Tina was part of Corrie’s most shocking story of 2000, when 13-year-old Sarah found out she was pregnant – so the star is no stranger to handling heavy plots at such a young age. That’s meant she’s been in a great position to mentor cast mate Lucy Fallon through Bethany’s shock plot – and she’s been very impressed by what the young actress has achieved so far. “Lucy is doing brilliantly,” enthuses Tina. “It is a huge issue to take on, and she’s had some tough scenes to film, but she really has done an amazing job. Growing up on Coronation Street meant that I had some difficult storylines to work out, so I know it’s important to have people supporting you and helping you every step of the…

“Jai’s kindness is really surprising to Nell – she’s very grateful” There’s horror for the Sharmas this week, when little Amba finds a bag of pills in Nell’s bag – and it’s feared that she may have swallowed some! It all kicks off at Amba’s birthday party where the toddler plays with Nell’s bag – finding the prescription drugs that have been helping the recovering addict. And as everyone realises what’s happened, the finger of blame is pointed directly at Nell… “It’s an accident,” insists Scarlett Archer, who plays Nell. “She doesn’t leave them lying around, it’s just Amba is playing with her bag. No one is sure if Amba swallowed the pills or even what they are! Of course, Nell gets concerned that Jai will cut ties with her.”…

While fate may be conspiring against Emma, her son Pete is to embark on a sizzling new affair! Dales boss Iain MacLeod has confirmed that the village hunk will be at the centre of another hotly anticipated love triangle this summer… “There is a big storyline coming up for Pete which is sexy and fun,” reveals the soap’s head honcho. “It really plays to [actor] Anthony Quinlan’s strengths, which is playing a smouldering leading man – and also comedy. “Pete has got a hapless quality about him, which I think is brilliant,” adds Iain. “He’s a tough alpha male, and a match for Ross physically – but he’s also capable of being soft and silly, too.” So who is the Dales diva that will catch Pete’s wandering eye – and…

Going to Ibiza! The Hollyoaks gang are rumoured to be heading to Ibiza this month to film a special sun-drenched storyline! Tom, Holly and Ellie look set to hit the beach – but what does the party island have in store for them? Farewell, Phoebe? Summer Bay could be set to say goodbye to Phoebe, after she receives a brilliant opportunity to pursue her singing in America. Will she choose her life with Justin over her music career? Dead sad! Barbara Windsor has admitted that Peggy’s passing in EastEnders made her ill for real: “I kept thinking about her death and rushing to the loo to be sick. I was grieving for her.”…

“Kiss and make up? You’re joking, aren’t you? I’d rather kiss the livestock.” “Or a member of your own family.” Ooh – burn! (And this from the woman who slept with her brother-in-law.) “He reminds me of a bull terrier. And don’t you think he’s got a head shaped like a massive egg?” Aw. We think David’s being unduly harsh about poor Aidan. “Go on. Try me on my interview technique. You know, like: ‘Are you a team player? How do you cope in a crisis?’” “The seafood risotto, as the menu says, is to die for. Personally, I don’t think that’s the right choice of words to use where food is concerned – particularly seafood. But what do I know?” “We’ll have the risotto.” “You won’t be sorry. And…

All hell breaks loose at the caravan park this week – after VJ learns that his stepdad, Zac, has cheated on his mum! The terrible truth comes out when VJ stumbles upon an email from Leah, detailing her husband’s infidelity. And soon fists are flying as furious VJ confronts Zac about his behaviour… “VJ doesn’t believe it right away – he has a little bit of hope that somehow this isn’t true,” explains Matt Little, who plays the angry teenager. “But then Zac confesses, and it crushes VJ. He’s so furious at the way Zac has treated his mum.” However, Zac’s infidelity isn’t the only crushing blow dealt to VJ this week – he’s also gobsmacked when Ash threatens to fight him for custody of baby Luc! “This just makes…

ROB ON THE RUN! We weren’t expecting to see Rob Donovan’s face for a long time, so what a treat it’s been having him back! But with his life in grave danger, sadly there’s no chance of him sticking around… I am so happy to see Rob again. There aren’t any hot bad boys on the Street right now, and his relationship with Tracy is electric! Tracy only served a couple of years of her murder sentence – there must be some way Corrie writers can bring Rob back for good as well! Tori For a guy serving a murder sentence, Rob has brought a lot of laughs from prison. The scene where he got caught climbing through the window was brilliant! Joe, Exeter He may come across as a…

Soon after leaving EastEnders, Declan returned to his theatrical roots, starring in the lead role in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Jesus Christ Superstar. And he’s continued to hit the right notes… “I jumped at the chance to do Superstar, and loved every minute of it,” beams the actor, who was a member of boy band Point Break prior to treading the boards in shows such as Rent and Once. “I’ve also recorded three EPs that will start coming out over the next month or two, and I’ve been collaborating on a theatre piece called An Innocent Evening Of Drinking, which we’ll be doing the first run of in November. “Before that, I’ll be doing Jesus Christ Superstar again this summer, which I’m looking forward to. My heart lies in…

Jai has come a long way from his days of kidnapping people and locking them in shipping containers – and while many actors relish playing a bad boy, Chris is breathing a sigh of relief that his alter ego has curbed his wicked ways! “I love this current story, because it’s a big turnaround for Jai,” admits the actor. “I had some frank and honest conversations with the producer, saying, ‘Have we gone too far now? How can we redeem him?’. And we came to the conclusion that Jai wasn’t a bad person, he’d just gone off the rails. “It’s also lovely to play a long-term storyline like this, because dealing with drugs is important. I’m really pleased that we’re still seeing Jai’s struggle to this day – it’s still…

FREE Deirdre! We’ve always known soaps are a serious business, but 1998 was the year that the rest of the country sat up and took notice, thanks to Corrie’s Deirdre Rachid ! Everyone’s favourite spectacle wearer caused a stir after she was sent to jail for fraud, having been framed by her con-artist boyfriend Jon Lindsay . The nation was so outraged by her incarceration that a campaign was launched to ‘free the Weatherfield One’ – with PM Tony Blair even discussing Deirdre’s plight in parliament! The campaign was a success, and she was soon free – proving that soap characters hold a special place in the nation’s heart. Wed, not dead… This lovely scene from Casualty shows ED stalwart Charlie tying the knot with colleague Baz. You could call…

What happened to Luke, the baby boy Kat never even knew she’d given birth to? That’s the first question posed in Redwater , as Kat and Alfie arrive to track down her son, who Kat learned was taken away by nuns and placed with a new family over 30 years ago. As the pair pretend to be simply taking a family holiday, enjoying the festival that’s taking place in the seaside town, Kat begins to rouse suspicion after she questions the locals. And when she meets Andrew – son of local farmers Roisin and Padraig – she becomes convinced that he’s the man she’s looking for. While the locals close ranks, the identity of Kat’s son isn’t the only secret that weighs heavily on the town. Having…

With sunnier weather (hopefully) on its way, the stars of soap are already getting ‘summer body’ ready and flashing some seriously toned flesh. Showing off the amazing results of her commitment to yoga, the Dales’ Roxy Shahidi (Leyla) was pictured nailing a difficult headstand, while EastEnders’ Richard Blackwood (Vincent) flashed his muscles just ahead of his 45th birthday. Also showing they’ve got what it takes in the gym were Neighbours’ Matt Wilson (Aaron) and Emmerdale’s Joe Gill (Finn), as they each worked up a sweat with a weights session. Meanwhile, Hollyoaks’ Parry Glasspool (Harry) took on the IronRun obstacle course – alongside his mum! A PIZZA DA ACTION Those soapies are used to getting a freebie or two – but when it’s pizza on offer, there’s a soap stampede! Hearing…

BELGIUM (last win in 1986) Blanche – ‘City Lights’ Something about this laid-back ballad with an insistent bassline makes us think it would work really well as the theme tune to a gritty crime drama. We reckon this could be one of the surprise successes on the night. BULGARIA (no previous wins) Kristian Kostov – ‘Beautiful Mess’ Bulgaria scored their best result to date at Eurovision last year, when Poli Genova finished fourth overall. Could this soulful, falsetto-laden ballad from 17-year-old Kristian get them even closer to the top spot? ITALY (last win in 1990) Francesco Gabbani – ‘Occidentali’s Karma’ Italy have managed to finish in the top three twice in the past seven years, and Francesco is currently the runaway favourite to get them that elusive win. We don’t…

Eternally addled actor Count Arthur Strong returns to our screens this week – and according to Steve Delaney, who plays Arthur and co-writes the show, it’s the character’s unrelenting optimism that drives the stories forward. “The nice thing about Arthur is that he wakes up in the morning and he’s got his eye on the main chance,” Steve tells Inside TV. “‘What is the day going to bring?’ is his mantra. So any carrot that’s dangled in his way is the direction that he goes in.” As a result, the plots tend to start out normally enough before escalating to comic proportions. This week, Michael’s straightforward visit to his new agent ends up with Arthur attempting to perform an exorcism at her home… “We like to start out in an…

SHOW THE ADDAMS FAMILY The kookiest of clans is taking to the stage in musical comedy The Addams Family. Starring ex-EastEnder Samantha Womack (Ronnie) as Morticia and former Corrie actor Les Dennis (Michael) as Uncle Fester, the show is a tale of love and friendship. It tours the UK till 4 November – for tickets, visit www.theaddamsfamily.co.uk BOOK NEED YOU DEAD by Peter James When the body of a woman is found in the bath, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is called to the scene. As the list of motives lengthen, a startling turn of events reveals the case to be more sinister than he’d imagined. Win! For the chance to win a copy, tell us which village Pete Barton lives in: A) Emmerdale or B) Hollyoaks. Text ISWIN1 ,…

EMMERDALE Robron on the rocks! THE COUPLE FACE THEIR TOUGHEST TEST YET… There are many people who want nothing more than to see Robert and Aaron have a happy life – but next week, that prospect looks unlikely when Robert gets dangerously close to telling all on his cheating secret. With his relationship on the line, will the lying fella bite the bullet and confess his sins? And how might Aaron react if he discovers everything? CORRIE Arrested development! The mystery surrounding who pushed Ken down the stairs all those weeks ago takes another turn next week, as Ken’s memory starts to come back! What does he remember? And who ends up getting nicked as a result? EASTENDERS Joshing around! Steven’s fears about losing Lauren might become reality next week…

BULLSEYE! Tracey’s sacking from the Vic was terribly unfair – but also very educational! We now know that she lives in East Ham, has been divorced twice – and suffered a cancer scare. Who’d have thought it? Meanwhile, actress Jane Slaughter enjoyed more screen time in a single episode of EastEnders than she has in the past 30-odd years. Every cloud, eh? Ross was shot in the arm and then patched himself up – just like that! He obviously hasn’t been watching Line Of Duty. Get to a hospital, fella! The horror of Corrie’s grooming plot was summed up in one gruesome detail – after Mel complimented Nathan on Bethany’s engagement ring. “Yeah,” he gloated, “and it’ll be on some other dumb kid’s finger in less…