EastEnders' Jake Wood on flash-forward secrets and why Max has his eye on Jasmine
The actor talks exclusively to Johnathon Hughes about his 20 years in Walford.
New Year’s resolutions are always made with the best intentions, but as the months roll by they can be hard to maintain – just ask Max Branning. EastEnders’ tormented lothario vowed to atone for his sins in 2026 and be a better dad, but a flash-forward to January 1st 2027 showed the character embroiled in all manner of chaos. Exactly how Max gets himself into these mysterious multiple scrapes will be explained as we get closer to New Year’s Day. It’s not just fans entering into a year-long guessing game, actor Jake Wood is just as in the dark as to what’s to come for his chaotic character. “There are so many questions and directions they can take it in, it’s almost open-ended,” begins the star, speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com. “I was surprised when I read the script for the flash-forward and found out what Max was up to – did he really plan to murder someone or has he been framed? Is he the father of that woman’s baby? Who is he marrying? We just don’t know. Max is one of those characters who is almost capable of anything.” The soap has explored similar territory before with ‘The Six’ murder mystery pegged on a single scene set 10 months ahead, but this much-hyped gaze into the crystal ball is the first time EastEnders has devoted an entire episode to a flash-forward, and gone as far into the future. It’s an audacious concept with many logistical challenges, not least of which is the actors having no context as to their motivation, but Wood praises the ambition of the team pulling together to make it work. “Everyone has to be connected and on the same page. Although actors are feeling their way through because we don’t have the specifics, each department has enough information that allows us to tell the story in this way. It’s an incredible thing to be part of.” One of the main talking points was the identity of Max’s anonymous bride. Several potential Mrs Brannings were posited, some of whom Max has romantic history with – Linda Carter and Cindy Beale – and others he’s barely spoken to before now, including his sister-in-law, Denise Fox. “Max might’ve been on a date with Denise years ago, I can’t remember – he’s dated most of the women on the Square,” grins Wood. “They throw themselves at him! He just has that effect… Denise is an interesting possibility as a potential bride. At Christmas, Max found out Jack had slept with Stacey, one of the biggest loves of Max’s life. There could be a revenge motivation for Max if he’s with Denise.” What about Dee’s daughter Chelsea also being in the mix? “There’s definitely a spark between her and Max since he returned, although they don’t know each other very well. It depends how their paths cross over the next year.” The 2027 wedding looked fraught with drama, perhaps that’s a sign from the universe for Max to give up on the idea of marriage, having spectacularly failed at it four times already? “Even though this would be wedding number five, Max needs to be with someone to feel grounded,” observes Wood. “He’s not good on his own. He is an eternal optimist and can be a loving, attentive partner when he wants to be. He’s an eternal optimist!” Every move Max makes is being analysed for potential clues to explain the flash-forward. His feud with son Oscar Branning’s girlfriend, the enigmatic Jasmine Fisher, is ramping up, setting Max on a dangerous path as he tries to protect his boy. “Jasmine is quite conniving when she wants to be. She plans to take Oscar away from Walford, Max wants to rekindle the relationship with his son and doesn’t want him to leave. Jasmine accuses Max of doing something he is actually innocent of, he has his work cut out to persuade Oscar it wasn’t what happened. “Max is determined to repair things with his children. He can be ruthless and single-minded, and there are other people who want to take Jasmine on, so she better watch out!” Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Max’s many flaws have made him one of the EastEnders’ most enduringly fascinating and multi-layered characters. Despite his womanising, lying, and all-round bad behaviour, you can’t help but feel sorry for him. “Max is a troubled guy and always connected to his origin story,” says Wood, who began playing the role 20 years ago. “He is still deeply scarred by what happened to him as a child. Max had a difficult relationship with his dad Jim, and is motivated to be a better father to his kids than his own dad was to him. “He’s very self-aware and doesn’t shy away from knowing what his problems are, but genuinely feels bad when he messes up. In his mind there is always a chance to turn things around but he’s also very easily distracted, which is part of the tragedy of the character.” Wood’s instinctive and authentic performance imbues Max with sympathy he often doesn’t deserve. His magnetic screen presence has helped create some of the soap’s most unforgettable moments, notably the reveal of Max’s scandalous affair with daughter-in-law Stacey Slater on Christmas Day 2007, and Stacey’s murder confession to Max in EastEnders’ first ever live episode in 2010. Like many Walford alumni, Wood developed the acting bug at Anna Scher’s famous children’s drama club in Islington, north London, where he grew up. Gillian Taylforth, Patsy Palmer and Natalie Cassidy, among others, were also inspired by the legendary tutor at a young age. “I’d done plays in primary school, I remember being in Peter Rabbit and Bugsy Malone, and got into Anna Scher’s when I was 10 years old. It was life-changing. Kathy Burke talks about her experience in her autobiography and how she describes it is almost identical for me and thousands of kids who went through those doors. To have someone who made you feel valued and celebrated for who you were, and allowing the freedom to express yourself at that age was revelatory. “Anna set it up in the late 1960s primarily to get kids off the streets. It gave young people like me, who grew up in a council flat in Islington, opportunities they might not have had otherwise. “Casting directors would come looking for child actors and I got my first TV job within a few months. I did an episode of The Gentle Touch in 1984, a big police drama at the time, and I loved it. Everyone was aware it was my first job and I felt I was being welcomed into the industry.” View oEmbed on the source website Consistent work followed and over the next 20 years, Wood appeared in everything from Only Fools and Horses to Red Dwarf, and even had a brief stint as a stand-up comedian (“One of the toughest jobs in showbiz,” he reflects). After a small role in EastEnders as a homeless teenager in 1990, his professional path eventually led back to Walford for his most high-profile part. “I enjoyed doing different things and playing different characters, but what changed things for me was having a family. “When I got offered Max my daughter was one year old [Wood has two children, Amber and Buster, with wife Alison], I’d been working away a lot and the timing was right to do something with more stability. The Branning family originally came in on a three-year contract, which is unusual to be signed for that long.” Having returned last autumn after five years away, it already feels like Max never left the Square. Wood admits he likes to be busy and in the thick of things when he’s there, which he certainly will be for the next year at least. Alongside his EastEnders commitments, he also spins other creative plates as sidelines – he recently took part in The Celebrity Apprentice for Children in Need (above), he and comedian friend Henning Wehn, the self-styled ‘German Comedy Ambassador’, recently started a weekly podcast called Wood Wehn in the Membrane (“We make each other laugh, it’s basically two mates talking a load of rubbish!”), and Wood is also a successful artist: one of his portraits of inspirational figures was recently sold to Vinny Jones. But being Max Branning remains his top priority for now, and keeps the actor on his toes. “He still fascinates me, I’ve never been bored by playing this well-drawn character. Max has always felt very real to me. Even after 20 years in the job he has never failed to hold my attention, I hope that’s the same for the audience. “I’m honoured and humbled to have had such amazing storylines, right up to the flash-forward. To be at the centre of a huge story in EastEnders is one of the best jobs on TV, I never take it for granted.” Read more: 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Mark Fowler Jr returns as Joel Marshall trial twist rocks Vicki EastEnders airs dark Ravi Gulati scenes amid revenge story in early BBC iPlayer release EastEnders airs dilemma for Priya Nandra-Hart following Nugget Gulati's assault in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders 2026 preview: 10 spoilers for the year ahead from Max Branning twists to Sukeve adoption 10 EastEnders characters who need to have a huge 2026 – from Chelsea Fox to Oscar Branning Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Emmerdale 2026 preview: 10 spoilers for the year ahead from Ray Walters death mystery and Graham Foster return
A sneaky peek at all the big plots in store.
The new year began with a bang in Emmerdale, quite literally, as the crossover with Coronation Street led to game-changing twists and sent storylines off in directions nobody could have predicted. So far in 2026, we’ve had three murders and a resurrection from someone who died six years ago – and we’re only days into the new year! The Corriedale episode left us wondering whether life would ever be the same for the villagers, as they try to manoeuvre a very uncertain future. Read on for RadioTimes.com’s epic preview of what’s coming up in Emmerdale in the next 12 months… Emmerdale 2026 preview: 10 spoilers for the year ahead from Ray Walters death mystery and Graham Foster return 1. Who killed Ray Walters? Whodunnit resolved Everyone is glad to see the back of evil Ray Walters (Joe Absolom), but who hated the crime boss enough to actually do him in? Following the reveal of his corpse is in one of Caleb Milligan’s (Will Ash) haulage vans, news of Ray’s death spreads around the village, launching Emmerdale’s first whodunnit of 2026 – with a twist… “Many secrets will come out as the mystery surrounding Ray’s death is finally solved later this month,” confirms Laura Shaw, executive producer of Emmerdale. “Before the end of January, a special week will flashback to the night of the murder, revealing which of the multiple suspects is responsible for Ray's demise.” Who’s your money on? Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock)? Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy)? April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan)? Ross Barton (Michael Parr)? 2. Cain Dingle’s cancer hell Fans thought Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) had copped it in Corriedale when he was shot, but even though he was saved in hospital another shock was about to be delivered that changes everything for the village hard man – scans showed he has a mass that looks very worrying to the doctors, which will soon be confirmed as cancerous… “Cain is at the centre of a major prostate cancer storyline spanning across 2026,” reveals Shaw. “Adding to the Dingle family’s devastation, Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) will be arrested for human trafficking, with her arrest timed to coincide with her husband’s diagnosis. Their complex marriage will be tested as they face dark times and there are set to be repercussions for the whole clan.” 3. Graham Foster’s shock return Another Corriedale surprise was the return of Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough), who apparently did not die at the hands of Pierce Harris six years ago, as we all thought. How did grim Graham survive, and where has he been? “This is going to be a sensational comeback,” says Shaw. “Graham’s return will have massive consequences for both ex-wife Kim Tate (Claire King), with whom he shares a complex love and hate relationship, and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry), who was about to run away with him. Graham will explain exactly what happened six years ago when he was 'killed', but the question will be whether Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) can ever forgive his father figure for allowing him to believe he was dead”. Graham had Coronation Street newcomer Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances Brown) bound and gagged in a van – has he been carving out a living as a hit man? And will his reappearance in the village coincide with Joe’s upcoming wedding to Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley)? Read More: Emmerdale boss teases answers for Graham Foster’s full-time return - and who may never forgive him 4. Charity Dingle’s baby secret exposed Soap pregnancies are rarely straightforward, but has there ever been a more complicated scenario than Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) getting up the duff after a one-night stand with old flame Ross just before an embryo transfer for her to be a surrogate for granddaughter Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill)? Charity’s husband, Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb), thinks he’s the daddy and has agreed not to tell Sarah, unaware of the Ross twist, but it won’t be long before everyone knows the full story, as Shaw divulges: “The truth surrounding Charity's pregnancy is set to blow wide open. With the baby due in spring, the birth may be the event that finally exposes all of Charity's secrets...” 5. Murder and blackmail for the Tates and Sugdens Emmerdale’s feuding families are at it again in 2026, as the rivalry between the Sugdens and the Tates is spectacularly reignited. Killer John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) is dead, accidentally bumped off by little sister Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) in self-defence, who thinks she’s got away with it. But Joe Tate knows the truth and relishes having a hold over the clan and forcing Robert to do his bidding… “The truth about John's death will be revealed, as Victoria's clever deception, making it look like suicide, will unravel,” continues Shaw. “Evil Joe has damning video evidence, which he plans to use to get what he wants from the Sugdens, potentially taking control of Butler's Farm. Robert (Ryan Hawley) is also in the thick of it, trying to save Victoria by planting evidence.” Hodgins is set to go on maternity leave at some point in 2026, but what drives her killer character to vanish from the village? 6. Another Robron wedding Robert and Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) may be caught up in trying to cover up Vic’s crime, but let’s not forget the boys are newly-engaged after a heart-to-heart on the roadside of the Corriedale car crash. Robron weddings have a history of being dramatic – their first attempt at tying the knot back in 2017 was interrupted by police showing up to arrest Aaron’s granny, Faith Dingle. Their roller coaster of a romance is hurtling towards wedding number three in 2026, but will they get a happy ending? Can they avoid prison for hiding the truth about John’s demise? Or could another crazy ex show up to ruin everything? 7. Kev Townsend returns? Talking of which, fans are keeping their fingers crossed we haven’t seen the last of ex-con Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill). Robert’s prison husband made a big impression, and despite his violent streak and unpredictable temper, the misguided guy has a big heart – and a talent for karaoke, as witnessed in his unforgettable serenading of his soul mate with a Daniel Bedingfield ballad. There’s plenty more to explore with Kev, not least Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches) learning he’s his long-lost dad. Actor Coghill’s social media post confirming he’d finished filming generated countless comments praying for his return, so watch this space… 8. Romance blossoms for Vinny Dingle As well as a paternity bomb waiting to go off, Lewis also has a potential love story simmering away on a low heat. Now Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) has confronted his sexuality wobbles, he’s found himself attracted to his housemate. The boys began a game of ‘will they?/won’t they?’ towards the end of 2025, that’s bound to be picked up in 2026. How will overprotective Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah) feel about his best pal Vinny finding romance with a fella for the first time? Could Kammy be jealous that he’s no longer the object of Vin’s affections? 9. Paddy Dingle’s nightmare over Bear Wolf Bear Wolf (Joshua Richardson) being dragged into people trafficking and modern slavery was one of the most unsettling storylines of 2025, and in 2026, the shockwaves will continue to be felt as the community comes to terms with what was going on right under their noses. Paddy Dingle (Dominic Brunt) is desperate to find his missing father, but the nightmare is far from over. “While Paddy is still out searching, the bleak truth is that Bear has been killed by the villainous Celia,” explains Shaw. “This emotional search and tragic discovery will bring Paddy's mental health problems back to the forefront.” The last time Paddy was gripped by depression, he came close to taking his own life… 10. Eric Pollard dies in prison? Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell) and Kerry Wyatt’s (Laura Norton) Christmas Eve wedding was one of the most unexpected moments of the year, or possibly the decade, but what does the future hold for this fraudulent marriage? Terminally ill Pollard has only tied the knot with the gobby Geordie for financial reasons - to protect grandson Jacob Gallagher’s (Joe-Warren Plant) inheritance - but jealous Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) still fancies Kerry and has threatened to expose the sham union. Could the couple end up behind bars? Might Pollard die in prison? “Kerry starts to realise this whole idea was a bit rash,” comments Laura Norton, who plays the new Mrs P. “She genuinely cares about Eric, they’re both loveable rogues. It’s a full circle moment because he looked after her daughter, Amy, and she feels she’d want Kerry to do this for him. As for Jai, I don’t think Kerry realised how much he actually cared for her. Who knows what might happen next?” Read more: Emmerdale cast: who is leaving, returning to and joining the cast? Emmerdale reveals John Sugden murder twist as major character witnesses death in ITVX release 5 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Moira Dingle arrested for human trafficking in Celia Daniels death twist Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX. Add Emmerdale to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders 2026 preview: 10 spoilers for the year ahead from Max Branning twists to Sukeve adoption
We reveal the big storylines ahead after THAT glimpse into the future.
Shock comebacks, murder, feuds and a peak into the near-future made for an eventful festive season in Walford, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg as to EastEnders has in store for 2026! The flash forward – which saw the storyline skyrocket exactly one year into the future to Max Branning's (Jake Wood) doomed wedding day – teased us to whet our appetite, but left us with more questions than answers. Who is he marrying? Who is the pregnant woman lay beside him in bed? And after we saw them held at gunpoint, will Max choose Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) or Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) to save? Luckily for you, RadioTimes.com has a full rundown of 10 explosive storylines ahead over the next 12 months in our huge plot preview… EastEnders 2026 preview: 10 spoilers for the year ahead from Max Branning twists to Sukeve adoption 1. Chrissie Watts caught or Zoe Slater jailed for life? The return of Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) was one of the most surprising soap gifts of Christmas 2025. After revealing herself as the puppet mistress behind Zoe Slater’s (Michelle Ryan) stalking and the manipulation of Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), Dirty Den’s killer walked free. Chrissie is the prime suspect for Anthony Trueman’s (Nicholas Bailey) murder, and Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) is following a lead to Corfu, while Zoe languishes in prison, having been framed for her baby daddy’s mysterious demise. Did Chrissie really deliver the fatal blow to Dr Trueman? Tracy-Ann Oberman recently hinted at a return to Walford in a cryptic social media post alongside new cast member Ronni Ancona (more of her anon), so it seems Chrissie’s reign of terror is not over yet. So where does that leave Jasmine? 2. Jasmine Fisher shows her true colours Zoe’s long-lost daughter claims she was brainwashed by Chrissie into carrying out a cruel intimidation campaign, but mercurial Jasmine remains something of an unknown quantity. Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) doesn’t trust her to the point where the girl’s presence has triggered a bipolar episode, but Jasmine’s behaviour starts to raise suspicions in the coming weeks. We know from her adoptive mum’s visit last year that the girl has a scary, unstable streak, which we’ll see more of. Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) allows her newly-discovered relative to babysit her daughter, Charli, but a lapse of judgment on Jasmine’s part sets off a worrying chain of events. Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) clashes with his granddaughter and becomes suspicious of her true nature. Is he right to be concerned? 3. Joel Marshall returns for trial drama and love triangle for Vicki Fowler Exploring the manosphere and the impact of online misogyny on young males was a hot topic in 2025, and as streaming drama Adolescence garnered praise and awards, EastEnders got in on the act with the disturbing tale of toxic teen Joel Marshall (Max Murray). Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) was beaten and left for dead by her sick stepson, and when Ross Marshall (Alex Marshall) reported his son’s attack to the police, Joel was put in a remand centre. EastEnders’ executive producer Ben Wadey has confirmed the character returns in 2026 for the next chapter of the story: “We will see Joel again as we have his trial coming up, where he faces the consequences of his actions. "He’s pleading not guilty, and I think we’re all struggling with why on earth he’d put everyone through a trial. Vicki is really going through the wringer; she wants to be committed so badly to partner Ross, but now associates him now with what happened with Joel." Vicki’s eye has also been wandering slightly towards Zack Hudson (James Farrar), so we’ve got a big soapy love triangle in the mix in the new year. Will justice catch up with Joel, and can Vicki and Zack resist their attraction? 4. Ravi Gulati’s revenge nightmare Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) didn’t cover himself in glory in 2025 as he got way too deep in a county lines drug-dealing empire, which had life-changing consequences for Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) and Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho), and resulted in the death of fellow gangster Okie (Aayan Ibikunle Shoderu). While Ravi has vowed to turn over a new leaf, Harry can’t forget how the bad boy got him hooked on drugs and put BFF Kojo in danger… “Ravi must face up to the awful things he’s done,” reveals Wadey. “What this starts to do to his psyche and his family, plus a revenge plot from Harry, kicks things off for him this new year.” After Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) drugged Ravi to avenge son Harry, a terrifying incident unfolded that will have huge repercussions. He hallucinated late father Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), and began to attack him, unaware that his son Nugget (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury) was standing in front of him. Nugget is now in a coma following the violent outburst. Will he be OK? And let’s not forget Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) is putting the pressure on Ravi after forcing him to work as a police informant in exchange for his freedom… 5. A tearful goodbye to Nigel Bates Seeing the beloved Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) battling dementia has tugged at the audience’s heart strings, and there are more emotional moments ahead in 2026 as the storyline continues, as Wadey teases: “After the beautiful dementia episode (where we saw the return of Pat Evans, Barry Evans and Debbie Bates as Nigel’s hallucinations), the Nigel story will continue and give us heart, warmth and realism, as well as gorgeous performances from Paul Bradley and Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell. "Those relationships see us through further into this year.” Having refused to put his friend in a care home, Phil now plans to take Nigel abroad to enjoy his final days – but what will Nigel’s wife Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn) say? That’s if Phil even tells her… 6. Max Branning and Cindy Beale’s dangerous year New Year’s Day served up an explosive flash forward to 12 months in the future, which showed Max Branning up to his neck in all sorts of drama. Many questions were raised in the ambitious episode, and even though we’ll have to wait 51 weeks for all the answers, it’s clear Max is going to make some questionable choices. Following their instantly-regretted festive fumble, there may be to come from Max and Cindy Beale's (Michelle Collins) dangerous dynamic… “Max promises he is a reformed character,” says Wadey. “Is he going to be to hold that up? Flash forward a year and look at the chaos that has ensued: he’s arrested, getting married, got a woman pregnant. Is Max always going to be the womaniser, or can he be redeemed?” Could Cindy be the key to Max’s downfall, finally getting revenge for him being responsible for her son Steven’s death? 7. Bea Pollard’s big secret Someone else set to play a part in Max’s eventful year ahead is newcomer Bea Pollard, played by award-winning comedy star Ronni Ancona. Linda Carter’s (Kellie Bright) old school friend will settle in the Square when she takes a room at Peacock Palace, alongside Mr Branning, whom she takes something of a shine to. Sadly, he’s just not that into her – but the unpredictable Bea is not the kind of girl to take no for an answer! “Bea attaches herself to people,” warns Wadey. “She reacquaints herself with Linda, but Billy Mitchell and Honey Mitchell (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton) also become involved with the story. Ronni brings a unique tone to the story; it has a tragi-comedy coming through it and will make you laugh and cry.” 8. A number of baby mysteries in Albert Square The aforementioned pregnancy in the flash forward is part of a baby boom set to engulf Walford in 2026. Max’s bit on the side, whoever she may be, is not the only one set to hear the patter of tiny feet – there was also a newborn in the Branning household, but who is little Ethan’s father? Is he the result of an indiscretion from Jack, which would explain why he and wife, Denise Fox (Diane Parish) are at odds? Nicola is also expecting lover George Knight’s (Colin Salmon) child, and even though the couple seemed very together in our glimpse of 2027, there was no mention of a baby. Will Nic’s pregnancy continue or end in tragedy? 9. George Knight’s new start - can he trust Nicola Mitchell? Talking of George, the former landlord of the Queen Vic is making a fresh start this year. The Peacock/Knight clan have been torn apart and scattered across the Square, after the collapse of George’s marriage to Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) Elaine, Linda and Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff) are running the swanky B&B Peacock’s Palace, Junior Knight and Anna Knight (Micah Balfour and Molly Rainford) have both left the country, and Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) is pulling pints at Harry’s Barn. Vowing to support baby mama Nicola, George plans to buy the Walford East restaurant. Running the eatery didn’t go so well for the cursed Panesar clan. Is George biting off more than he can chew? And can he and drama-magnet Nic go the distance? 10. Will Eve and Suki Panesar-Unwin become parents? This time last year, ‘Sukeve’ were reeling from nasty Nish Panesar’s chilling attempt to destroy their wedding. While 2025 served up some challenging drama for the much-loved partnership, Suki and Eve (Balvinder Sopal and Heather Peace) remain strong and are hoping for more joy than chaos in the coming year as they double down on their plans to adopt. As they get through the process and closer to welcoming a child into their home, the family dynamic could end up derailing their parenting dream… Read More: EastEnders cast: Who is joining, leaving and returning to the soap? 21 EastEnders questions we have following that epic Max Branning flashforward episode EastEnders fans spot major clue to 'reveal' mysterious man from flashforward episode EastEnders star hints at villain's return with social media post alongside new cast member EastEnders boss teases "tragedy comedy" 2026 story with newcomer Bea – and it involves a beloved Walford couple EastEnders confirms Ravi Gulati will face a revenge plot - along with a mental health story for Walford villain EastEnders boss teases love triangle scenes for Vicki Fowler as disturbed Joel Marshall finally goes to trial in 2026 Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Coronation Street 2026 preview: 10 spoilers for the year ahead from Swarla wedding bells to Jodie's secret
Soap boss Kate Brooks reveals the hot plots coming to Weatherfield this year.
The world’s longest-running soap opera has already made history in 2026 thanks to Coronation Street’s epic crossover with stablemate Emmerdale, but that’s just the start of a year that promises to be packed full of dramatic moments for the residents of Weatherfield. As we recover from the events of Corriedale, there's a lot to take in, but we've got everything you need to know. ITV described the crossover episode as "self-contained, but the consequences of the high-stakes drama will have repercussions for both communities and see them linked forever as familiar faces depart and exciting new characters arrive into both soaps." Well, it's certainly done that! So, get ready for RadioTimes.com’s unmissable preview of what’s in store as Corrie’s executive producer Kate Brooks talks us through the top 10 biggest storylines of the year ahead. Coronation Street 2026 preview: 10 spoilers for the year ahead from Swarla wedding bells to Jodie's secret 1. Swarla spring wedding joy - so Carla Connor and Lisa Swain WILL reunite “Now Carla Connor and Lisa Swain have dealt with Becky Swain, whose true colours have been revealed for all to see, Swarla will start to make their way back to each other. Obviously, there’s a lot to get past, but their love for each other never faltered throughout Becky’s manipulation. "They were engaged, so wedding bells are certainly ringing in the not-too-distant future, and they’ll get their happy ever after, and the chance to be free from the drama that surrounded Becky. It’s going to be a romantic spring for Carla and Lisa, which will make many people smile!" 2. Evil Theo Silverton exposed as abuse of Todd Grimshaw continues... “Theo Silverton sank to a new low when he allowed Billy Mayhew to die. Going forward, it’s a very complicated place that Todd Grimshaw finds himself in. He was ready to leave Theo after reluctantly confiding in Billy, but going into 2026, he doesn’t feel he has the strength to go through with it. "If he hadn’t spoken to Billy about the abuse, maybe he’d still be alive? That’s what Theo homes in on, even though he’s ravaged by guilt. In his own warped, unhinged way, Theo justifies what he did as being necessary to keep hold of Todd, who he genuinely loves. "To mask his guilt, Theo makes himself a pillar of support to Billy’s loved ones and becomes more manipulative. This relationship is a hard watch at times as it’s an important story to tell, but we can’t sustain this forever. Todd will start to realise maybe all is not what it seems, as will others around him…” 3. Shona Platt’s secret sister Jodie brings the drama and secrets “We now know the mysterious lady with the tattoo from Corriedale is Jodie, Shona Platt’s estranged sister. This younger sibling has been mentioned previously, so we felt the time was right to bring her in and unpack Shona’s backstory. Jodie is complicated and comes with a lot of baggage. The sisterly relationship is quite fraught; there’s some deep resentment, but they have a strong bond. "I think the audience will enjoy Jodie’s sense of mischief and unravelling who she is and what she wants. She’ll bring an awful lot of drama to the Platt household. "Shona and David Platt have also got baby Harper to look after as well so they’re being dragged from pillar to post. "We’ll also reveal Jodie’s link to Emmerdale’s Graham Foster and why she was running for her life, which is a big story that takes us into spring and summer." 4. Debbie Webster takes the rap for Carl over Billy Mayhew's death “We’ve got a long way to go with Debbie Webster’s dementia story, but the drama that unfolded in Corriedale has put her in a precarious situation where she’s determined to take the rap for Carl Webster’s dangerous driving. She’s confused and wants to face her punishment, which could lend itself to a prison sentence, a terrifying prospect if you’re in the early stages of dementia. "Her family is falling apart, Carl and Kevin Webster have never been so splintered, and she’s trying to protect them all. Debbie will need her gal pals, so Glenda Shuttleworth, Christina Boyd, Bernie Winter-Alahan and Sally Metcalfe rally to get her through darker moments as Debbie braces herself for an uncertain future. "She should be on her honeymoon, instead she’s facing the wrath of the community, who believe she is culpable for Billy’s death.” 5. Flash-forward murder mystery to lead into the summer “There’s a special episode in mid-February with a little flash-forward. I know this was done recently on another show, but the idea has been in the making for a long time and gives us a destination for some big stories to come together and be involved in something even bigger. "During the flash forward scene, set a few months into the future, one of our characters has found a dead body on the street – we don’t know who it is, but there will be five potential victims, and we take the audience on a journey to figure out who’s dead and what happened. "It’s very intricate, but essentially it’s a ‘who is it?’ which leads to a ‘who done it?’ It becomes very thriller-esque as we go into the summer and will involve an awful lot of characters; the whole community is impacted. It will keep you guessing until the very end!” 6. Megan Walsh's evil grooming revealed “Megan Walsh’s grooming of teenager Will Driscoll is ongoing, and we want to be as truthful as possible. Sam Blakeman will end up getting embroiled in it all when he potentially gets wind that something is amiss. We’ll see the lengths Megan will go to in order to manipulate Sam and keep him quiet, which will be massively detrimental to Sam’s well-being. Eva Price is in the mix and will be naturally furious when this comes to light, then you’ve got Leanne Battersby and Toyah Habeeb, three very strong, fiery sisters whose boys have been manipulated by someone they considered to be their friend. It will be explosive and a struggle for the family to navigate. How do they overcome these hurdles and protect their children?” 7. Tim Metcalfe's trauma triggered “Will and Megan’s story also involves Tim Metcalfe, who starts to realise that what went on with Trina when he was younger wasn’t right or acceptable. Up until this point, Tim has been quite dismissive about it and not fully realised the extent of what happened. He didn’t feel tarnished; he thought sleeping with an older woman was every young lad’s dream – we want to take Tim and the audience on a similar journey at the same time. Seeing how young and vulnerable Will is makes Tim recognise the truth of his own situation. "Through the course of the story, we’ll delve into the friendship between Tim, Steve McDonald and Ben Driscoll. The subject matter is incredibly serious, but there’s lightness to be had with that dynamic, as fellas being daft and talking nonsense around a dart board is as important as the strong female friendships we have.” 8. Maggie Driscoll's secret Barlow connection revealed “On the subject of the Driscolls, there’s loads more to come with this family, particularly Maggie Driscoll. We know what she is capable of when it comes to protecting her lads at all costs, and that she’s hiding other secrets. Eagle-eyed viewers might have spotted something in the scene when we saw Maggie at the Barlow house – she looked into the cabinet, and her reaction suggested she saw something that made her feel slightly on edge. We will reveal more on that in the upcoming months, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. 9. Bernie Winter-Alahan in turmoil “Bernie watched her son Paul die from MND, which was horrific; now she has to come to terms with son-in-law Billy’s death. Bernie wants to take care of people and be their rock; as a result of that, she’s buried a lot of grief. We rarely see her lose it or burst into tears; she is the strength of that whole family, so we wanted to explore what would happen as she struggles with another loss and how that grief manifests. "She’s been struggling for a long time, and when it eventually erupts, there are consequences. It’s a really muddy, murky story which shows another side of the character we’ve not seen yet. "This will be a test for Bernie and Dev Alahan, who are a very strong couple, and Roy Cropper is embroiled in that story as well. It’s a big start to 2026 for Bernie." 10. More experimental episodes “As well as the flash forward, we will have more episodes in 2026 that break the usual soap format. I think they’re a really interesting way of telling stories. When the plot affords it, or lends itself to taking a more abstract and slightly less conventional approach, then we embrace it. "We have a great team that works hard to ensure everything still feels very story-driven, which is the key to the success of those special or non-linear episodes. Todd and Theo’s behind-closed-doors episode couldn’t have been more ‘kitchen sink drama’ than being in somebody’s living room watching them live their lives. "Whether we’re shooting through the lens of a camera or not, it allowed us to explore and take our time but in a fresh way, and that’s what we’ll continue to do going forward. We need to keep abreast of the competition and stay relevant, fresh and new, while never losing the DNA that makes Corrie so brilliant." Read more: 5 Coronation Street spoilers next week: Carl Webster convinces Debbie she caused Billy Mayhew's death Coronation Street cast: who is leaving, returning to and joining the soap? Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and is available on ITVX and YouTube from 7am. Visit our dedicated Corrie page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add Coronation Street to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Could Neighbours return? Producer discusses soap’s future after cliffhanger ending
Jason Herbison discusses his hopes for the future with RadioTimes.com.
The final ever episode of Neighbours has streamed today, after 40 years on air. It's a bitter pill to swallow for the legions of fans across the globe who tune in for their daily dose of sunshine and drama, given the particularly finite nature of the soap's final storyline. The last time this happened was in 2022, with British broadcaster 5 cutting funding and therefore bringing production to a close. In what was then deemed the finale, a wedding party was attended by a multitude of former Ramsay Street residents, including the iconic Scott and Charlene Robinson (Jason Donovan and Kylie Mingoue). With the story seemingly continuing forever (just not on our screens), fans were given some comfort in the knowledge that their favourite residents all received happy endings. But that's not the case this time. The Nunawading Studios, where Neighbours was filmed for 39 years, have been handed back to their landlord. A plot that threatens the redevelopment of the famed cul de sac to build a new freeway is largely unresolved, and it's likely that the characters are facing a future apart from one another. Despite that, executive producer Jason Herbison does believe that a revival – albeit in a strikingly different model to what we have become accustomed to – is possible. It just takes a broadcaster to see faith in his idea. Here he speaks to RadioTimes.com about what that might look like, and whether it would be feasible in an ever-changing media landscape. How did you approach the 2025 finale differently from the 2022 one? I saw an opportunity to set the show up for a new kind of comeback, perhaps as a spin-off or limited series. The finale is designed to give viewers a taste of what those alternate Neighbours universes could look like. Which characters would you like to see in their own spin-off series? There is a great opportunity for at least two new shows to emerge from ashes of Neighbours – Ramsay Hills and Robinson Towers! We talk about what those alternate stories might look like in the final episodes. Ramsay Hills is brand new suburb – such a show would be quite similar to the Neighbours viewers already know. Robinson Towers is a new hotel and residential development in the heart of Melbourne: high-rise city living. In my dreamscape, we would make short run seasons of both shows and alternate them. When one ends, the other returns. There could be crossovers of characters and returns to Ramsay Street, if it’s still standing. Who knows, perhaps one day? What other formats would you be interested in as a way of carrying on Neighbours? The possibilities are endless. I have an idea for a Christmas movie – maybe that could happen? That said, I’m also enjoying working on new projects at the moment... The show is beloved and anything could happen. Are the team still actively pursuing the chance to bring Neighbours back? We are always open to the discussion. I think we agree that returning to the old model is unlikely, but a conversation will always be welcomed. If Neighbours were to return, would you still like to produce the show, or hand over the reins to someone else? I will always be interested in what happens to the brand, but it may not be me taking it forward in the future. It all depends on where I am in my career. I’ve tried to leave it in a good place and open to many possibilities, not just the ones I mentioned. It’s a huge job running a serial drama. The creative part is fun, but there’s also the management side, which can be all-consuming. I’m personally very happy to have a break from that pace. But if a new broadcaster is interested in Ramsay Hills or Robinson Towers, I would be happy to share my vision. Do you think a new soap could be launched in today’s TV landscape and survive as long as Neighbours? The television landscape has evolved greatly since Neighbours and the other iconic soaps were launched. Who knows? That’s really the answer. I suspect the reality is that shorter runs with less episodes is the way to go. I don’t think we’ll ever see an age where viewers had a small number of channels to choose from, which was the prevailing condition when soaps gained such footholds back in the day. Read more: Neighbours boss was unable to secure legendary character for affair story Neighbours producer teases "optimistic" finale and reflects on soap's legacy after 40 years Neighbours finale week: Tragedy strikes as a further 9 old faces return to say goodbye to Ramsay Street Neighbours spoilers reveal finale story as 9 old characters return to Ramsay Street Neighbours wraps after 40 years - as boss drops hint of "hopeful" future Neighbours is available to stream on Prime Video. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Neighbours boss was unable to secure legendary character for affair story
Holly's storyline could've been very different.
Neighbours boss Jason Herbison has revealed the legendary character he'd hoped to bring back for Holly Hoyland's (Lucinda Armstrong-Hall) affair with Andrew Rodwell (Lloyd Will) – but was ultimately unable to secure her. For months, fans of the Aussie soap have watched in horror as hapless Holly hooked up with her best pal and next door neighbour Sadie's (Emerald Chan) dad. The pair were even considering leaving Erinsborough and starting a new life on the Mornington Peninsula, close to his birth family, though the guilt Andrew felt towards his wife Wendy (Candice Leask) ended his infidelity. Slowly but surely, more residents were becoming privy to what was going on. There was a threat from criminal Greg Murphy (Gary Sweet), and then Taye Obasi (Lakota Johnson) found Holly's missing earring at a city centre bar – where she'd been meeting Andrew. On the day of his vow renewal with Wendy, he decided to come clean and tell her everything. But the drama didn't stop there, as Holly was pregnant with his baby. In today's episode, after chasing an ambulance that contained kidnapped JJ Varga-Murphy (Riley Bryant), Holly collapsed to the floor and was found by Wendy. Unfortunately, at the hospital, it was confirmed that she had miscarried. Wendy and Sadie were able to put aside their grievances to offer her support, while Andrew and Holly's dad Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) waited by her bedside. But there was one notable absence – her mum, Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte). "I do regret that we were unable to secure Natalie to reprise her role of Izzy," Herbison told RadioTimes.com. "There was a great Izzy return planned but the story arc still played without it." He continued: "Lucinda did an incredible job bringing Holly back to life in the reboot, complete with Holly’s glorious imperfections. I loved that she was a chip off the Izzy block and trying to better herself, yet her worst instincts kept getting the better of her. "We had the Andrew affair storyline planned quite a while ago and started to chip away at Holly’s self-esteem to get her in the right emotional place. "The story was meant to launch during the 40th anniversary week but we had to delay it, but we got there in the end. Holly’s a great soap character. Trouble finds her and Lucinda played the role in a very real, multi-dimensional way." Bassingthwaighte originally played Izzy for four years between 2003 and 2007, giving birth to Holly on Karl's wedding day to Susan (Jackie Woodburne) in London. She had been conceived during a one-night stand, when Izzy drugged Karl and he believed he was sleeping with Susan. Talk about messy! Izzy returned for brief stints in 2018 and 2022. Discussing whether he had any reservations about Holly's affair, Herbison added: "I was no more worried than I would be for any controversial story. Soaps aren’t meant to please audiences all the time – you have to take risks. "Characters need to be flawed. There has to be conflict, drama and shocks along the way. If there’s not, you are rightly criticised for being boring and predictable. "There are times when you want viewers to scream at the TV but of course keep watching." The final episode of Neighbours will stream on Amazon Prime Video this Thursday after 40 years on air. Read more: Neighbours producer teases "optimistic" finale and reflects on soap's legacy after 40 years Neighbours finale week: Tragedy strikes as a further 9 old faces return to say goodbye to Ramsay Street Neighbours spoilers reveal finale story as 9 old characters return to Ramsay Street Neighbours wraps after 40 years - as boss drops hint of "hopeful" future Neighbours star teases Terese and Paul's future and 40th anniversary cast comebacks Neighbours star reveals whether they think axed soap can be saved again Neighbours is available to stream on Prime Video. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Neighbours producer teases "optimistic" finale and reflects on soap's legacy after 40 years
Jason Herbison exclusively reflects on the end of an era – and what he regrets about the final weeks...
After more than 40 years on air, the time has come to bid farewell to Neighbours – again. The iconic Australian soap survived the axe from 5 in 2022 and was revived by Amazon a year later, only for the streaming giant to announce in February that it was pulling the plug on the reboot. As the show’s loyal fans commiserate the end of an era, anticipation is high for the Neighbours finale’s release on 11th December. In an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, the soap’s executive producer Jason Herbison teases what viewers can expect, and candidly reflects on the challenge of crafting a second swansong, his feelings on the show’s demise and what he would have done differently. Did you approach the 2025 finale differently from the 2022 one? I approached the ending very differently this time. I knew I couldn’t compete with 2022 or do the same thing twice. What can you tell us about the final scene? It’s somewhat of an homage to the finale 2022 scene, however it involves a small cast this time. Jackie Woodburne (aka Susan Kennedy) made me cry in 2022 and she’s done it again in 2025! I was on set when we shot it. How would you describe the atmosphere on the final day of filming? We all hugged and shed a tear – it was very emotional. After the final scene, we gathered in Studio A, exactly as we did in 2022. For those of us present on both occasions, it was incredibly surreal. You can’t go through the same thing twice and feel exactly the same way, I believe. Most of all, this time, we felt a sense of gratitude. We all thought the show ended for good in 2022 and the Amazon era has been a wonderful bonus. Paul and Terese are at the centre of the final week, what makes this couple work so well? The all-important X-factor! Some pairings just have great chemistry, while others don’t. We have tried putting them with other people but they always end up back together. I think these obstacles are what makes them work, too. If they were together and happy all the time, it would be boring. Full credit to Stefan Dennis and Rebekah Elmaloglou, who bring their own real-life charm and naughtiness to the roles – and I do mean naughty! Stefan Dennis gets the last line in the finale – was it hard to choose which actor had that honour? Stefan asked me if he could have the last line long before I’d even written the episode. It wasn’t a tough decision – he’s a legend and he deserves it. How important was it to return to the Ramsay/Robinson feud for the finale? I’m a big believer in honouring the history of the show. The Ramsay/Robinson feud has been a great foundation for conflict over the years and it felt full-circle to come back to it. I was hoping to bring all of Paul’s living kids back for the finale but when that didn’t work, I realised it would be fun to have Jimmy and Max as young rivals – chips off the old block and the next generation. In the way that Mike and Clive sparring was old-school Neighbours in the 2022 finale, the hijinks here are intentional throwbacks to the style of the '80s. Without spoiling too much, what can you tease about how the show ends? The mood is optimism. We shot the finale back in July so of course, there are lots of spoilers out there already, but the actual dialogue itself hasn’t leaked so hopefully that will be a surprise to viewers. I couldn’t help but play with that sense of deja-vu. We have been here before, right? The threat to the street is an echo of what is happening to the show itself. Unlike last time, we were actively starting to pack up our studios in Nunawading as the last episodes were shot. I personally found this very emotional and wanted to bring that sentiment to the finale. Which storyline from the Amazon era are you proudest of? I enjoyed the recent return of Darcy Tyler and how it dovetailed into Jane and Amanda’s story arc. It was always great to give Karl a big, dramatic arc. Similarly, I loved the way Holly and Andrew’s affair dovetailed into Cara and Greg’s story. I always strive to fold in every character in the street and have long-lasting repercussions for every major event that happens. Were you worried about the reaction to the Holly/Andrew affair? No more than I would be for any controversial story. Soaps aren’t meant to please audiences all the time, you have to take risks. Characters need to be flawed and there has to be conflict, drama and shocks along the way. If there’s not, you are rightly criticised for being boring and predictable. I do regret we were unable to secure Natalie Bassingthwaighte to reprise her role as Izzy – there was a return planned but the story arc still played without it. Holly came into her own as a leading lady in this era, why did the audience respond to her so strongly? Lucinda Armstrong-Hall did an incredible job bringing Holly back to life in the reboot, complete with the character’s glorious imperfections. I loved how she was a chip off the Izzy block and trying to be herself, yet her worst instincts kept getting the better of her. We had the Andrew affair storyline planned a while ago and started to chip away at Holly’s self-esteem to get her in the right emotional place. The story was meant to launch in the 40th anniversary week but we had to delay it. Holly’s a great soap character – trouble finds her and Lucinda played the role in a very real, multi-dimensional way. The Varga-Murphys were breakout stars of the Amazon era, what made them so popular? We were incredibly fortunate to cast two amazing actors, Sara West and Naomi Rukavina, as Cara and Remi, along with two new talents, Marley Williams (Dex) and Riley Bryant (JJ) , as the boys. They all worked hard to make the family feel authentic and it paid off. I know there was some criticism of Remi’s recent amnesia storyline and that’s valid, no fault of the actors. We had a much bigger story planned but ran out of time to play out the full scope. There is a nice ending for the family and I’m sure they’ll be long remembered. Across the 40 years, is there a single character that defines Neighbours for you? I can only single out the street. It’s the glue that keeps everyone together – the connective tissue. A few months on, how do you feel about Neighbours ending in this way? I’m in a very different head space now and feel very at peace with it all. The ending was a challenge but I hope the loyal fans can appreciate why I’ve gone the way I did. My only regret is that I didn’t have another week of the show – it was a squeeze to wrap up all the stories. Very much like the last time. You’ve already worked with Jackie Woodburne since Neighbours ended on The Imposter – which other cast would you like to collaborate with again in the future? That’s a long list! The great thing about The Imposter is that Jackie is playing a role that is the total opposite of Susan. Wouldn’t it be great to see Stefan or Alan Fletcher (aka Karl) in a new kind of role too? One of my absolute favourites from over the years is Morgana O’Reilly (aka Naomi Canning), who was recently in The White Lotus. I would love to work with her again. Which UK soap would you like to work on and why? EastEnders – so I can live in London! I have a British passport through my parents but have never put it to use. Finally, how would you sum up the legacy of Neighbours? Neighbours changed the landscape of serial television in both Australia and the UK. We had stripped serials down under before, but never with the blend of comedy, romance and drama that Neighbours served up. The show tapped into something and Home and Away and all the British soaps followed, at least in terms of weekly output. I’m often told that Neighbours is one of the few shows to retain its original DNA and I like that. We’ve stayed true to our roots but also moved with the times. I’m personally very proud of how progressive the show has become. Our motto is that everyone is welcome on Ramsay Street and I have tried to stand by that. I thank the fans for sticking with us – we will always have those memories. Read more: Neighbours finale week: Tragedy strikes as a further 9 old faces return to say goodbye to Ramsay Street Neighbours spoilers reveal finale story as 9 old characters return to Ramsay Street Neighbours wraps after 40 years - as boss drops hint of "hopeful" future Neighbours star teases Terese and Paul's future and 40th anniversary cast comebacks Neighbours star reveals whether they think axed soap can be saved again Neighbours is available to stream on Prime Video. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The king of the Celebrity Traitors castle on stabbing his friends in the back, writing his own murder mystery — and having tea with Mariah Carey
Add Changing Ends to your watchlist Alan Carr was already a national treasure, but he now describes himself as a “national traitor” following his winning turn on The Celebrity Traitors. The profile of the 49-year-old comedian, presenter and writer has never been higher: his autobiographical sitcom Changing Ends, about his childhood in 1980s Northampton, and primetime Saturday night quiz show Alan Carr’s Picture Slam are both back on TV and more projects are coming soon. But what about those rumours that he could soon be waltzing into Strictly to take TV’s top job? Congratulations, top Traitor! Is it true you had to flee the country to escape The Celebrity Traitors mania while it was on? It was too much – Paloma-gate, killing Celia Imrie, grief from the gays for murdering Tom Daley, who was the only bit of eye candy – I needed to get away! Actually, I was taking my niece and nephew to Disneyland and jokingly said I had to leave the country because of the show. I’m the worst uncle, I forget their birthdays, their names… What do you make of the reaction to your victory? There were a lot of naysayers who assumed it would be a load of luvvies not wanting to stab their friends in the back. I thought: “Wait till you get a load of me!” I wanted to prove them wrong. People underestimate celebrities, but it’s a hard business. I definitely turned a corner when I murdered Celia. There was one funny bit that didn’t stay in, but at one round table Stephen Fry said, “We have to think about the Cambridge spies. Philby, Blunt… they were flamboyant characters, camp but still under the radar.” I’m sitting directly opposite, saying “Ooh I know!” and laughing. Out of all your celebrity mates, who do you think would make a good Traitor? Michelle Ogundehin, the judge from Interior Design Masters, would be great. Although she’d probably murder the wallpaper because it was horrible, or you’d get to the turret and she’d be pebble- dashing the wall to make it look nicer. Now you’re out of the castle, your sitcom Changing Ends is back — where do we find young Alan in 1989? Oliver Savell [who plays Alan] has shot up, his voice is deeper – I wish mine was that deep. The bullies have sort of left Alan alone, there’s only so many times you can have your glasses snapped. He’s coasting along, then goes into an Athena store and falls in love with Jake, the boy behind the counter. That’s what happened to me in real life. We see that awful, fabulous mix of emotions you get when you fall for someone. Is it hard to watch your adolescence being replayed? In the last series I cried when I watched the bullying scenes, and in the next and final series it really goes up a gear emotionally. This one is a bit more cringe with Alan’s crush; you don’t realise how obvious you are, looking back. I did see the boy I fancied from Athena about seven or eight years ago at a cash point in Northampton. My knees still went a little wobbly. What advice do you give to Oliver on playing you as a child? I let him do his thing, but sometimes guide him with the voice or specific words – he’s not from Northampton and doesn’t know what Semilong or Kingsthorpe is. There’s a bit in the new series where he unzips his purse, it’s so funny. He’s like an elderly woman and a young boy at the same time. Changing Ends could go on like The Crown; maybe in a few years Ollie can play me in the Traitors castle. Christopher Biggins or Brendan from Coach Trip could be me when I’m older. Do you enjoy writing — is there anything else you’re working on? I feel there is a murder mystery in me. I grew up reading Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle and PD James, so the twist has to be there. I think that’s why I enjoyed The Traitors so much, being in a castle on the moors murdering people, I know how those situations work. Picture Slam is back, there’s Interior Design Masters, Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job, RuPaul’s Drag Race… are you a workaholic? You have to make hay while the sun shines and I know it won’t last for ever. I’m having so many pinch-me moments, like having a cuppa with Mariah Carey after my podcast Life’s a Beach. We had a picture together and her assistant pulled out a leaf blower so her hair looked fabulous. My comb-over was lassoing around the room... What of those rumours about hosting Strictly Come Dancing? Apparently my name is in the hat, which is an honour, but I haven’t spoken to anyone at the BBC. You saw how sweaty I was in the castle, imagine me live on a Saturday night coming down those stairs – people would slip in a pool of my sweat while doing the fandango. It’s lovely to be thought of, but it’s probably a bit too nerve-racking. Are we in the middle of an Alan-aissance, post-Traitors? I’m not exactly insulted but I have been around for ages. It’s like that old saying “It took me 25 years to be an overnight sensation!” I had the time of my life, and it’s lovely people are saying that I was funny in it, although I’m like: “So everything else I’ve done is rubbish?!” Now everyone wants me to do sketches wearing the cloak, like I’m some sort of Traitor-gram.
Alan Carr reveals all about his Celebrity Traitors win, suggestions he fled the country, and 'murdering' his friends
The king of the Celebrity Traitors castle on stabbing his friends in the back, writing his own murder mystery – and having tea with Mariah Carey.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Alan Carr was already a national treasure, but he now describes himself as a “national traitor” following his winning turn on The Celebrity Traitors. The profile of the 49-year-old comedian, presenter and writer has never been higher: his autobiographical sitcom Changing Ends, about his childhood in 1980s Northampton, and primetime Saturday night quiz show Alan Carr’s Picture Slam are both back on TV and more projects are coming soon. But what about those rumours that he could soon be waltzing into Strictly to take TV’s top job? Congratulations, top Traitor! Is it true you had to flee the country to escape The Celebrity Traitors mania while it was on? It was too much – Paloma-gate, killing Celia Imrie, grief from the gays for murdering Tom Daley, who was the only bit of eye candy – I needed to get away! Actually, I was taking my niece and nephew to Disneyland and jokingly said I had to leave the country because of the show. I’m the worst uncle, I forget their birthdays, their names… What do you make of the reaction to your victory? There were a lot of naysayers who assumed it would be a load of luvvies not wanting to stab their friends in the back. I thought: “Wait till you get a load of me!” I wanted to prove them wrong. People underestimate celebrities, but it’s a hard business. I definitely turneda corner when I murdered Celia. There was one funny bit that didn’t stay in, but at one round table Stephen Fry said, “We have to think about the Cambridge spies. Philby, Blunt… they were flamboyant characters, camp but still under the radar.” I’m sitting directly opposite, saying “Ooh I know!” and laughing. Out of all your celebrity mates, who do you think would make a good Traitor? Michelle Ogundehin, the judge from Interior Design Masters, would be great. Although she’d probably murder the wallpaper because it was horrible, or you’d get to the turret and she’d be pebbledashing the wall to make it look nicer. Now you’re out of the castle, your sitcom Changing Ends is back — where do we find young Alan in 1989? Oliver Savell (who plays Alan) has shot up, his voice is deeper – I wish mine was that deep. The bullies have sort of left Alan alone, there’s only so many times you can have your glasses snapped. He’s coasting along, then goes into an Athena store and falls in love with Jake, the boy behind the counter. That’s what happened to me in real life. We see that awful, fabulous mix of emotions you get when you fall for someone. Is it hard to watch your adolescence being replayed? In the last series I cried when I watched the bullying scenes, and in the next and final series it really goes up a gear emotionally. This one is a bit more cringe with Alan’s crush; you don’t realise how obvious you are, looking back. I did see the boy I fancied from Athena about seven or eight years ago at a cash point in Northampton. My knees still went a little wobbly. What advice do you give to Oliver on playing you as a child? I let him do his thing, but sometimes guide him with the voice or specific words – he’s not from Northampton and doesn’t know what Semilong or Kingsthorpe is. There’s a bit in the new series where he unzips his purse, it’s so funny. He’s like an elderly woman and a young boy at the same time. Changing Ends could go on like The Crown; maybe in a few years Ollie can play me in the Traitors castle. Christopher Biggins or Brendan from Coach Trip could be me when I’m older. Do you enjoy writing — is there anything else you’re working on? I feel there is a murder mystery in me. I grew up reading Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle and PD James, so the twist has to be there. I think that’s why I enjoyed The Traitors so much, being in a castle on the moors murdering people, I know how those situations work. Picture Slam is back, there’s Interior Design Masters, Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job, RuPaul’s Drag Race... are you a workaholic? You have to make hay while the sun shines and I know it won’t last for ever. I’m having so many pinch-me moments, like having a cuppa with Mariah Carey after my podcast Life’s a Beach. We had a picture together and her assistant pulled out a leaf blower so her hair looked fabulous. My comb-over was lassoing around the room... What of those rumours about hosting Strictly Come Dancing? Apparently my name is in the hat, which is an honour, but I haven’t spoken to anyone at the BBC. You saw how sweaty I was in the castle, imagine me live on a Saturday night coming down those stairs – people would slip in a pool of my sweat while doing the fandango. It’s lovely to be thought of, but it’s probably a bit too nerve-racking. Are we in the middle of an Alan-aissance, post-Traitors? I’m not exactly insulted but I have been around for ages. It’s like that old saying “It took me 25 years to be an overnight sensation!” I had the time of my life, and it’s lovely people are saying that I was funny in it, although I’m like: “So everything else I’ve done is rubbish?!” Now everyone wants me to do sketches wearing the cloak, like I’m some sort of Traitor-gram. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Changing Ends seasons 1-2 are available on ITVX. Season 3 premieres on ITV1 at 10:05pm on Sunday 23rd November 2025. Add Changing Ends to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Coronation Street star Sydney Martin believes Betsy Swain could be "manipulated" by mum Becky
The actress talks her acting inspirations, and the 'mother' of all twists...
This article originally appeared in Radio Times magazine. From Sarah Lancashire to Suranne Jones, Coronation Street has nurtured some of TV’s biggest talents. One rising star in Weatherfield right now is Sydney Martin, who arrived on the cobbles 18 months ago to play tearaway teenager Betsy Swain. So how does it feel to get her break on a drama that has launched so many big careers? “Being in Coronation Street is a privilege,” Martin tells Feedback. “I’m following in the footsteps of performers who have grown up on screen and created characters who are national treasures. “My earliest Corrie memory is watching Michelle Keegan, as Tina McIntyre, being really mean to Gail Platt — and one of my first scenes was in the factory being rude to Carla Connor. It was so intimidating! But Ali King [who plays Carla] made it far less daunting.” Bolshie Betsy has had a huge storyline: her birth mum, detective Becky, came back into her life four years after supposedly being killed. Betsy’s other mother, Lisa, has found a new love, Carla, and Becky’s return, having faked her death in an undercover operation, has blown the blended family apart. The tangled plot has gifted Martin some challenging material. “As a story it’s quite far from reality, but I wanted to find the truth in it. I’m obsessed with subtle, hyper-realistic styles of acting. "I was inspired by the performances of Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People. To bring nuance to soap is tricky as we work so fast, but I’ve learnt to trust my instincts.” Martin was cast as Betsy just months after graduating from Manchester’s Arden School of Theatre, having been encouraged to pursue acting by her high-school drama teachers. “I wanted to be a zookeeper, but wasn’t very good at science! I went to the same school as Sam Aston [who plays Chesney Winter-Brown], so Corrie was always talked about. Growing up in a small working-class area” — Martin is from Rossendale, Lancashire — “I didn’t know acting could be an actual career.” Martin is looking forward to developing her complex character. “Betsy has a degree of emotional maturity, and maybe I bring that as I’m 23 playing an 18-year-old. But she is still an annoying teenager. She’s caught between her mums and Carla, and could be manipulated by Becky.” Where does she see her future? “I love where I work, I’m surrounded by gorgeous people and get to act every day — right now, that’s all I could ask.” Read more Coronation Street star Daon Broni reveals "massive risk" to Costello's family after Becky Swain threat Coronation Street icon Amanda Barrie believes creator Tony Warren would be "delighted" with soap's LGBTQ+ representation 5 Coronation Street spoilers next week: David and Shona Platt receive heart-wrenching news about their baby in special episode Coronation Street's Catherine Tyldesley was asked to return to ITV soap before Coronation Street winter preview: Driscoll family drama, Swarla "explosions" and Theo shows his true colours Coronation Street boss gives exciting update on Corriedale crossover Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add Coronation Street to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
From Craggy Island to the cobbles of Coronation Street – Father Ted’s Pauline McLynn is thrilled to be acting alongside her TV heroes
Add Coronation Street to your watchlist “During my first week on Coronation Street, nobody mentioned Father Ted at all,” says Pauline McLynn, referring to the beloved Channel 4 sitcom in which she played harassed housekeeper Mrs Doyle. “Fair enough, why should they? Maybe they just hadn’t seen it. Then one day in rehearsal, I came into the back room of the Rovers and two characters were sat at the table. I said: ‘Can I get you a snack? A cup of tea? Ah, go on…’ and kind of lapsed into Mrs Doyle. It was just for fun while we ran the lines, and I heard the crew whisper: ‘She’s doing it!’ I thought I’d get it out of the way…” After 30 years, Craggy Island’s obsessive beverage provider to the clergy remains one of TV’s most unforgettable characters and still follows McLynn everywhere. So why did no one bring it up when she started on Corrie? “I think they were being really tender with me in the beginning so I didn’t get distracted, because you’re dropped in at the deep end here. And if you’ve had a famous role, sometimes people want to move on from it, so you don’t know whether to bring it up. “I don’t mind at all, It’s always a great compliment if anyone talks about Father Ted. Although I don’t really have a great recall of it, so if I catch an episode, it’s a surprise to me what’s happening!” Maggie Driscoll, her new character – and the new owner of the Rovers Return – may well eclipse Mrs Doyle on McLynn’s curriculum vitae. The character made an instantly impactful entrance as the matriarch of a blended family, alongside Catherine Tyldesley, who is returning after seven years as Eva Price. It’s not McLynn’s first soap experience. In 2014 she played nasty Nick Cotton’s wife Yvonne in EastEnders, but that was a guest role whereas Maggie and her clan are, hopefully, here to stay and are firmly positioned at the heart of the show. Were there reservations about committing to a long-term, all-consuming job? “Not for a second. If anything it was a bonus knowing I’d be doing this for a while. I never expected Corrie to come my way but when the offer came out of my agent’s mouth, I think I said ‘yes’ before the sentence had even finished! The writing is great, the character is great and you get to use all your acting skills.” McLynn has been performing or as she jokes, “getting away with it” since 1983, has published novels and written plays. Of all her endeavours, joining the world of Weatherfield is already a professional, and personal, highlight. “This is the most challenging thing I’ve done, the sheer amount of work that goes into it. You’ve got to bring all the skills, such as they are, you’ve ever learnt and be prepared to do everything quickly and accurately. I get to cry, I get to be mean to people, I get to shout – and that’s just today! How much you can achieve so quickly is very satisfying.” Another attraction was the chance to play a formidable woman of a certain age, something the Street has become famed for. “Tony Warren [creator of Corrie] wanted to celebrate older women right from the beginning. Soaps, particularly Coronation Street, are where us older actors can thrive, the parts are huge and brilliant. It’s important we have that space.” Sharp, witty and with a putdown for every occasion, Maggie is in the mould of erstwhile battle-axes such as Ena Sharples, Blanche Hunt and Evelyn Plummer (McLynn teases the tantalising prospect of a meeting between Maggie and Evelyn, having just filmed a scene with Dame Maureen Lipman). For 63-year-old McLynn, the pace of a continuing drama schedule is better at keeping the mind active than the toughest sudoku. “It’s busy and bewildering, but as long as there’s an adult in charge telling me where to go, which scene we’re doing and what I’m wearing, I’m fine. It’s great for the brain to be learning so many lines, I honestly think it’s made me more alert.” Proof of Corrie’s anti-ageing power is evident in Bill Roache, who is still playing Ken Barlow aged 93. “Bill was the first of ‘the legends’ I worked with,” smiles McLynn, a Corrie fan since childhood. “I couldn’t believe the youthfulness of him. He was on the money for every single take, it was inspirational. Working with these heroes of television, it’s pinch-me moments all the time.”
Father Ted icon explains how her new Coronation Street character answers to the soap's powerful legacy
From Craggy Island to the cobbles of Coronation Street – Father Ted’s Pauline McLynn is thrilled to be acting alongside her TV heroes.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. “During my first week on Coronation Street, nobody mentioned Father Ted at all,” says Pauline McLynn, referring to the beloved Channel 4 sitcom in which she played harassed housekeeper Mrs Doyle. “Fair enough, why should they? Maybe they just hadn’t seen it. Then one day in rehearsal, I came into the back room of the Rovers and two characters were sat at the table. I said: ‘Can I get you a snack? A cup of tea? Ah, go on…’ and kind of lapsed into Mrs Doyle. It was just for fun while we ran the lines, and I heard the crew whisper: ‘She’s doing it!’ I thought I’d get it out of the way…” After 30 years, Craggy Island’s obsessive beverage provider to the clergy remains one of TV’s most unforgettable characters and still follows McLynn everywhere. So why did no one bring it up when she started on Corrie? “I think they were being really tender with me in the beginning so I didn’t get distracted, because you’re dropped in at the deep end here. And if you’ve had a famous role, sometimes people want to move on from it, so you don’t know whether to bring it up. “I don’t mind at all, It’s always a great compliment if anyone talks about Father Ted. Although I don’t really have a great recall of it, so if I catch an episode, it’s a surprise to me what’s happening!” Maggie Driscoll, her new character – and the new owner of the Rovers Return – may well eclipse Mrs Doyle on McLynn’s curriculum vitae. The character made an instantly impactful entrance as the matriarch of a blended family, alongside Catherine Tyldesley, who is returning after seven years as Eva Price. It’s not McLynn’s first soap experience. In 2014 she played nasty Nick Cotton’s wife Yvonne in EastEnders, but that was a guest role whereas Maggie and her clan are, hopefully, here to stay and are firmly positioned at the heart of the show. Were there reservations about committing to a long-term, all-consuming job? “Not for a second. If anything it was a bonus knowing I’d be doing this for a while. I never expected Corrie to come my way but when the offer came out of my agent’s mouth, I think I said ‘yes’ before the sentence had even finished! The writing is great, the character is great and you get to use all your acting skills.” McLynn has been performing or as she jokes, “getting away with it” since 1983, has published novels and written plays. Of all her endeavours, joining the world of Weatherfield is already a professional, and personal, highlight. “This is the most challenging thing I’ve done, the sheer amount of work that goes into it. You’ve got to bring all the skills, such as they are, you’ve ever learnt and be prepared to do everything quickly and accurately. I get to cry, I get to be mean to people, I get to shout – and that’s just today! How much you can achieve so quickly is very satisfying.” Another attraction was the chance to play a formidable woman of a certain age, something the Street has become famed for. “Tony Warren [creator of Corrie] wanted to celebrate older women right from the beginning. Soaps, particularly Coronation Street, are where us older actors can thrive, the parts are huge and brilliant. It’s important we have that space.” Sharp, witty and with a putdown for every occasion, Maggie is in the mould of erstwhile battle-axes such as Ena Sharples, Blanche Hunt and Evelyn Plummer (McLynn teases the tantalising prospect of a meeting between Maggie and Evelyn, having just filmed a scene with Dame Maureen Lipman). For 63-year-old McLynn, the pace of a continuing drama schedule is better at keeping the mind active than the toughest sudoku. “It’s busy and bewildering, but as long as there’s an adult in charge telling me where to go, which scene we’re doing and what I’m wearing, I’m fine. It’s great for the brain to be learning so many lines, I honestly think it’s made me more alert.” Proof of Corrie’s anti-ageing power is evident in Bill Roache, who is still playing Ken Barlow aged 93. “Bill was the first of ‘the legends’ I worked with,” smiles McLynn, a Corrie fan since childhood. “I couldn’t believe the youthfulness of him. He was on the money for every single take, it was inspirational. Working with these heroes of television, it’s pinch-me moments all the time.” The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add Coronation Street to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Catherine Tyldesley promises 'oodles of drama' for Eva Price upon Coronation Street return
The actress talks to Johnathon Hughes about her cobbles return.
Catherine Tyldesley is set to make her grand return to Coronation Street tomorrow following a seven-year absence, as her character Eva Price takes charge of the Rovers Return. She'll be joined by new husband Ben (Aaron McCusker), her feisty daughter Susie (Aurora Bradshaw), Ben's sons Will (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) and Ollie (Raphael Akuwudike), and his mum Maggie (Pauline McLynn). It signifies a new era for the ITV soap, but Catherine was very much in a reflective mood as she spoke about the Corrie icons that have inspired her performance as Eva. What prompted you to leave Corrie back in 2018? I love variations. I think it’s incredibly important for all actors. Otherwise how do we grow and develop as performers? I’ve been incredibly lucky to have remained busy. Who is your favourite past landlady of the Rovers and why? I think they all brought wonderful elements to the table. All very strong, feisty women. For me, it has to be Annie Walker (Doris Speed) and Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear). I love old school Corrie episodes. I’m drawn to strong women – my own family is full of them. It’s a huge part of the reason I returned. Who is your 'Corrie acting idol' - someone in the cast past or present who has inspired you? Ooh, that’s a tough one but a stand-out for me was Hayley Cropper, played by Julie Hesmondhalgh, and Raquel Wolstenhulme, played by Sarah Lancashire. What was your favourite Eva storyline from your first stint and why? It HAS to be [being pushed into] the fountain [by Maria]. We had so much fun shooting those scenes. Samia [Longchambon] and I are good pals in real life and had the giggles so much between takes. If you could play another character who would it be and why? Roy (David Neilson)... I LOVE bacon baps! How would you sum up the next few months for the Driscolls? Fun, filled with love, laughter, quick wit and oodles of drama! Can you tell us about your creative partnership with Jodie Prenger – you've written together? Watch this space. Jodie and I have several projects in the works at the moment. That’s all I’ll say for now as I don’t want to jinx anything! Jodie is one of the most multi-talented women I know. It’s glorious to be behind that bar together! Read more Coronation Street winter preview: Driscoll family drama, Swarla "explosions" and Theo shows his true colours Coronation Street teases Eva Price's Rovers Return comeback in dramatic trailer – as another character's family connection is confirmed Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add Coronation Street to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guideto find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Louis Emerick on his Hollyoaks future after Brookside crossover twist
The actor talks to exclusively to Johnathon Hughes about Mick, Donny and going back to the Close.
There was more to the much-hyped return to Brookside Close than pure nostalgia, as the special crossover with Hollyoaks for its 30th anniversary revealed an almighty twist that uncovered an epic plot with decades of dramatic backstory. Detective Donny Clark, who arrived in Hollyoaks village 18 months ago to reconnect with long-lost daughter Vicky Grant, has actually been Mick Johnson from Brookside all along. If this audacious development has shocked the audience, imagine how Louis Emerick felt when he was told he’d been playing his most famous role in plain sight, and didn’t have a clue? “I was summoned by our executive producer Hannah Cheers for a meeting, but she wanted to walk and talk in the park, not in her office,” recalls Emerick, speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about the day he was let in on one of the biggest soap secrets of the year. “It was all quite covert, like a spy film. She pitched the whole thing: the Brookie crossover, the storyline that connected it, and Donny turning out to be Mick. I was waiting for her to say it was an April fool, only this was July! “Before she actually told me, Hannah was going round the houses trying to explain it and seemed to be soft soaping me, to prepare me for what she was about to say. I wondered whether Donny was going to turn gay in his middle age or something unexpected – I was ready for anything! The whole idea was so far out of left field, but I was really excited.” Explanatory dialogue tells us that 20 years ago, in the shared Brookie-Oaks universe, Mick Johnson had an ill-advised affair with gangster Froggy Black’s wife. Vengeful Froggy planned to have Mick murdered, so to protect his family, Mr Johnson faked his death and made a fresh start under the new identity Donny Clark. With Froggy now living in the same village as ‘Donny’ – what are the chances? – the detective’s past has come back to haunt him and his identity has been compromised. This forced a return to Brookside Close to warn daughter Gemma, along with assorted old pals including Sheila Grant and Billy Corkhill, who took in orphaned Gemma, that they could be in danger from Froggy’s criminal empire. The story continues in a hard-hitting edition of Hollyoaks Later, but where does this leave Donny/Mick in the main show? And what should we call him now? “Initially they wanted the character to be known as ‘Mick’ from this point, but I thought that was a step too far and went against it,” explains Emerick. “Hannah went with it too. There’s more drama in as few people as possible knowing the truth. “So Mick is gone and he’s still Donny, but trying to keep his past a secret. Donny has been a police officer for years, how will he explain he used to be someone else? And will those who know use it to their advantage? There are threats against him and his loved ones. And you’ve got to ask yourself, Donny’s kept all this hidden for 20 years – what else is he hiding?” Emerick confirms Mick’s grown-up daughter Gemma, played by ex-Coronation Street star Tisha Merry, will be sticking around in Hollyoaks wanting answers from the father she grieved for. Brookside viewers, and Emerick, remember Gemma as a sweet little kid – to say she’s changed is an understatement… “I think my Gemma has been substituted by an alien! The sweet girl Mick left is like the lead character in The Devil Wears Prada times 10! Gemma is a scheming baddie and the brains behind some terrible things that happened in the Later episode. And she’s dating Warren Fox! “Gemma wants to punish her dad. Tisha and I have spoken about this and I think it’s a bit harsh. Her dad went out of her life for 20 years but for the right reasons – Gemma’s life was in danger. We’ll see Gemma trying to get at Donny’s fiancée Misbah, and even have a go at Mercedes McQueen! Vicky likes the idea of having a big sister, and her and Gemma seem to have a good relationship. But Gemma’s not to be trusted so I’m sure somewhere down the line that’s all going to change…” Hollyoaks was conceived in 1995 as a younger-skewed spin-off from Brookside, and there were occasional crossovers and Easter eggs in the early days that acknowledged it occupied the same fictional world. Over time, and once Brookside was axed in 2003, that aspect was discarded – until now. Respectfully paying tribute to its parent show is a master stroke on Hollyoaks’ part, and has seen a wave of nostalgic appreciation for the groundbreaking Brookie, which changed the face of television drama when it was launched back in 1982. It’s also got Johnson recalling his journey to the show, and how he has an old neighbour to thank for helping him on his way. “It was 1989, I was a jobbing actor but was out of work at that time. An old lady who lived opposite called Rita knocked on my door one day, because she knew everyone else was out at work, saying she had a leak in her house and water was coming through the ceiling. I’m to DIY what an elephant is to hang gliding so I didn’t have a clue, but I knew to turn the stopcock off! So the water stopped and she got a plumber. “Rita was so grateful. My phone had been cut off, because I couldn’t pay the bill, so she offered to pay it as a thank you. I said there was no need, but asked if I could give her phone number to my agent – this was before mobile phones – so they could get hold of me. Two weeks later I got the Brookside audition, and Rita’s coming back and forth with my schedule and call time written on a sheet of A4. She was the go-between with my agent! It was a domino effect from there, one ep of Brookie led to a BBC film with Miranda Richardson and Zoë Wanamaker, then I went back into Brookside and the rest is history.” Emerick’s blend of roguish charm and air of authority has seen him work constantly since he quit Brookside in 2001, with recurring roles in Coronation Street, Casualty and Last of the Summer Wine, along with numerous guest appearances in everything from New Tricks to Vera and on stage. The charismatic actor is full of stories from his early days on Brookie, where he got his big break alongside seasoned performers who were experiencing soap fame in their later years. “Bill Dean, who played Harry Cross, was in Scum which was a huge, groundbreaking film in the 70s, and also in Dennis Potter’s TV drama Pennies from Heaven. I was already starstruck, and being a Brookside fan before I was in it, I couldn’t believe I was working with Harry Cross! I used to go down the corner shop near the Close to get Bill’s ciggies. “Another one I remember was Gladys Ambrose, who was Billy Corkhill’s mother-in-law, Julia Brogan. She and her husband were in the circus back in the day as a comedy acrobatic act, then she went on the variety circuit. She was wonderful and so glamorous, always in ridiculously high heels. When they made her a regular after years of guest stints she burst into the green room saying: ‘I’ve waited 45 years to become an overnight success!’ Hollyoaks inherited Brookside’s mantle of tackling taboo topics no other television show will touch, highlighting incel culture two years before Adolescence, and recently exploring sibling sexual abuse with unflinching commitment. As a final reflection on the impact of Sir Phil Redmond’s creations, Emerick says he is proud to have been a part of both shows that have broken so many boundaries, and praises the genre’s ongoing efforts to shine a light on uncomfortable issues. “For the audience, seeing characters on a soap go through what they’re going through in real life enables them to reach out and get help. They can relate to it. Soaps are very much still a vital part of our lives, and will continue to be for some time.” Read more: Yasmin Davies cast as legacy character Esme for Hollyoaks Later spin-off and Brookside crossover Beloved Channel 4 soap Brookside to return for major crossover with another major soap 4 things we need to see in Brookside's big Hollyoaks crossover Emmerdale icon joins Hollyoaks as "notorious" villain - 8 years after last beloved soap character died Brookside icon Anna Friel delivers verdict on revival - and whether she would return Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney reveals verdict on Brookside revival and whether she will return Episodes of Brookside are available to watch on STV player. Hollyoaks is available to watch on catch-up on Channel 4. Visit our dedicated Soaps page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Returning to Brookside is the perfect way to honour Hollyoaks' heritage
The crossover is a tribute to both groundbreaking soaps.
Soaps love to mark a significant anniversary by going back in time. Returning characters and knowing nods to the past are a reward for loyal viewers, and a way of reminding us of the show’s roots and the reasons we’ve watched it for so long. Hollyoaks is going bigger and shouting louder, as it does with most things, when it comes to the celebrations for its 30th birthday. In a gift to soap fans, Channel 4’s cheeky, rebellious flagship continuing drama is acknowledging the history of two shows – itself, and the programme it sprang from. In an audacious soap crossover, months before ITV’s much-anticipated Corriedale weaves together the worlds of Weatherfield and the Yorkshire Dales, Hollyoaks is mashing up with Brookside. This goes right back to the origin story for Hollyoaks, launched in 1995 as a sister show to Brookside by Sir Phil Redmond, who created them both. Forget the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this is the Redmond shared soap universe. It’s been 22 years since Channel 4’s iconic continuing drama was cancelled, leaving behind a legacy of breaking boundaries and highlighting the taboo topics other dramas, not just soaps, were too scared to touch. Part of the epic storylines for Hollyoaks’ anniversary week takes detective Donny Clark to Brookside Close, the humble Liverpool cul-de-sac on an unassuming housing estate that was the scene of some of TV’s most groundbreaking drama. For reasons that will become clear when he interacts with some familiar Brookie faces, some of whom we haven’t seen on screen since the '80s, it turns out there’s a strong link between Donny and the Close. But the connections between Hollyoaks and Brookside run much deeper. Brookie’s mini-return has generated a wave of nostalgia and confirmed the respectful position it holds in TV history as the first truly daring continuing drama, which Hollyoaks inherited and continues to keep alive. Starting in 1995 as a shiny teen show about a gang of good-looking friends in their late teens from an ordinary, slightly aspirational suburb of Chester, Hollyoaks quickly showed it had substance as well as style and it wasn’t afraid to take risks. Pulling the rug from under the audience by killing off leading lady Natasha Andersen following a drug overdose just a few months in, it hit its stride as a place to tell hard-hitting stories to an adolescent demographic with a bold, brave spirit. Famously the first soap to portray male sexual assault in a late-night post-watershed special, a format innovation that also influenced the genre, the list of issues highlighted by Hollyoaks over 30 years is incredible. In the last 12 months alone it's tackled sibling sexual abuse (another soap first), child exploitation, conversion therapy, child-to-parent domestic violence and transgender hate crimes. Add those to previous pioneering storylines such as far-right radicalisation, self-harm, eating disorders and county lines grooming, among others, and you realise how seriously Hollyoaks takes its commitment to helping its audience navigate a complicated world at a complicated age. It broke the mould, but it couldn’t have done any of it without Brookside. The turning point not just for soaps, but arguably all British TV drama, Brookside was revolutionary when it began in 1982, on Channel 4’s launch night. Soaps had been a staple of the schedules since Coronation Street practically invented the genre in 1960 with its relatable depiction of working class life, but by the early '80s it had traded some of the early grittiness for whimsical cosiness. Crossroads was a cheap and cheerful melodrama, Emmerdale (back then) a slower-paced slice of village life, and US imports Dallas and Dynasty were pure high-octane escapism. Brookside took the template of day-to-day struggles and relationships within a close-knit community and made it modern and relevant. It had a more realistic approach and a social conscience that put politics front and centre, examining the socio-economic impact of Thatcherism on families everybody could recognise. It also raised awareness on issues such as sexual assault, mental health, violence, class, religion and provided an early platform the representation of LGBTQ+ characters. Nothing was off limits for Redmond’s fearless creation. The death of Trevor Jordache at the hands of the wife and daughter he abused in 1993 was an unflinching portrayal of a harrowing subject, and became Brookside’s most famous, and prescient, storyline. Burying Trevor’s body under the patio, and leaving it undiscovered for two years, happened in an eerie parallel with a notorious case of real-life domestic abuse – in 1994, police discovered the victims of serial killers Fred and Rose West hidden in their family home, including their own daughter, who was buried in the back garden. The Jordache story was the ultimate Brookside plot: shocking, controversial and rooted in truth. The year Trevor was dug up also saw Hollyoaks make its debut. Produced by the same team as Brookside at the same Liverpool-based studio complex, using shared sets still used today (did you know Dee Valley Hospital was once the night club on Brookside’s shopping parade?), Redmond always considered it to be a spin-off with a youthful skew. Seeing characters cross over between the two shows isn’t a new idea, it was happening right at the start, but over time the connection was lost, especially once Brookside was axed in 2003. Reviving it as a narrative device to mark Hollyoaks’ impressive three-decade milestone makes perfect sense. What better way to recognise the simple fact Hollyoaks would not exist without Brookie by strengthening the original relationship between them, and having legends like Sheila Grant and Billy Corkhill along for the ride. And this is not just one-off fan service – Billy will follow Donny back to Hollyoaks village next week, meaning there’s scope for more back and forth in the future. Having Brookside show up as a guest at its little sister’s metaphorical birthday party also recognises how Hollyoaks, while still having an eye on serving the younger end of the soap audience, has come of age as it hits the big three-oh. It’s bold, brash, sure of itself and ready to provoke difficult conversations. Just like Brookside was. Read more: 4 things we need to see in Brookside's big Hollyoaks crossover Episodes of Brookside are available to watch on STV player. Hollyoaks is available to watch on catch-up on Channel 4. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson are back again in the Brookside revival
Add Hollyoaks to your watchlist Sue Johnston played Sheila Grant 1982–1990 How did you react when you were asked to play Sheila again? I thought it would be rather interesting. Sheila was huge for me. I’d worked in theatre for 20 years and the only TV work I’d done was in three episodes of Coronation Street playing Mrs Chadwick. I was a single parent worrying about what I was going to do when my little boy started school, as I wouldn’t be able to do theatre in the evenings. I’d started applying to teacher training college when someone suggested I get an agent. That’s how I got Corrie and then Brookside, and it saved my life. I owe Brookside a lot. What was the secret to Brookside’s success? It was different, and relevant to people’s lives. Although [conservative activist] Mary Whitehouse went berserk in the beginning because of the swearing! All of us were learning on the job, and that excitement transferred to the screen, you felt the commitment and love for it. Is it nice to be reunite with Ricky Tomlinson? Ricky and I have chemistry and history, obviously, because after Brookside we did The Royle Family. I remember Caroline Aherne telling us we were going to be her mum and dad, she loved Bobby and Sheila and wanted to bring us back together. I love Ricky, but we work very differently, he calls me “the classical actress” just because I went to drama school! Ricky Tomlinson played Bobby Grant 1982–1988 How did you get the part of Bobby? When Brookside was getting started in 1982, I hadn’t long been out of prison and had only done one TV job, a BBC Play for Today called United Kingdom. Andy Lynch, one of the original Brookside writers, was watching me in that and picked up the phone to Phil Redmond and said: “I’ve just found Bobby”. That’s how it happened — I got the job. It was all so brand new to me but I took to it like a duck to water. Why do people remember Brookside so fondly after all these years? Because I think they can relate to it, simple as that. It was groundbreaking. Did you ever think you’d play Bobby Grant again? I never thought it would happen, but when they said they were doing something that would mean more work for actors and publicity for Liverpool — because I’m a freeman of the city and take that very seriously — I didn’t hesitate. I told them: “Just tell me where and when you want me and I’ll be there!” If Brookside was to return full-time after this one-off special, would you consider being part of it? I would certainly think about it. I do other stuff and have got grandchildren now so I spend a lot of time with them. I’ve just done my first children’s book called Maggie & Jack and the Rusty Key, named after two of my grandkids. It would be a big commitment if Brookie came back full-time, but I’d seriously consider it, because it was very good to me and to the city of Liverpool. The Hollyoaks 30th anniversary episodes are at 7.00pm Monday to Wednesday on E4, with the Brookside crossover episode on Wednesday
Death of Soap? Phil Redmond is having none of it, as Hollyoaks celebrates 30 years on screen by bringing back Brookside
Add Hollyoaks to your watchlist Everybody says, ‘I don’t watch soaps,’” observes Sir Phil Redmond, whose career in television spans more than 50 years. “That’s because it’s working-class telly. Yet within 15 minutes, they’re telling you the intricacies of all the plotlines.” In a year in which EastEnders celebrated its 40th anniversary, and Coronation Street reaches the grand old age of 65, this week sees Hollyoaks, the enfant terrible of soaps devised by Redmond, mark 30 years on air. Soaps, it seems, are weathering the stormy TV landscape and managing to stay afloat. To mark the coming-of-age of Redmond’s heightened saga of suburban adolescence, Hollyoaks is acknowledging its roots with a tribute to another of his creations, Brookside. Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston are returning as Bobby and Sheila Grant for a crossover event with a cameo from Redmond himself – three decades after he was chastised for engineering something very similar. “Brookside was Channel 4’s biggest show in 1995, so I thought it was a good idea to use it to promote their new drama,” he recalls. “I sent characters from Brookie across to Hollyoaks, and got my knuckles rapped by the regulators because you weren’t allowed to cross-promote. “So when Hollyoaks asked me to be involved in the Brookside crossover to celebrate the 30th anniversary, it appealed to my sense of mischief – they were doing something I was told off for, which was now being waved through. It sounded like fun.” To Redmond, Brookside and Hollyoaks always occupied the same fictional world. Brookside, set on a real Liverpool cul-de-sac, began on the night of the launch of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, revolutionising soap by tackling taboo topics with a gritty social conscience. By the 1990s, he had another idea. “For years I nagged the networks to do an adolescent-skewed show. I always treated teenage characters in Brookside, like Damon Grant, the same as the adults. Grange Hill [which Redmond created for the BBC in 1978] never really went into the sixth form, we did Tucker’s Luck as a spin-off in the early 1980s following the characters after they left school, but it didn’t last. “Channel 4 started importing things like Saved By the Bell from the US and wanted to develop something along those lines. I’d done Grange Hill and Brookside by then, I knew what was needed to make it work. That’s how Hollyoaks started, off the back of Brookie.” Shortly after Channel 4 axed Brookside in 2003, Redmond withdrew from active TV production after years of disillusionment. “The 1990 Broadcasting Act was the worst thing to happen to television,” he says. “No one thought through the consequences of introducing concepts such as taste and decency, imitable behaviour and influence. It’s like the debate we’re having now in culture with free speech, it was trying to compress it. “You couldn’t consult regulators in advance with a controversial idea, so you would transmit and hope for the best. They could fine you 3 per cent of your income if you broke the rules, which became prohibitive to creativity in the boardroom – it was a case of: ‘If in doubt, leave it out’. “I also got fed up of arguing with people who just wanted to work ‘in telly’ but had nothing to say. It was being run by people who didn’t have lived experience of the working class and had no understanding of the subtleties and nuances of how they interacted. Those people started recruiting in their own image and bringing in their mates, who’d done an English or media studies degree, so you ended up with a narrow view and very little depth. Now we’re in a time loop back to the 1970s, and it’s full of the Oxbridge gang again.” Redmond, who was knighted in 2020 for services to broadcasting and arts, is still involved with the industry, as a public speaker, lecturer, and cultural advisor. “I’ve become one of the elders who wanders around telling them what they should be doing!” One of his endeavours is chairing the UK City of Culture initiative, tapping into his passion to serve society and preserve regional identity. “There are interesting conversations to be had about culture. Once your culture is defined, what step change are you going to bring about with it? What stories do you want to tell? I suppose that takes it back to the essence of soaps – how do you make change and serve an audience with a storyline?” Redmond recognises TV drama still has the power to unite, highlight working-class struggles and inspire change, though not as regularly as it used to. “Mr Bates vs the Post Office was great, but in the 1960s and 70s you’d see something like that every week. Now revenue is so tight the networks can’t afford to make those as often, so the only place to see working class drama on a regular basis is the soaps, as they are more cost-effective. “Soaps are considered ‘bankers’ by terrestrial networks as they still bring in revenue, but are also seen as a bit old-fashioned. I don’t think they’re a cultural imperative, put it that way.” Competition from streaming and cold, hard economics have meant reduced budgets and programming for continuing dramas. Coronation Street and Emmerdale will each lower their weekly output from January 2026 and will coincidentally mark their new transmission patterns with their own ITV soaps crossover, “Corriedale”. As usual, Redmond’s creations strike first with the big ideas. Despite all this, the man who turned his back on making soap is reluctant to write the genre off completely. “It’s the most fascinating form of drama, it allows a character to evolve over every aspect of their life. Put the investment in and believe in it, and a soap can run and run. Streamers are not the threats to terrestrial TV the networks think they are, because they’re only interested in global markets. “I don’t think soaps are doomed. We need TV for now, to tell relevant stories. Soaps could drive that, especially with viewers able to watch them when they want. And soaps can fill that half-hour gap you spend trying to find something to watch on Netflix every night!” The Hollyoaks 30th anniversary episodes are at 7.00pm Monday to Wednesday on E4, with the Brookside crossover episode on Wednesday
Hollyoaks creator says soaps aren't "doomed" and are 'only place to see working class drama on a regular basis'
Death of Soap? Phil Redmond is having none of it, as Hollyoaks celebrates 30 years on screen by bringing back Brookside.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. “Everybody says, ‘I don’t watch soaps,’” observes Sir Phil Redmond, whose career in television spans more than 50 years. “That’s because it’s working-class telly. Yet within 15 minutes, they’re telling you the intricacies of all the plotlines.” In a year in which EastEnders celebrated its 40th anniversary, and Coronation Street reaches the grand old age of 65, this week sees Hollyoaks, the enfant terrible of soaps devised by Redmond, mark 30 years on air. Soaps, it seems, are weathering the stormy TV landscape and managing to stay afloat. To mark the coming-of-age of Redmond’s heightened saga of suburban adolescence, Hollyoaks is acknowledging its roots with a tribute to another of his creations, Brookside. Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston are returning as Bobby and Sheila Grant for a crossover event with a cameo from Redmond himself – three decades after he was chastised for engineering something very similar. “Brookside was Channel 4’s biggest show in 1995, so I thought it was a good idea to use it to promote their new drama,” he recalls. “I sent characters from Brookie across to Hollyoaks, and got my knuckles rapped by the regulators because you weren’t allowed to cross-promote. “So when Hollyoaks asked me to be involved in the Brookside crossover to celebrate the 30th anniversary, it appealed to my sense of mischief – they were doing something I was told off for, which was now being waved through. It sounded like fun.” To Redmond, Brookside and Hollyoaks always occupied the same fictional world. Brookside, set on a real Liverpool cul-de-sac, began on the night of the launch of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, revolutionising soap by tackling taboo topics with a gritty social conscience. By the 1990s, he had another idea. “For years I nagged the networks to do an adolescent-skewed show. I always treated teenage characters in Brookside, like Damon Grant, the same as the adults. Grange Hill [which Redmond created for the BBC in 1978] never really went into the sixth form, we did Tucker’s Luck as a spin-off in the early 1980s following the characters after they left school, but it didn’t last. “Channel 4 started importing things like Saved By the Bell from the US and wanted to develop something along those lines. I’d done Grange Hill and Brookside by then, I knew what was needed to make it work. That’s how Hollyoaks started, off the back of Brookie.” Shortly after Channel 4 axed Brookside in 2003, Redmond withdrew from active TV production after years of disillusionment. “The 1990 Broadcasting Act was the worst thing to happen to television,” he says. “No one thought through the consequences of introducing concepts such as taste and decency, imitable behaviour and influence. It’s like the debate we’re having now in culture with free speech, it was trying to compress it. “You couldn’t consult regulators in advance with a controversial idea, so you would transmit and hope for the best. They could fine you 3 per cent of your income if you broke the rules, which became prohibitive to creativity in the boardroom – it was a case of: ‘If in doubt, leave it out’. “I also got fed up of arguing with people who just wanted to work ‘in telly’ but had nothing to say. It was being run by people who didn’t have lived experience of the working class and had no understanding of the subtleties and nuances of how they interacted. Those people started recruiting in their own image and bringing in their mates, who’d done an English or media studies degree, so you ended up with a narrow view and very little depth. Now we’re in a time loop back to the 1970s, and it’s full of the Oxbridge gang again.” Redmond, who was knighted in 2020 for services to broadcasting and arts, is still involved with the industry, as a public speaker, lecturer, and cultural advisor. “I’ve become one of the elders who wanders around telling them what they should be doing!” One of his endeavours is chairing the UK City of Culture initiative, tapping into his passion to serve society and preserve regional identity. “There are interesting conversations to be had about culture. Once your culture is defined, what step change are you going to bring about with it? What stories do you want to tell? I suppose that takes it back to the essence of soaps – how do you make change and serve an audience with a storyline?” Redmond recognises TV drama still has the power to unite, highlight working-class struggles and inspire change, though not as regularly as it used to. “Mr Bates vs the Post Office was great, but in the 1960s and 70s you’d see something like that every week. Now revenue is so tight the networks can’t afford to make those as often, so the only place to see working class drama on a regular basis is the soaps, as they are more cost-effective. “Soaps are considered ‘bankers’ by terrestrial networks as they still bring in revenue, but are also seen as a bit old-fashioned. I don’t think they’re a cultural imperative, put it that way.” Competition from streaming and cold, hard economics have meant reduced budgets and programming for continuing dramas. Coronation Street and Emmerdale will each lower their weekly output from January 2026 and will coincidentally mark their new transmission patterns with their own ITV soaps crossover, “Corriedale”. As usual, Redmond’s creations strike first with the big ideas. Despite all this, the man who turned his back on making soap is reluctant to write the genre off completely. “It’s the most fascinating form of drama, it allows a character to evolve over every aspect of their life. Put the investment in and believe in it, and a soap can run and run. Streamers are not the threats to terrestrial TV the networks think they are, because they’re only interested in global markets. “I don’t think soaps are doomed. We need TV for now, to tell relevant stories. Soaps could drive that, especially with viewers able to watch them when they want. And soaps can fill that half-hour gap you spend trying to find something to watch on Netflix every night!” The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Sue Johnston, Ricky Tomlinson on reprising iconic Brookside roles – and if they’d star in a revival
Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson are back again in the Brookside revival.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Sue Johnston (Sheila Grant 1982–1990) Sue, how did you react when you were asked to play Sheila again? I thought it would be rather interesting. Sheila was huge for me. I’d worked in theatre for 20 years and the only TV work I’d done was in three episodes of Coronation Street playing Mrs Chadwick. I was a single parent worrying about what I was going to do when my little boy started school, as I wouldn’t be able to do theatre in the evenings. I’d started applying to teacher training college when someone suggested I get an agent. That’s how I got Corrie and then Brookside, and it saved my life. I owe Brookside a lot. What was the secret to Brookside’s success? It was different, and relevant to people’s lives. Although [conservative activist] Mary Whitehouse went berserk in the beginning because of the swearing! All of us were learning on the job, and that excitement transferred to the screen, you felt the commitment and love for it. Is it nice to be reunite with Ricky Tomlinson? Ricky and I have chemistry and history, obviously, because after Brookside we did The Royle Family. I remember Caroline Aherne telling us we were going to be her mum and dad, she loved Bobby and Sheila and wanted to bring us back together. I love Ricky, but we work very differently, he calls me “the classical actress” just because I went to drama school! Ricky Tomlinson (Bobby Grant 1982–1988) Ricky, how did you get the part of Bobby? When Brookside was getting started in 1982, I hadn’t long been out of prison and had only done one TV job, a BBC Play for Today called United Kingdom. Andy Lynch, one of the original Brookside writers, was watching me in that and picked up the phone to Phil Redmond and said: “I’ve just found Bobby”. That’s how it happened — I got the job. It was all so brand new to me but I took to it like a duck to water. Why do people remember Brookside so fondly after all these years? Because I think they can relate to it, simple as that. It was groundbreaking. Did you ever think you’d play Bobby Grant again? I never thought it would happen, but when they said they were doing something that would mean more work for actors and publicity for Liverpool — because I’m a freeman of the city and take that very seriously — I didn’t hesitate. I told them: “Just tell me where and when you want me and I’ll be there!” If Brookside was to return full-time after this one-off special, would you consider being part of it? I would certainly think about it. I do other stuff and have got grandchildren now so I spend a lot of time with them. I’ve just done my first children’s book called Maggie & Jack and the Rusty Key, named after two of my grandkids. It would be a big commitment if Brookie came back full-time, but I’d seriously consider it, because it was very good to me and to the city of Liverpool. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Home & Away’s Lynne McGranger on why she quit after 32 years as Irene – and what the future holds
The Aussie soap icon exclusively looks back on her time in Summer Bay.
It’s the end of an era as Home and Away legend Lynne McGranger leaves the Australian soap after playing Irene Roberts for almost 33 years. Iconic Irene has been a Summer Bay stalwart, battling booze, cancer, and in her moving final storyline, Alzheimer’s disease. As ‘Reenie leaves her beloved home town to travel the world before her condition worsens, RadioTimes.com hears from the award-winning McGranger, who reflects on her decades of drama and reveals her reasons for quitting. And don't forget: Irene’s final episode airs on 5 on Wednesday 1st October. Why did you decide to leave Home and Away? I’d been thinking about it for a year or two. Maybe it was time to change direction, do a bit of theatre, not to get up at four in the morning and film in the rain! I had taken some time off to tour a play called The Grandparents Club and realised how much I’d missed theatre, which is where I started my career, and that’s where I wanted to be. What inspired you to suggest the Alzheimer’s storyline for Irene’s exit? Everyone you speak to, people know somebody who is dealing with it or have been diagnosed themselves. Alzheimer’s seems to be more common than ever, yet to my knowledge it’s not a topic that has been dealt with much on Australian television. My colleague Jessica Redmayne (who plays Harper) talked about her mum being diagnosed in her mid-50s, and what a tough journey it was. Jess was my go-to for research. Were you nervous about tackling the subject? I was. Mercifully, I have not had to deal with Alzheimer’s in my own family, so I relied on talking to people and reading things. I really wanted to do it justice. Irene is a popular character and a staple of the Bay and we wanted to honour her time, and also honour those dealing with Alzheimer’s. It was important we treated the story with respect and delicacy. Was it your idea we don’t see Irene deteriorate on screen, and she lives out her final days off camera? I had suggested Alzheimer’s, but the writers and producers wanted to give it a bit of a rosy ending. Let’s not make it so depressing that people are in trauma, and let’s give a message of hope. Who’s to say in two months’ time a drug or a treatment might be found? Anything is possible. What was the hardest scene to film in your final few weeks? We shoot out of sequence, so my last scene was signing over the diner to Leah. Me and Ada Nicodemou (who plays Leah) could stop crying. Ada and I spent the last month crying in any scene we did! I also remember fondly Irene telling John and Leah she had been diagnosed. The end was nigh, and it was quite emotional for us and the characters. Did you think you’d play Irene for this long? Good grief, not in a million years. I had the job for three months while my daughter Clancy was 20 months old. I left and they asked me to do another six months, maybe a year. My husband Paul left his job to look after Clancy, they kept asking if I’d like another two more years and it just kept on going, and going, and going! Would you be friends with Irene in real life? I think I would. She reminds me of a friend of mine, maybe I inadvertently based Irene on her, who is not backward in coming forward and calls a spade a frontend loader. I’m more circumspect. I’m certainly opinionated, but I do not like confrontation, whereas Irene loves it! I admire how she doesn’t hold back. She’s a card but I could see us getting on, though it would be a bit ying and yang. Why has she been so popular? Fans like Irene because she’s flawed. And she’s capable of anything at any one time, like any of us. I never thought Irene would almost bludgeon someone to death who’d invaded her home, but she did and was up on attempted murder. When you are given a circumstance you behave in certain ways, rightly or wrongly. She’s also not afraid to admit she has been wrong, people identify with that. Home and Away airs weekdays at 1:45pm on 5. Add Home and Away to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders top 10 Slater moments revealed as the family celebrates 25 years in Walford
They hit Walford like a hurricane back in 2000, and have been causing mayhem ever since – September 18th marks 25 years since the Slater family arrived in EastEnders, a rowdy group of formidable female characters, with the odd long-suffering fella also along for the ride, who became one of the soap’s most iconic clans. Kat, Zoe, Little Mo and Lynne, along with dad Charlie and nan Big Mo, were the original line-up, later joined by the likes of Stacey, Jean, Sean, Hayley, Belinda and various children and partners. To mark the momentous occasion of notching up a quarter of a century on screen, RadioTimes.com looks back at the rowdy family’s history with our specially-chosen countdown of their top 10 memorable moments, in descending order. Three guesses for what number one is… 10. Moving in (September 2000) Packed into a transit van, the rowdy Slaters picked their moment to move in, arriving on the day of Walford legend Ethel Skinner’s funeral. They soon shattered the sombre mood of an Albert Square in mourning with their sibling squabbles and screeching over who was getting the biggest bedroom. We also discovered early on Big Mo was an old enemy, and former sister-in-law, of Pat Evans. Their showdown in the Vic at Ethel’s wake was one of many we’d be treated to over the years. 9. Charlie dies (January 2016) View oEmbed on the source website The Slaters are undoubtedly a matriarchy, but downtrodden dad Charlie did his best to keep his girls together. Bemused by the drama that surrounded him, avuncular Charlie was a calm constant who the family adored. His death from a heart attack with daughter Kat at his side provided a degree of poignant closure for the Slaters’ most painful trauma. Charlie had blamed himself for not stopping his brother Harry abusing Kat as a child, but as he took his dying breath, Kat tearfully forgave her father. No, you’re crying… 8. Kat's fake funeral (March 2018) After a few years living in Ireland (in what we now know is the ‘parallel universe’ of Redwater), word reached Walford Kat had passed away. But reports of Kat’s death turned out to be greatly exaggerated, as Big Mo had faked her granddaughter’s death as part of a bungled moneymaking scam. A wake was held in the Vic where everyone wore Kat’s signature leopard print and toasted her memory – only for the deceased to stroll through the door asking who’d died. 7. Sean's killer confession to Jean (May 2019) Stacey’s brother Sean was a rare alpha male among the clan. Hot-headed, tormented and prone to violence, the reasons behind the bad boy’s unstable behaviour were explained when he admitted he always blamed himself for his dad’s death. Teenage Sean punched his parent in a fight, who subsequently died of a brain haemorrhage. Years later he made an emotional confession to mum Jean, who stopped her guilt-ridden son from taking his own life during her own brave battle with cancer. Powerful stuff. 6. Kat’s wedding is interrupted by Alfie (November 2003) View oEmbed on the source website The glint in his eye, the loud shirt, full-length leather jacket – Kat’s romance with her ‘man in the moon’ Alfie began as a slow burn back in 2002 when they both pulled pints in the Vic. The chemistry was instant, but fans had to wait before they got together. Swept off her feet by gangster Andy Hunter, Kat was about to marry him when Alfie stormed the ceremony and declared his love for her. It’s had its ups and downs, but Kat and Alfie’s relationship remains at the heart of the Slaters. 5. Stacey confesses to killing Archie (February 2010) An epic ‘whodunnit’ was resolved in EastEnders’ first ever live episode to mark the soap’s 25th anniversary in 2010. A few months earlier, evil Archie Mitchell was bludgeoned to death with the Queen Vic bust, sparking a national debate as to who bumped him off. Stacey tearfully revealed to Max Branning (more of him later) it was her, after husband Bradley took the fall – literally – and died trying to escape the cops. Lacey Turner had laryngitis and had to practically whisper: “It was me!” live to the nation. What a pro. 4. Lily discovers she's pregnant (January 2023) Stacey’s 12-year-old daughter Lily went to hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning after passing out at a house party, but routine tests revealed she was pregnant, which was news to everyone – including Lily herself. It was down to Stacey to break the news to her confused little girl, who had no idea she was expecting. Turns out Lil and Jack’s son Ricky had done the deed once, but that’s all it takes, and nine months later along came baby Charli. Lillia Turner’s heart-wrenching performance as Lily when Stacey reveals the pregnancy marked her out as a leading lady for the next generation of Slaters. 3. Stacey and Max's affair revealed (December 2007) View oEmbed on the source website EastEnders always pulls it out of the bag at Christmas, and 2007’s festive season was perhaps the most unforgettable since Den served Angie divorce papers back in 1986. Self-destructive Stacey’s secret affair with boyfriend Bradley’s womanising dad Max had begun a year before, but the ticking time bomb of deceit exploded on Christmas Day when evidence of their indiscretion caught on a DVD was played to the entire family – including Bradley, along with Max’s wife Tanya. It was explosive, emotional, and Max stayed in his Santa suit the entire time. 2. Little Mo hits Trevor with an iron (December 2001) Mild-mannered Little Mo’s marriage to abusive Trevor was one of soap’s most impactful portrayals of domestic violence. The acclaimed storyline reached a shocking peak when Mo, having endured years of physical and psychological abuse, finally fought back against her bullying husband and whacked him over the head with an iron when he attacked her. Trevor survived, and his abused wife stood trial for attempted murder. His reign of terror eventually ended when he died in a fire nearly a year after the iron incident. 1. Kat tells Zoe she's her mother (October 2001) View oEmbed on the source website The family’s darkest secret had stayed hidden for 18 years – Kat fell pregnant as a teenager after being sexually abused by her uncle Harry, and was forced to pretend her daughter Zoe was her sister to conceal the scandal from the family. In the middle of an argument, Zoe yelled at Kat she couldn’t tell her what to do because (all together now): “You ain’t my mother!” Kat couldn’t keep quiet a moment longer and gave the immortal reply: “Yes I am!” It’s one of the most quoted lines of dialogue in British TV history. Kat was originally meant to whisper the line to Zoe, but it was Jessie Wallace’s idea she scream it down Bridge Street at the top of her lungs to express the magnitude of the moment. Where the Slaters are concerned, it’s always better to do it louder. Read more: EastEnders airs dramatic consequences for Zoe Slater as she returns to Albert Square in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders boss Ben Wadey teases "unusual territory" with one upcoming storyline EastEnders' Michelle Collins teases "more dysfunction" for scheming Cindy Beale 5 huge EastEnders questions after shock Max Branning return and Zoe Slater twists EastEnders responds to calls for Jo Joyner return as Tanya Cross amid Branning reunions EastEnders Autumn 2025 Preview: Joel story explodes, Sharon returns, Lauren and Peter wedding drama EastEnders boss Ben Wadey reveals old spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater exists in "parallel universe" EastEnders' Scott Maslen argues soap will be "even more key" with stories as "the world's a mess" EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
20 years after their teary goodbye, Albert Square’s fiery mother-daughter duo are back together. Jessie Wallace reveals why…
Add EastEnders to your watchlist For soap fans, it’s the equivalent of the Moon landings or Kennedy’s assassination – they all remember where they were when Kat revealed Zoe’s true parentage. But it was the following day that Jessie Wallace realised what a defining moment it was going to be. “It changed my life overnight – nothing can prepare you for that.” It was a turning point for Wallace, and her character, as both braced themselves for the wave of overwhelming attention that followed. But soaps’ fast pace meant there was no time to dwell on the scene, or wonder how totemic it would become. “On a show like EastEnders you do a scene then go straight on to the next one. You have to let it go. Yes, it was a big moment in the storyline but we did it and walked away, not knowing it would explode like it did.” Wallace recalls the origins of the Slaters, conceived through a series of workshops and improvisation with the story team, a creative boot camp where actors and writers organically formed a family of formidable females. While seeds were sown of Kat’s tragic past as ideas bounced around, Wallace herself wasn’t aware of what was in store until she’d been playing the role for some months. “John Yorke, Tony Jordan and Simon Ashdown were all in the workshops, which they’d never done before as a way to bring in a new family. Brooke Kinsella had been in the workshop and was up to play Zoe originally [she later played Zoe’s friend Kelly Taylor] but she didn’t look like a Slater. Michelle did, and when she auditioned after the workshops they could see that she was a beautiful person, and actor. “Maybe they had the story in their heads from the start or maybe they found it on the way, you’d have to ask them. But when they told me Kat was Zoe’s mum, I was so excited, as was Michelle. We had a two-hander after the reveal, which was daunting but brilliant. When I first started, it would take me a week to learn a monologue, so doing a whole episode with one other person was daunting, but the more I did the job, the more it became a craft.” Zoe and Kat’s complicated dynamic made it difficult for them to accept each other as mother and daughter, which Wallace believes has haunted her character for decades. “The only time Zoe ever called her ‘Mum’ was in her last scene before she left in 2005. I play it that Kat thinks about Zoe all the time. Zoe is out there but Kat doesn’t want to interrupt her life, she knows she’s fighting her own demons. They’ve both been through a lot and I’m hoping she and Kat will be closer this time.” Their reunion is a significant moment for EastEnders, revisiting one of the show’s most indelible moments and exploring the impact of the characters’ difficult history. Emotions will be running high, as they were off screen when Wallace and Ryan saw each other again for the first time in 20 years. “I burst out crying,” recalls Wallace. “We met for a secret dinner date with [executive producer] Ben Wadey and the Slaters. When I saw Michelle, I cried – we were all very emotional. It was nostalgic and lovely.” Availability and circumstance can often mean roles are recast in soap, as evidenced by the numerous Peter Beales and Ben Mitchells over the years, but Wallace felt Zoe’s return hinged on securing Ryan. “I said to Ben, ‘It has to be Michelle. It won’t feel right if Zoe is recast.’ I wouldn’t be able to give my best performance. The audience would feel completely conned. “I love Michelle and have always been protective over her, perhaps that’s natural having played her mum. I’m a mother myself now, which I wasn’t when we worked together before, and I’m very protective over my daughter. “I’ve changed and so has Kat. I’ve grown up a lot, and Kat is more responsible now. She’s got three boys and is married. Kat would die for her children, she wasn’t allowed to be a parent when she had Zoe but has become a great mum. It’s one of the qualities I love most about her.” Zoe’s return may be raking up Kat’s painful past, but there’s cautious optimism in her future as she’s recently resumed landlady duties at the Queen Vic for the first time since 2012. “I stepped behind that bar and felt like I’d come home,” she admits. “Because Barbara Windsor was quite short, they raised it up a level, so it’s like getting on a stage. The Vic is the centre point of the show. This is a fresh start for Kat and the Slaters, although there is mayhem from the off.” Just as there has been since the day the clan arrived.
EastEnders stars reveal potential for Slater romance with Anthony Trueman return
Both Kat and Zoe have history with Anthony.
EastEnders stars Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan have shared their thoughts on their characters' potential for romance with another returnee. At a photoshoot with Radio Times magazine on the set of the BBC soap, the stars, who play mother and daughter Kat Moon and Zoe Slater, were asked about the chances of sparks flying with the pair's shared ex, Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey). "I don't think so, 'cause Kat just got married," said Wallace, referring to Kat having tied the knot with Alfie (Shane Richie) for the third time. Meanwhile, Ryan teased: "I'm not sure for Zoe. I think it's kind of open season. "So I think there's a chance, but there's also a chance with other men." As she and Ryan laughed, Wallace added of Zoe: "She's game!" Which of the EastEnders locals might Zoe set her sights on? Zoe was last said to be in Barcelona, on the run from some dangerous men and harbouring a secret she believes her mum would never forgive her for. Alfie desperately tried to track her down and help, but ultimately returned alone, with only Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) aware of the situation. So, while we can rest assured that 'Kalfie' are sticking together, we're still waiting for fiery Kat's reaction when she finds out that Alfie knew Zoe is in trouble and didn't tell her. But Zoe will soon be back, and the stage is set for plenty of drama at The Queen Vic, where Kat is at the helm as the proud new landlady. The new issue of Radio Times featuring exclusive interviews and pictures with Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan is out now. Read more: EastEnders' Michelle Ryan reveals her dream cast member return for reunion with Zoe EastEnders confirms big new discovery for Joel Marshall story in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders airs shock blackmail twist in eventful BBC iPlayer release EastEnders' Oscar Branning caught out over Patrick attack in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders' Jessie Wallace wants a Mitchell-style flashback to Kat’s childhood 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Eve goes behind Suki's back with Avani's secret termination as pregnancy plan exposed EastEnders airs surprise passion for unexpected pairing in early BBC iPlayer release Zoe Slater's biggest and best EastEnders moments – from Kat bombshell to Den Watts murder EastEnders finally confirms Jake Wood return as Max Branning – with "plenty of chaos" revealed EastEnders' Anthony Trueman has love triangle history with returnee - will it be reignited? Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
From Emmerdale vicar to Hollyoaks villain – John Middleton on his surprising soap return
The actor talks exclusively to Johnathon Hughes about his villainous new role.
For 21 years, he was affable Ashley Thomas, Emmerdale’s resident vicar who provided guidance and support to his parishioners and was a stable stalwart of the close-knit community. Now, actor John Middleton has swapped the dog collar for a prison tabard to make a surprising return to the world of soap, as Hollyoaks’ newest villain, Fraser 'Froggy' Black. The granddad of devilish Clare Devine, glamorous gangster Grace Black and roguish Rex Gallagher, as well as being the father of feared Fraser Black Junior (RIP), Froggy joins one of Hollyoaks’ most notorious clans and might just be the nastiest of the lot – you couldn’t get any further away from Reverend Thomas if you tried. “It was a great attraction that Froggy is a total contrast to Ashley,” begins Middleton, speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com as his first Hollyoaks scenes air. “People have said it would be good to see me in a different light after playing the same role for 21 years, when this opportunity came along my agent and myself were very keen. It’s totally different to anything I’ve done before. “Ashley was the pillar of the community, an upright person, and before him I’d played numerous clerical, medical and professional types. Now I’m a moral degenerate descending on Hollyoaks!” We first meet Froggy in prison, fittingly, where he rules the roost on the same wing where Tom Cunningham is doing time. Froggy is a career criminal who has been inside for decades, and as a visit from estranged granddaughter Clare teases, his relationship with the family is somewhat fractured. “Froggy is top dog, people live in fear of him. At the same time, he is also quite well read and bookish, and runs the prison library! He’s been locked up for 21 years, one imagines he’s done something heinous. “He’s a seriously bad character, but there is a something in his family’s past he feels guilty about – he should’ve intervened but he didn’t. Froggy feels terribly vindictive towards Clare, as it emerges she and her father, Froggy’s son Fraser, conspired together to get Froggy out of the picture many years ago.” His arrival comes at a point where Hollyoaks is delving even further into the brilliantly bonkers backstory of the Blacks – only recently did we learn Grace had a baby as a teenager who she believed had died, but as it transpires is actually still alive. Conniving Clare appears to know more than she’s letting on, but does she genuinely want to help her sister reunite with her long-lost child or is there an ulterior motive? “Froggy is much closer to Grace and wants to reconnect with her, which is connected to the guilt he feels about a situation that has taken place,” explains Middleton, who confesses he’s still getting to grips with the complex story so far of his on-screen brood. “All will be revealed soon! He meets Rex in prison and tells him he’s his grandfather. Going forward, Froggy’s driving wish is to get his family back together. Once they’re all reunited, who knows what sort of power they would all wield?” Eight years on from his lengthy Emmerdale tenure, Middleton is delighted to be back in the world of continuing drama. He’s already familiar with the fast pace, the hectic schedule, and some of the cast. “James Sutton (who plays John Paul McQueen) was in Emmerdale for years (as Ryan Lamb), it’s great to see him again. I met Louis Emerick (Donny Clark) years ago when we did a celebrity edition of Stars in Their Eyes. I think he was Lionel Richie, Charlotte Bellamy (who played Ashley’s wife Laurel in Emmerdale) and I were Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly performing True Love. I hesitate to mention it because Charlotte and I were both traumatised and barely talk about it. Never mind nerves – that was naked fear! “Everybody has been very welcoming at Hollyoaks, I’ve been bowled over. Gemma Bissix and Tamara Wall, who play my granddaughters Clare and Grace, are wonderful to work with and have been so generous. They’re used to playing characters who are threatening and intimidating, now they’re intimidated by me, which gives me the space to establish Froggy. He really shakes up the Blacks’ dynamics, he knows things about their past they’d rather he didn’t.” Middleton has been acting for over 35 years, and even before finding fame in Emmerdale had notched up guest roles across the soaps. The genre is practically in his blood. “I did lots of what I used to call ‘smash-and-grabs’; you go in, do the job and come away. During the body under the patio trial in Brookside, I was on the jury; the Daily Mail described me as ‘the yuppy from hell’ because I wanted to send the Jordaches down! In Coronation Street, I was the motorist who knocked over and killed Lisa Duckworth, and I was a siege negotiator in Emmerdale – 18 months later I came back as Ashley! “I have a lot of time for soaps. I believe in popular drama, not elitist drama. They bring incredibly important issues to the fore so people can talk about them – obviously I had the dementia story with Ashley, which still stays with me.” Ashley’s diagnosis of vascular dementia and tragic deterioration over two years won praise from fans, critics and a slew of awards for Middleton and Bellamy’s emotive performances. It’s one of the most impactful soap storylines of recent years, and despite it leading to Middleton being written out in 2017 as Ashley succumbed to the disease, he remains proud of what it achieved. “We did a lot of research and had to get it right; if we cheapened the story in any way it would’ve infuriated those living with the condition and their families. It had to be as realistic as possible. “The Alzheimer’s Society gave lots of advice and approved scripts, and would occasionally have an adviser on set. I still work with them, and another charity called Dementia Forward, based in North Yorkshire, where I live. Once you walk into that issue you can’t walk away. It’s an awfully sad, cruel disease. “We did a special episode entirely from Ashley’s point of view, so the audience could experience how the symptoms affected the way he experienced the world. Small details like the circles in Ashley’s wallpaper becoming eyes, or the back of a chair having these hideous monster faces made you realise how disturbing that sense of paranoia was for the character. It was very absorbing as an actor. Rather flatteringly, people still talk about the episode nearly 10 years later.” Middleton is full of fondness as he reflects on Emmerdale, and cites having the late, great Freddie Jones play his on-screen father Sandy as a career highlight. Seeing Jones in a production of Play Strindberg when Middleton was dabbling in youth theatre inspired him to pursue acting as a profession. For now, he’s immersing himself in the high-octane world of Hollyoaks, and teases big things to come not just for Froggy, but for the show in general as it hurtles towards its 30th anniversary celebrations in October. “Froggy knows a lot about a very big character outside of the Blacks, and it’s something they would rather not be revealed. There is also an extraordinarily exciting event coming up which I can’t tell you about, other than that it is jaw-dropping. It’s going to be major and you’ll be shocked!” Judging from what we already know about Froggy, we wouldn’t be surprised if he’s behind the upcoming carnage… Visit our dedicated Soaps page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. 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EastEnders' Michelle Ryan reveals her dream cast member return for reunion with Zoe
The returning star spoke exclusively to Radio Times magazine alongside on-screen mum Jessie Wallace.
Michelle Ryan has shared who she would most like to reunite with in EastEnders, ahead of her permanent return as Zoe Slater after 20 years away. In an exclusive chat and photoshoot with Radio Times magazine, Ryan was joined by co-star Jessie Wallace, who plays Zoe's estranged mum Kat Moon. Asked what her next dream return would be for the soap, the actress replied: "I would like Kim [Medcalf] to come back, who played Sam." Wallace added: "Oh yeah, she came back. Yeah, she's brilliant." "Yeah," Ryan agreed, standing by her answer: "So, Kim." In recent years, Medcalf made two memorable comebacks as Sam, but was last seen in 2024, bowing out of Albert Square shortly after airing big brother Phil's (Steve McFadden) dirty laundry. Sam and Zoe have huge history, as they helped to cover up the murder of Den Watts (Leslie Grantham). Zoe initially believed that she had delivered the killer blow, but Sam witnessed Den's scorned wife Chrissie (Tracy-Ann Oberman, who made her own brief return last year) finishing him off and eventually filled Zoe in. With Zoe starting a new life abroad soon after, she and Sam haven't seen each other since 2005, but could their past ever be revisited? Whatever happens, and with Kat and Zoe yet to come face-to-face on-screen, we can't wait to see how this infamous mother and daughter reconnect. Meanwhile, on which other Slater she would have chosen to play, Wallace laughed that she'd pick Kat's wild grandmother Mo Harris (played by Laila Morse). Teasing the future of the Slaters now they're in charge of The Queen Vic, Wallace promised: "It's gonna be mayhem." With Mo herself having already been arrested on Kat's first day as landlady, we can't say we're surprised! The new issue of Radio Times featuring exclusive interviews and pictures with Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan is out now. Read more: EastEnders' Jessie Wallace wants a Mitchell-style flashback to Kat’s childhood EastEnders’ Jessie Wallace “burst out crying” when reunited with co-star - and says Zoe couldn’t be recast EastEnders’ Michelle Ryan reveals why she changed her mind on returning as Zoe Slater after 20 years away 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Eve goes behind Suki's back with Avani's secret termination as pregnancy plan exposed Zoe Slater's biggest and best EastEnders moments – from Kat bombshell to Den Watts murder EastEnders finally confirms Jake Wood return as Max Branning – with "plenty of chaos" revealed EastEnders' Anthony Trueman has love triangle history with returnee - will it be reignited? Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders' Jessie Wallace wants a Mitchell-style flashback to Kat’s childhood
When EastEnders went back in time with the Mitchell family and cast Jaime Winstone as a young Peggy, it was a huge success, with an episode set in 1985 winning Best Single Episode at this year’s British Soap Awards. Now the cast are hoping other Walford clans get the flashback treatment in the future, with Jessie Wallace eager to explore the Slaters’ past and delve into Kat’s troubled childhood. In an exclusive interview with Radio Times magazine to celebrate the on-screen reunion of Kat and daughter Zoe after 20 years apart, Wallace revealed she’d love to turn back the clock to explore Kat’s adolescence. The character’s tragic backstory saw her falling pregnant at the age of 13 after being abused, then being forced by her parents to pretend her child, Zoe, was her little sister to cover up the scandal. “That would be fantastic – I’ve got to speak to Ben Wadey, our Executive Producer! I’d like someone as fabulous as Jaime Winstone to come in and play Kat’s late mother, Viv. Kat was abused by her Uncle Harry as a child and told her mum, but she didn’t believe her, or maybe she did but didn’t want to. She brushed it under the carpet. “There was always resentment from Kat towards her mum. She made Kat live a life she didn’t want to live and wasn’t much of a role model as a mother. That made Kat a better parent, more protective and loving which is what she felt she didn’t have. Kat wasn’t allowed to bring Zoe up and be her mum.” Zoe eventually learnt the truth about her parentage in 2001, in what has become one of EastEnders’ most iconic scenes, screaming at overprotective Kat to stop trying to control her life because, to quote the character herself: “You ain’t my mother!” To which Kat memorably, and loudly, replied: “Yes I am!” The reveal proved difficult for Zoe to deal with, and Wallace recalls how she rejected Kat as a mother after 18 years of believing they were siblings. “The only time Zoe ever called her ‘Mum’ was in her last scene before she left in 2005. I’m hoping Zoe and Kat will be closer this time. They’ve both been through a lot.” Michelle Ryan, who arrived en masse with Wallace and the rest of the Slaters back in 2000, is reprising the role of Zoe after two decades away. The character’s return was shrouded in secrecy with no prior announcement it was happening until she appeared on screen in June. After a few episodes teasing a dark secret she fled, begging Alfie and Stacey not to tell Kat they had seen her. In the coming weeks, mother and daughter will be together again, and the audience will learn what, or who, Zoe is running from. While fans await the most anticipated soap comeback of the year, there’s time to speculate who could play Kat’s mother if a flashback does happen. Gemma Arterton? Anna Friel? Billie Piper? Or even Wallace herself? The new issue of Radio Times featuring exclusive interviews and pictures with Jessie Wallace and Michelle Ryan is out now. Read more: EastEnders airs surprise passion for unexpected pairing in early BBC iPlayer release EastEnders resolves Alfie Moon cliffhanger in BBC iPlayer release – but key character is still missing EastEnders fan favourite reveals hoped-for return had to be dropped due to scheduling issue EastEnders airs game-changing offer for pregnant Avani Nandra-Hart in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders confirms the return of Anthony Trueman for Patrick and Yolande's wedding Zoe Slater's biggest and best EastEnders moments – from Kat bombshell to Den Watts murder EastEnders finally confirms Jake Wood return as Max Branning – with "plenty of chaos" revealed EastEnders' Anthony Trueman has love triangle history with returnee - will it be reignited? Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Emmerdale's Joe Absolom teases bad boy Ray’s future and mystery link to the village
The actor talks exclusively to Johnathon Hughes about returning to soap 25 years after EastEnders.
The dangerous world of county lines drug dealing has infiltrated the sleepy village of Emmerdale, with newcomer Ray Walters grooming local teenagers into a life of crime. Menacing Ray has been lurking in the shadows for several weeks, but viewers are slowly learning the full extent of his illegal operation and just how nasty he can be. Forcing April Windsor into becoming a drugs mule as she celebrates turning 16 is a pretty clear indication of Ray’s ruthlessness, one of the many unredeeming features that attracted Joe Absolom to the role. “I really liked the concept of coming into the village as a bad guy,” reveals the actor, speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com. “He’s this Fagin-type presence, a lot of my scenes end with me peeling off wads of cash to various young actors, their eyes light up and I drive off in my sleek car. “It’s creepy. Ray’s business model is to find vulnerable teenagers who are impressed with cash and gifts and attention, all they have to do is take a rucksack somewhere and they’ll get 50 quid.” Ray was introduced as an old mate of Mackenzie Boyd, tapped up to sell Lewis Barton’s hefty consignment of medicinal marijuana. It later transpired one of Ray’s young foot soldiers was homeless teen Dylan Penders. When Dylan returned to the village to pursue his romance with April Windsor, who he met while she was living on the streets, Ray followed – and instantly spied an opportunity. “Ray sees Dylan and April share this romantic kiss in the rain. If he can get Dylan on board as part of his workforce he could get April too, then he can use and manipulate them both. “People like Ray in this county lines world trap kids into what they call ‘debt bondage’, buying them expensive trainers and making them take payment for delivering drugs, then telling them the amount they’ve collected isn’t enough so now they owe him – these vulnerable young people are working to pay off a supposed debt. It’s a very dark situation.” There’s more to Ray than meets the eye, and Absolom teases there are hidden elements to the character and a mysterious link to somebody else in the Dales. All will become clear in due course, but for now Ray is ramping up his manipulation of Emmerdale’s youth, pitting Absolom against one of soap’s most gifted young actors, Amelia Flanagan, who recently won Best Young Performer at the British Soap Awards. “I didn’t realise Amelia had been here nearly 12 years, and she’s only 17. You have to be on your game with her, if I leave a gap while I’m thinking about my next line, she’ll tell me what the line is! I can’t get away with anything. And Fred Kettle, who plays Dylan, is great too. I enjoy working with the young guys.” When Absolom was Flanagan’s age, he too was working on a soap, playing Matthew Rose in EastEnders, who first appeared in 1997: a vulnerable teenager intimidated by a grown-up gangster and forced into a hideous crime. Sound familiar? The part of Ray really is a full-circle moment. “I spent the best part of a year with Martin Kemp standing over me and manipulating my character,” recalls Absolom. “Now I’m the older statesman doing the same to these young kids! I saw Martin recently at the British Soap Awards, he said he’d been watching my stuff and reckons I’ve been stealing his moves.” Kemp memorably played sharp-suited bad boy Steve Owen, who murdered his ex-lover Saskia and forced mild-mannered Matthew into helping him bury the body, then tried to frame the teenager. The pair’s dynamic was electric, and Absolom reflects on how the storyline propelled him from jobbing child actor to soap opera sensation. “When I was very young my parents put me and my sister with an agent to make a bit of extra money. I did lots of adverts, then dramas like Silent Witness and Dangerfield. I really liked being on set and would watch how it all worked.” After a few years of intense rivalry with sinister Steve, culminating in a shocking act of revenge, Absolom decided to leave Albert Square in 2000, partly thanks to some advice from one of the country’s leading actors. “I met John Simm at a gig, he said you’ve done well at EastEnders but should think about moving on. So I blame him! I knew I couldn’t stay there forever, and had seen actors who had been on the show for a long time and loved it suddenly have their contracts end. It could be brutal. But I knew it would be difficult to sustain being a jobbing actor.” He needn’t have worried, as life after Walford saw Absolom work consistently in a slew of acclaimed dramas, and in 2004 he started playing a character that would bring him global recognition – likeable Al Large in ITV’s phenomenally successful Doc Martin, opposite Martin Clunes as the grumpy GP of a Cornish coastal town. Absolom was there from beginning to end, when the show bowed out with a Christmas special after 18 years in 2022, and the idyllic location inspired a permanent move to Cornwall, where he still lives with his wife and three children. “We still get Japanese tourists in Port Isaac, where we filmed, looking for the doctor’s house. My brother was on holiday in Croatia with his family, switched on the telly and Doc Martin was there with dubbed Croatian voices! It really has gone around the world, mainly I think because the scenery looked so good. Sometimes we’d do a take and they’d ask us not to start talking because a boat was about to enter the shot behind us. “It’s particularly huge in America where it’s shown on PBS, the public broadcaster. I went to Boston with Ian MacNeice, who played my character’s dad, Bert. He took a bum bag full of his own pictures which made me laugh, but we went to a bar and everybody was like: ‘Hey, it’s Bert!’ They all wanted a picture, we had a great night chatting with everyone about Doc Martin. “It was a bit under-appreciated by the industry here I felt – they were a bit snobby about it and saw it as a cosy, comfortable show where nothing much happens. People who make television don’t necessarily watch it. But it stands up, you can watch it with your kids and your grandkids and it’s very funny, Martin is a genuinely brilliant actor who created a great character.” Coming out of a long-running primetime hit, Absolom could presumably cherry pick what work he does. So what was the appeal of returning to the genre where he started, more than 25 years later? “As an actor you want to work. The idea of doing soap again where you get constant scripts for a few months really appealed to me.” Ray is definitely someone to keep an eye on, as his long-term story is only just beginning, with plenty of curveballs ahead. “We’re going to see all facets of Ray’s character as it goes on, and discover he’s actually a bit sad and lost. He is a different version of himself with different characters, controlling one minute, meek the next. The potential to go quite dark with this was an attractive proposition – I’d rather be a miserable baddie than a happy-go-lucky fella!” Read more: Emmerdale airs cunning cliffhanger for John Sugden over Robert secret in ITVX edition 5 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle reconnect and Charity Dingle suffers a fall Emmerdale confirms last-minute scene following Lioness victory at UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Emmerdale airs menacing twist for Robert Sugden in ITVX edition Emmerdale draws unsuspecting villager into John Sugden plot in ITVX cliffhanger Emmerdale's Natalie J Robb reveals Moira's showdown with Joe Tate sparks Dingle feud Emmerdale star on newcomer Celia: "She's a force to be reckoned with" Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders’ Jessie Wallace “burst out crying” when reunited with co-star - and says Zoe couldn’t be recast
20 years after Kat and Zoe's teary goodbye, Albert Square’s fiery mother-daughter duo are back together. Now Jessie Wallace reveals the secrets behind soap’s biggest reunion.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. For soap fans, it’s the equivalent of the Moon landings or Kennedy’s assassination – they all remember where they were when Kat revealed Zoe’s true parentage. But it was the following day that Jessie Wallace realised what a defining moment it was going to be. “It changed my life overnight – nothing can prepare you for that.” It was a turning point for Wallace, and her character, as both braced themselves for the wave of overwhelming attention that followed. But soaps’ fast pace meant there was no time to dwell on the scene, or wonder how totemic it would become. “On a show like EastEnders you do a scene then go straight on to the next one. You have to let it go. Yes, it was a big moment in the storyline but we did it and walked away, not knowing it would explode like it did.” Wallace recalls the origins of the Slaters, conceived through a series of workshops and improvisation with the story team, a creative boot camp where actors and writers organically formed a family of formidable females. While seeds were sown of Kat’s tragic past as ideas bounced around, Wallace herself wasn’t aware of what was in store until she’d been playing the role for some months. “John Yorke, Tony Jordan and Simon Ashdown were all in the workshops, which they’d never done before as a way to bring in a new family. Brooke Kinsella had been in the workshop and was up to play Zoe originally [she later played Zoe’s friend Kelly Taylor] but she didn’t look like a Slater. Michelle did, and when she auditioned after the workshops they could see that she was a beautiful person, and actor. “Maybe they had the story in their heads from the start or maybe they found it on the way, you’d have to ask them. But when they told me Kat was Zoe’s mum, I was so excited, as was Michelle. We had a two-hander after the reveal, which was daunting but brilliant. When I first started, it would take me a week to learn a monologue, so doing a whole episode with one other person was daunting, but the more I did the job, the more it became a craft.” Zoe and Kat’s complicated dynamic made it difficult for them to accept each other as mother and daughter, which Wallace believes has haunted her character for decades. “The only time Zoe ever called her ‘Mum’ was in her last scene before she left in 2005. I play it that Kat thinks about Zoe all the time. Zoe is out there but Kat doesn’t want to interrupt her life, she knows she’s fighting her own demons. They’ve both been through a lot and I’m hoping she and Kat will be closer this time.” Their reunion is a significant moment for EastEnders, revisiting one of the show’s most indelible moments and exploring the impact of the characters’ difficult history. Emotions will be running high, as they were off screen when Wallace and Ryan saw each other again for the first time in 20 years. “I burst out crying,” recalls Wallace. “We met for a secret dinner date with [executive producer] Ben Wadey and the Slaters. When I saw Michelle, I cried – we were all very emotional. It was nostalgic and lovely.” Availability and circumstance can often mean roles are recast in soap, as evidenced by the numerous Peter Beales and Ben Mitchells over the years, but Wallace felt Zoe’s return hinged on securing Ryan. “I said to Ben, ‘It has to be Michelle. It won’t feel right if Zoe is recast.’ I wouldn’t be able to give my best performance. The audience would feel completely conned. “I love Michelle and have always been protective over her, perhaps that’s natural having played her mum. I’m a mother myself now, which I wasn’t when we worked together before, and I’m very protective over my daughter. “I’ve changed and so has Kat. I’ve grown up a lot, and Kat is more responsible now. She’s got three boys and is married. Kat would die for her children, she wasn’t allowed to be a parent when she had Zoe but has become a great mum. It’s one of the qualities I love most about her.” Zoe’s return may be raking up Kat’s painful past, but there’s cautious optimism in her future as she’s recently resumed landlady duties at the Queen Vic for the first time since 2012. “I stepped behind that bar and felt like I’d come home,” she admits. “Because Barbara Windsor was quite short, they raised it up a level, so it’s like getting on a stage. The Vic is the centre point of the show. This is a fresh start for Kat and the Slaters, although there is mayhem from the off.” Just as there has been since the day the clan arrived. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders' Kat and Zoe stars tease "mayhem" and "carnage" from new Slater era in the Queen Vic
The iconic Slaters reveal what's in store for their characters.
There's plenty of drama about to hit Albert Square, with Michelle Ryan's return as Zoe Slater set to continue making waves in EastEnders. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about what's to come on the soap, Kat Slater star Jessie Wallace revealed that "it’s gonna be mayhem”, while Ryan similarly added that it will be “carnage”. With the pair gracing the upcoming issue of Radio Times magazine, they also reflected on some of the storylines that have already unfolded – namely, Kat's return to the Queen Vic. Although Zoe's comeback will likely drag up painful memories of Kat's own past, the iconic Slater character has resumed landlady duties at the Queen Vic, making it the first time she's been at the helm of the pub since 2012. Speaking in this week's Radio Times about her character's return to the Queen Vic, Wallace said: “I stepped behind that bar and felt like I’d come home. “Because Barbara Windsor was quite short, they raised it up a level, so it’s like getting on a stage. The Vic is the centre point of the show. This is a fresh start for Kat and the Slaters, although there is mayhem from the off.” So far, there's already been plenty for Kat to deal with in the family stakes, not least finding out that Alfie was lying about his whereabouts in order to track down Zoe. In last week's episodes, Alfie (Shane Richie) returned from Spain to his fair share of surprises, including the fact that Kat had bought the Queen Vic with Stacey (Lacey Turner). Alfie mistakenly thought that Kat knew he had been searching for her daughter Zoe and left an apologetic voicemail revealing as such, only for Kat's phone to be swiped and her being none the wiser. However, we do know that Zoe is set to return in a big way and with rumours continuing to swirl about her dark secret, how it could possibly crossover with other Walford residents and what it could all spell for her mother Kat, we'll just have to wait and see. Read the full interview in the latest issue of Radio Times out on Tuesday 5th August – subscribe here. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Emmerdale's Oliver Farnworth teases killer John's future after wedding week nightmare
The actor talks exclusively to Johnathon Hughes about the accidental killer's past returning to haunt him.
It’s perfectly natural to have the odd anxiety dream in the run-up to your wedding, but Emmerdale’s John Sugden is imagining a series of next-level nightmare scenarios in which the past rears its head to ruin his and Aaron Dingle’s impending nuptials. Jittery John has a lot on his mind, including covering up an accidental murder, poisoning the village water supply and being responsible for putting his ex-lover in a coma – Oliver Farnworth isn’t surprised his alter ego is having sleepless nights. “John is all about control and is terrified of losing it,” begins the actor, speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com. “In his waking thoughts he can compartmentalise and rationalise what he’s done, but in his subconscious he is wracked with guilt.” Viewers get a peek into that mercurial mind in a series of stylised dream sequences playing out across the week. Each episode begins with a different nightmare showing how the wedding could go wrong, relating to John’s various misdemeanours. Utmost in his mind is the potential discovery of Nate Robinson’s corpse – accidentally killed by John eight months ago and dumped in the lake, which now needs dredging due an incident with some slurry orchestrated by Mr Sugden to discredit arch rival Mackenzie Boyd. Everyone thinks Nate did a runner to Scotland, so there’s bound to be questions when the corpse is inevitably fished out of the water. “The discovery of Nate’s body is absolutely terrifying,” continues Farnworth. “Obviously there would have to be a criminal investigation, the consequences of which would be huge. John would be disowned by everyone, go to prison, or get in his van and have to move on somewhere else. He could lose everything.” Alongside Nate’s fate is the threat posed by Aidan Moore, John’s former lover and army colleague he claims he tried to save, and who has been in a coma for the last few years. Aidan is now wide awake, which appears to be bad news for John for reasons we’re not yet clear on. “We’re getting fragments of what really happened to Aidan, who was the love of his life at one point. Now he’s woken up, what will he reveal about John’s past? We know John has visited Aidan while he’s been comatose and confided in him about the things he’s done – what has Aidan retained? Hearing Aidan is awake is the last thing he needs, so what will he do about that? “The big picture is Nate, but the immediacy is the Aidan situation. That could flare up quicker, but both of them are seismic. John genuinely loves Aaron and wants them to get married. He would lay down his life for Aaron, along with his sister Victoria and nephew Harry. He can’t lose them.” The root of John’s issues are his complicated saviour complex, an obsessive desire to be seen as a hero to the point where he deliberately hurts people just so he can experience the glory of saving them. This has led to some unfortunate incidents, including the aforementioned Nate, who paramedic John treated for injuries sustained in a fight, only for the patient to unexpectedly die from a reaction the medication. Among various other ill-advised actions, John has also secretly attacked Dr Liam Cavanagh and intentionally given Jacob Gallagher anaphylactic shock in order to swoop in and save the day. His addiction to the adrenaline rush is getting out of hand. “John wants love and acceptance, the downside is he keeps engineering situations to gain that for himself, but at the expense of other people’s safety. He needs to be needed.” Unlike some killers who have stalked the Dales, such as menacing Meena Jutla, Farnworth insists John takes no pleasure in taking lives or covering his tracks. “I don’t play him as truly evil or getting kicks out of doing harm. John does things from a place of survival and keeping hold of his self-esteem so he can function in society. It’s nice to get some vulnerability in there, which is only shown to the audience but not to those around him. “John can adapt to situations, he puts on a strong persona to get his own way and maintain control. Now he’s built this ego for himself he’d never want to display that vulnerability to his loved ones because it equals weakness. What if they disown him? It’s too late to be honest.” The long-lost Sugden, Emmerdale’s first family, was introduced almost a year ago, the love child of the late Jack Sugden, who never knew a fling in the 1980s led to him having another son. John’s lack of connection with his father explains a lot, as Farnworth explains the backstory that shaped his troubled psyche. “He was probably a quiet, sensitive child who felt disowned and abandoned by his father. He joined the army and didn’t feel lonely any more, being surrounded by comrades and vibing off that testosterone-fuelled environment. More than anything the army gave John acceptance into a family. “When we first saw him he was a lone wolf, committed to this itinerant, transactional life, travelling alone in his van. Coming to Emmerdale has switched his emotions back on.” Fans didn’t know what to make of John’s inscrutable nature early on, and Farnworth was drip-fed details of the long-term arc which has unfolded as a slow-burn saga with increasingly high stakes – although filming footage for a future flashback indicated to the actor what was in store. “We filmed John killing Nate very early on as Jurell (Carter, who played Nate) was leaving, and his character was going to be missing for months before we knew what happened to him. “I’d only been there a few weeks but this was a big pointer of a darker side emerging for John. The writers have really invested in the storyline and woven John into the fabric of the village, which I’m really grateful for. You’ve got to build up to a pay-off. “It’s like creating a painting: you start with a base coat, add certain layers then change a little bit. That’s the nature of the character and how he adapts to his surroundings.” Combining boy next door charisma with an imperceptible edge of something more sinister, Yorkshire-born Farnworth has quickly established himself as an Emmerdale A-lister. He was already a familiar face to soap fans, thanks to his Coronation Stint as doomed Andy Carver. After being seemingly killed off by evil Pat Phelan in 2017, Andy was revealed to be alive several months later in one of Corrie’s most notorious twists of recent years. He eventually came a cropper for real, but the experience made stepping back onto the soap treadmill that bit smoother for Farnworth. “The technical side of Corrie and Emmerdale is very similar, it’s great to have that background. You understand how it all works so you can hit the ground running. I love the intensity, every day you’re stretched, filming in three different locations, getting through pages of dialogue – it’s a mental workout. You’re scrambled but you sleep really well!” Farnworth's screen acting career started in the world of soap back in 2006 while he was still studying, and the role of stalker Will Hackett in Hollyoaks led to him making a life-changing decision. “I actually left drama school a month early to do Hollyoaks,” he reveals. “I’d started auditions and was thrown into working in front of a camera for real. That was a learning curve. I was grateful to learn on the job, I was there for about eight months and had a great time. Will was a dodgy character with an air of mystery, I must have one of those faces!” It's fair to say quitting drama school early worked out well for Farnworth, who has worked steadily on stage and screen over the last 20 years. He’s performed alongside big Hollywood names such as Jeremy Piven in Mr Selfridge, and British telly legends on the Corrie cobbles – who’s had the biggest impact? “There’s been so many different people with their own styles,” he ponders. “The likes of Amanda Abbington in Mr Selfridge, and Suranne Jones who I worked with on stage… I always look up to mature actors with a lot of experience. “Years ago I did a production of Kes with Mike Burnside, one of those absolutely solid, old school, RADA-trained actors who is just brilliant. I remember watching how he worked and conducted himself. We’re still good mates. He’s probably my acting inspiration – he’d love that shout out!” Back to Farnworth’s current role, and the uncertain future John faces beyond this big week. It’s not known whether his and Aaron’s wedding goes ahead, or if any connection is made between John and the body about to be discovered floating in the water. Aidan’s memory, Mackenzie’s suspicions and the rumoured return of Robert Sugden, John’s half-brother and Aaron’s ex who’s been in prison since 2019, are all looming to scupper the ceremony. We’ve had some sensational twists already, what on earth could happen next? “Quite a lot of stress is probably all I can say!” grins Farnworth. “It’s possible things aren’t quite over. John will have to put out some fires. And we might get more angst in his van!” Read more: Emmerdale airs major ultimatum and dark twist in ITVX release 6 Emmerdale spoilers next week: John's panic as his secrets rise to the surface Coronation Street and Emmerdale confirm bumper crossover episode for new 2026 schedule launch Emmerdale's Olivia Bromley teases Dawn's future: "Her days could be numbered" Emmerdale airs huge Joe Tate update as suspects are issued a warning Emmerdale's Mackenzie's 'life's in jeopardy' from villainous John Emmerdale airs Mondays to Fridays at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX. 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