Coronation Street legend Thelma Barlow explains how new film lured her out of retirement
The 95-year-old has a lead role in new film Sleepless in Settle.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Having retired more than a decade ago, it took a special project to lure Thelma Barlow back into the spotlight. When the actor, beloved as Mavis in Coronation Street and dinnerladies’ Dolly, read the script for the 22-minute film Sleepless in Settle, she couldn’t resist becoming a leading lady again. Barlow, now 95, plays Barbara, whose attempt to find her middle-aged son Alan (played by Graham Turner) a romantic partner leads to some comedic misunderstandings. It’s a charming story that will make you smile, and with a refreshingly age-positive message that was important to its star. “Old people are mostly portrayed as miserable, but that is not the case,” Barlow tells RT. “Old age is difficult, things do get slower and it’s very annoying sometimes, but Barbara has plenty of life. They say it’s a second childhood, and there is something in that — you have to adjust to needing help. But Barbara and her son laugh a lot.” The part was created for Barlow by her friend, writer/director Judy Flynn (who acted in The House of Eliott and The Brittas Empire and also appears in the film). “She asked to write something for me,” Barlow reveals. “I was familiar with her work and knew it would be good. The characters are so well drawn, it was a joy. Good writing is easy to learn, there are some lovely lines that reminded me of when I joined Coronation Street.” Barlow’s role as timid Mavis Wilton, née Riley, made her name. Contracted for just one 1971 episode originally, she became a Street regular between 1973 and 1997, before returning to her first love, theatre, and to star in Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies (1998—2000). “People liked Mavis because she was vulnerable, though she went from a mouse to a shrew when she married indecisive Derek!” Sleepless in Settle was shot in three days, with a small crew, on location in Rye, East Sussex, which Barlow says was perfect for her. “I’d be terrified of working in a big studio again,” she admits. “I wouldn’t want that responsibility and it takes a lot of energy. Although I’ve got plenty of that at the moment!” Read more: Coronation Street villain set to return after being killed off Coronation Street star confirms The Archers role before leaving the cobbles 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. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Corrie's Channique Sterling-Brown: 'Racial injustice storyline makes issue individual and human'
"It's important for young people to see themselves represented."
Dee-Dee Bailey's (Channique Sterling-Brown) ongoing storyline in Coronation Street has continued to open up conversations and shine an important light on racial injustice in maternity care for Black women. Dee-Dee's distressing childbirth storyline involved having her extreme pain ignored and her due date dismissed, and she eventually suffered a huge haemorrhage which led to surgeons having to perform a hysterectomy to save her life. Coronation Street is working with three organisations – Birthrights, Motivational Mums Club and Five X More – on Dee-Dee's story, with the soap striving to represent the harrowing reality for many Black mothers and following Dee-Dee's search for justice. It's a plot line that is not only steeped in reality, but is also one that is intertwined with racism and unconscious bias. But why are soaps like Coronation Street so important for shining a light on stories such as this, as well as diversity and representation on screen? When chatting exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Sterling-Brown said: "I think its really important both behind and in front of the camera. "Soaps are a great training ground for any role in the industry, you can learn so much – we work so quickly, you find ways as an actor to get to your art a lot quicker and learn everything there is to know about TV." She continued: "[It's] important for everyone to have that accessibility. For representation, it's important because they sit in the heart of the home, [it's] important for young people to see themselves represented – got to see it to be it. "What I hope with this story, you follow these characters who are your friends, therefore it stops it being about an issue and it becomes about an individual. A human story. [There's] been a lot of mixed reviews of this story, as we expected. "One of the biggest takeaways I’ve seen is people saying, 'Gosh, I didn’t know this happened,' whereas they might watch it on a documentary and not take it in the same way. "When they see it from Dee-Dee’s perspective, they know her, it's really powerful. Same with the MND storyline – it humanises it, helps people connect and hopefully extend their empathy." Sterling-Brown's role as Dee-Dee marked her first major television role when she joined the soap back in 2022, but in terms of feeling represented herself, the actress revealed that was actually in the realm of theatre. When asked about her first experience of feeling represented in the arts, Sterling-Brown revealed: "Mine was actually theatre, it wasn’t till I was about 19, not to say I hadn’t watched anything before [where] I’d felt represented, [it] was more that it struck me. "I went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, I was in my first year of drama school, it had just opened. Noma Dumezweni was playing Hermione, we went to stage door afterwards, me and my friend. "When she came out and chatted, I burst into tears, [it] really took me by surprise and [I] started crying. Noma just kept saying, 'I know!'" She continued: "I loved Harry Potter growing up, always thought of myself as a Hermione. I’m a bookworm [and] very studious. Because of [Noma], I could play Hermione one day, this heroine of my childhood who I’ve always related to but have never seen myself as. It was really powerful." As for now, soap fans will be able to see just how Dee-Dee's story continues to unfold, with it proving that soaps can often be a great medium for digging into the grittiest of real-life scenarios and opening up conversations amongst its fans. For support on Dee-Dee's story, you can visit Birthrights, Motivational Mums Club and Five X More. Read more: Coronation Street star teases potential return for Daisy Midgeley amid dramatic exit Coronation Street star confirms he's quit after 5 years with final scenes airing in summer Coronation Street cast: who is leaving, returning to and joining the soap 6 Coronation Street spoilers: Carl Webster exit fears amid Abi clash and Debbie faces up to her future Visit our dedicated Coronation Street 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. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Jessie Wallace has played Kat Slater since 2000
Add EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square to your watchlist What’s your earliest memory of a strong woman on screen? Pat Phoenix as Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street. Her presence, her style, not mincing her words, saying it as it is and putting people in their place. I thought she was stunning. The character just jumped out at me. Did you ever think Kat would become so iconic? I came in as the troublemaker of a new family and didn’t know she would become as big as she has. Kat has developed over the years and I love dressing up as her, she makes such a statement with the red lipstick and the mini-skirts. To create a character that stands out, who people love, makes me very proud. Did you watch EastEnders when it started? I was drawn in straight away, even as a child. In that first episode a man was found dead in his house, someone punched through a window in the pub, there was so much going on. When I played Pat Phoenix in [2010 BBC drama] The Road to Coronation Street, there was a scene where the cleaning lady watches rehearsals on the monitor and gets really invested – and producers realised this was the people’s drama. Everyone can relate to soaps. Do you relate to your character? I fall in love with every character I play so I can do them justice. When you play someone for so long, they do become a part of you. I can hear members of my family in Kat sometimes – certain things remind me of my nan Iris, who was proper East End, or my cousin. Would you be friends with Kat? Definitely. Kat is loyal, funny and sticks to her guns. She has her own beliefs and won’t be swayed by anyone. I love that about her. Do heavy storylines ever take their toll? I love getting a heavy storyline. It doesn’t matter what it’s about, you grab it, make it work, give the best performance you can to show another side to the character and hope people enjoy it. I love it when a really full-on storyline comes along – especially if it’s been quiet for a while. Why do you think there can be a snobbery around soaps? I don’t understand it. You get huge film actors coming in and they don’t realise how hard it is to produce what we do. I remember Joan Collins presenting at the British Soap Awards and saying, “A successful actor is a working actor.” Soaps are a fabulous thing to be a part of. Who will be Walford’s female icons of the future? Sophie Khan Levy is brilliant as Priya. In real life she’s sweet and spiritual, but she just turns it on for the character. And Harriet Thorpe is incredible as Elaine [current landlady of the Queen Vic]. I know a lot of East End women like that, and it’s another iconic look with the big hair and the make-up.
Balvinder Sopal has played Suki Panesar-Unwin since 2020
Add EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square to your watchlist Was EastEnders a big part of your childhood? We watched it all the time as a family. Every Sunday we’d clean our bedrooms and get our school uniforms ready for the week while my parents cooked the roast. Then we’d get ginger ale and settle down to watch the EastEnders omnibus all together. It was the best thing. Did any of the female characters stand out to you? I was fascinated by Pat Butcher – how she commanded the space, the romances with Frank and Roy, her complicated relationship with stepdaughter Janine, her style with the 1980s earrings. There was also a vulnerable side that was beautiful to watch. I used to pretend I was Pat and do the accent! Did you base Suki on anyone? Parts of her are based on my younger sister. You don’t cross her, she is ruthless and I really respect that because nobody takes her for a ride. The maternal side, which has come out slowly, and more so since Suki found love with Eve, came from my mum. An amazing woman who ruled the roost. Why are strong women such an integral element of soaps? There’s nothing like a soap woman. Soaps allow nuance in female characters instead of depicting them as either weak and manipulated, or absolute villains. We see the reasons behind the decisions women make. There’s a vulnerability that shows female strength with a cutting edge quite beautifully. How has your character evolved? My main input at the start was that Suki retains her culture without being a stereotypical Asian. It had to be truthful enough for people to recognise themselves, even when they don’t come from that community. We wanted Suki and the Panesars to be real people who were part of the fabric of Walford life, not parodies or signposted. I think we’ve achieved that, and then some. What do you most admire about her? Strong is a boring word but it’s really important when it comes to a woman like Suki. She has survived many things. I love that tough grit that keeps her coming back bolder and stronger. These days, instead of knee-capping someone that crosses her, she’ll go for the hard talk – she’s a brilliant negotiator. Suki is formidable and loving at the same time. What is Suki’s legacy in the pantheon of Walford women? I think more about the legacy of the Panesars. It’s brilliant to have such a strong mixed-heritage family, who are all fascinating individually. I like the way Suki holds her handbag, it’s like an eyebrow raise when she delivers a line. That’s evolved, the handbag has become a character in itself!
Letitia Dean has played Sharon Watts since 1985
Add EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square to your watchlist When you appeared in that very first episode, did you think the show would still be going 40 years later? Absolutely not. None of us did at the time. It was going to last a few months – if we were lucky. Then suddenly, bang! Did you base Sharon on anyone? No, it was all in the writing. We were briefed on what our characters were about and their history, and we had so much more prep time back in the day – I think we rehearsed for three months before it went out. Having played her now for 40 years, what do you admire most about her? She opens her trap and speaks her mind – which I’m not so good at! Any frustrations? She overthinks too much. She was adopted at a young age and is so desperate to create that family unit she felt she never had in her childhood. Sharon lived on a knife edge with her parents’ marriage – she longed for the safety and security of the Beales or the Fowlers. Those insecurities she had as a young girl have stayed with her. Her adoptive parents were Den and Angie — what was it like playing the daughter of such an iconic couple? Anita wasn’t the original Angie but when she came in, watching her and Leslie Grantham [who played Den] in rehearsals, you felt this surge of energy between them. The chemistry just worked. It was, and still is, TV gold. Do you still relish getting those dramatic storylines? I was 17 when I started, but it’s still as exciting when I get a great story as it was back in 1985, it’s still a thrill and an honour to be trusted. And I’m kind of used to the crying… How do you keep it fresh after all this time? Every big story unpeels a new layer, another facet, shows a different relationship. Sometimes I think I’d just like to go in the café and order a cup of tea and a bacon roll, but deep down it’s a privilege to be written for after so many decades.
Diane Parish has played Denise Fox since 2006
Add EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square to your watchlist When you joined the cast, did you think you’d still be here for the 40th anniversary? No, I thought I’d be lucky to see out my first year! Actors always say, “Never unpack your bags.” I did another year, then had my second daughter and only then did I think, “I’ll stick around a bit longer.” You never assume you’ll be offered another contract. I’m lucky that I’ve never thought my character has run her course. I still see all kinds of possibilities for Denise. How much input do you have in the scripts? I’m not an actor who thinks, “My character wouldn’t say that…” Steve McFadden [who plays Phil Mitchell] says we don’t know what our characters would say, because we don’t know what we’d say in real life. Denise wouldn’t be who she is without our storyliners creating her life as she’s evolved. Nobody plans to end up at a food bank or have a baby with Phil Mitchell! Do Denise’s traumatic storylines take their toll on you? Her psychosis storyline did, but only because I wanted it to. That might sound masochistic, but it had to be truthful, so I isolated myself from the cast in order to do the story justice. That was intense, but I enjoyed it. What do you admire most about Denise? She’s never heartbroken for long. You don’t see her under the duvet watching Bridget Jones and scoffing Milk Tray – she’s over it! She’s resilient and keeps her zest to keep going. Although I wish she’d stop going for younger fellas. She never learns. Who is your ultimate EastEnders female icon? I really loved Angie Watts, a brilliant, dynamic character who grabbed you by the throat. Anita Dobson played her from the gut. It was so visceral. I like gutsy characters. Why are these strong women so integral to soaps? Women were always the silent, tragic heroes, and until recently their stories were told through men’s voices. Soap has given women their own voice – you see how they run the household and keep everything together. Peggy Mitchell [played by Barbara Windsor] is a big example: the matriarch keeping her family in line and giving her boys a clip round the ear. Do you think there’s still a snobbery about soaps? In certain areas, which irritates me. Growing up with my mum, I watched them all, so I always had an admiration for them. It’s a beast. We produce dozens of scenes a day to a high standard – in other places you might only do two or three scenes in a day. And our stories speak directly to the working classes to make them know that they are seen and that they matter. The audience feel they are with us, not watching something from a distance.
EastEnders' Letitia Dean on being "used to crying" and the thrill of getting a big story
The Sharon Watts star on the 40th anniversary of EastEnders, character frustrations and dramatic storylines.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. When you appeared in that very first episode, did you think the show would still be going 40 years later? Absolutely not. None of us did at the time. It was going to last a few months – if we were lucky. Then suddenly, bang! Did you base Sharon on anyone? No, it was all in the writing. We were briefed on what our characters were about and their history, and we had so much more prep time back in the day – I think we rehearsed for three months before it went out. Having played her now for 40 years, what do you admire most about her? She opens her trap and speaks her mind – which I’m not so good at! Any frustrations? She overthinks too much. She was adopted at a young age and is so desperate to create that family unit she felt she never had in her childhood. Sharon lived on a knife edge with her parents’ marriage – she longed for the safety and security of the Beales or the Fowlers. Those insecurities she had as a young girl have stayed with her. Her adoptive parents were Den and Angie — what was it like playing the daughter of such an iconic couple? Anita wasn’t the original Angie but when she came in, watching her and Leslie Grantham [who played Den] in rehearsals, you felt this surge of energy between them. The chemistry just worked. It was, and still is, TV gold. Do you still relish getting those dramatic storylines? I was 17 when I started, but it’s still as exciting when I get a great story as it was back in 1985, it’s still a thrill and an honour to be trusted. And I’m kind of used to the crying. How do you keep it fresh after all this time? Every big story unpeels a new layer, another facet, shows a different relationship. Sometimes I think I’d just like to go in the café and order a cup of tea and a bacon roll, but deep down it’s a privilege to be written for after so many decades. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
EastEnders' Diane Parish: 'Denise never learns – I wish she'd stop going for younger men'
Parish spoke with Radio Times magazine to mark the soap's 40th anniversary.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. When you joined the cast, did you think you’d still be here for the 40th anniversary? No, I thought I’d be lucky to see out my first year! Actors always say: “Never unpack your bags.” I did another year, then had my second daughter and only then did I think, “I’ll stick around a bit longer.” You never assume you’ll be offered another contract. I’m lucky that I’ve never thought my character has run her course. I still see all kinds of possibilities for Denise. How much input do you have in the scripts? I’m not an actor who thinks, “My character wouldn’t say that…” Steve McFadden [who plays Phil Mitchell] says we don’t know what our characters would say, because we don’t know what we’d say in real life. Denise wouldn’t be who she is without our storyliners creating her life as she’s evolved. Nobody plans to end up at a food bank or have a baby with Phil Mitchell! Do Denise’s traumatic storylines take their toll on you? Her psychosis storyline did, but only because I wanted it to. That might sound masochistic, but it had to be truthful, so I isolated myself from the cast in order to do the story justice. That was intense, but I enjoyed it. What do you admire most about Denise? She’s never heartbroken for long. You don’t see her under the duvet watching Bridget Jones and scoffing Milk Tray – she’s over it! She’s resilient and keeps her zest to keep going. Although I wish she’d stop going for younger fellas. She never learns. Who is your ultimate EastEnders female icon? I really loved Angie Watts, a brilliant, dynamic character who grabbed you by the throat. Anita Dobson played her from the gut. It was so visceral. I like gutsy characters. Why are these strong women so integral to soaps? Women were always the silent, tragic heroes, and until recently their stories were told through men’s voices. Soap has given women their own voice – you see how they run the household and keep everything together. Peggy Mitchell [played by Barbara Windsor] is a big example: the matriarch keeping her family in line and giving her boys a clip round the ear. Do you think there’s still a snobbery about soaps? In certain areas, which irritates me. Growing up with my mum, I watched them all, so I always had an admiration for them. It’s a beast. We produce dozens of scenes a day to a high standard – in other places you might only do two or three scenes in a day. And our stories speak directly to the working classes to make them know that they are seen and that they matter. The audience feel they are with us, not watching something from a distance. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
EastEnders' Jessie Wallace: 'Huge film actors don’t realise how hard it is to produce a soap'
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. What’s your earliest memory of a strong woman on screen? Pat Phoenix as Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street. Her presence, her style, not mincing her words, saying it as it is and putting people in their place. I thought she was stunning. The character just jumped out at me. Did you ever think Kat would become so iconic? I came in as the troublemaker of a new family and didn’t know she would become as big as she has. Kat has developed over the years and I love dressing up as her, she makes such a statement with the red lipstick and the mini-skirts. To create a character that stands out, who people love, makes me very proud. Did you watch EastEnders when it started? I was drawn in straight away, even as a child. In that first episode, a man was found dead in his house, someone punched through a window in the pub, there was so much going on. When I played Pat Phoenix in [2010 BBC drama] The Road to Coronation Street, there was a scene where the cleaning lady watches rehearsals on the monitor and gets really invested – and producers realised this was the people’s drama. Everyone can relate to soaps. Do you relate to your character? I fall in love with every character I play so I can do them justice. When you play someone for so long, they do become a part of you. I can hear members of my family in Kat sometimes – certain things remind me of my nan Iris, who was proper East End, or my cousin. Would you be friends with Kat? Definitely. Kat is loyal, funny and sticks to her guns. She has her own beliefs and won’t be swayed by anyone. I love that about her. Do heavy storylines ever take their toll? I love getting a heavy storyline. It doesn’t matter what it’s about, you grab it, make it work, give the best performance you can to show another side to the character and hope people enjoy it. I love it when a really full-on storyline comes along – especially if it’s been quiet for a while. Why do you think there can be a snobbery around soaps? I don’t understand it. You get huge film actors coming in and they don’t realise how hard it is to produce what we do. I remember Joan Collins presenting at the British Soap Awards and saying: “A successful actor is a working actor.” Soaps are a fabulous thing to be a part of. Who will be Walford’s female icons of the future? Sophie Khan Levy is brilliant as Priya. In real life she’s sweet and spiritual, but she just turns it on for the character. And Harriet Thorpe is incredible as Elaine [current landlady of the Queen Vic]. I know a lot of East End women like that, and it’s another iconic look with the big hair and the make-up. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
EastEnders' Balvinder Sopal on keeping Suki true to her roots and why soaps need strong women
"I used to pretend I was Pat and do the accent!"
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Was EastEnders a big part of your childhood? We watched it all the time as a family. Every Sunday we’d clean our bedrooms and get our school uniforms ready for the week while my parents cooked the roast. Then we’d get ginger ale and settle down to watch the EastEnders omnibus all together. It was the best thing. Did any of the female characters stand out to you? I was fascinated by Pat Butcher – how she commanded the space, the romances with Frank and Roy, her complicated relationship with stepdaughter Janine, her style with the 1980s earrings. There was also a vulnerable side that was beautiful to watch. I used to pretend I was Pat and do the accent! Did you base Suki on anyone? Parts of her are based on my younger sister. You don’t cross her, she is ruthless and I really respect that because nobody takes her for a ride. The maternal side, which has come out slowly, and more so since Suki found love with Eve, came from my mum. An amazing woman who ruled the roost. Why are strong women such an integral element of soaps? There’s nothing like a soap woman. Soaps allow nuance in female characters instead of depicting them as either weak and manipulated, or absolute villains. We see the reasons behind the decisions women make. There’s a vulnerability that shows female strength with a cutting edge quite beautifully. How has your character evolved? My main input at the start was that Suki retains her culture without being a stereotypical Asian. It had to be truthful enough for people to recognise themselves, even when they don’t come from that community. We wanted Suki and the Panesars to be real people who were part of the fabric of Walford life, not parodies or signposted. I think we’ve achieved that, and then some. What do you most admire about her? Strong is a boring word, but it’s really important when it comes to a woman like Suki. She has survived many things. I love that tough grit that keeps her coming back bolder and stronger. These days, instead of knee-capping someone that crosses her, she’ll go for the hard talk – she’s a brilliant negotiator. Suki is formidable and loving at the same time. What is Suki’s legacy in the pantheon of Walford women? I think more about the legacy of the Panesars. It’s brilliant to have such a strong mixed-heritage family, who are all fascinating individually. I like the way Suki holds her handbag, it’s like an eyebrow raise when she delivers a line. That’s evolved, the handbag has become a character in itself! The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
Emmerdale's Ross Barton 'back with a bang', teases Natalie J Robb
There's almost always trouble when Ross is concerned.
There's about to be a big shake-up in Emmerdale with the return of Ross Barton (played by Michael Parr). The character's been away for six years and while little is known of his return, viewers could be sure it would be explosive. One person who it will be interesting to see him reunite with is Moira (Natalie J Robb). Viewers will remember Moira actually killed Ross' mum, Emma (Gillian Kearney), so it's safe to say there's bad blood between them. Robb has teased what's to come with Ross' return in an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com. Speaking for The Big RT Interview, which is out tomorrow (Monday 30th September), she said it will be explosive, for sure. "I can't really tell you much..." Robb teased. "He's going to come in with a bit of a bang, of course, and he's going to cause some trouble - as he always does! "On a personal level, I always kept in touch with him since he left and checked in every couple of months. I'm thrilled he's back and that he was ready to come back. It's great when familiar faces come back for continuity." You can read the full interview with Robb tomorrow, where she talks about Moira's future now she has been diagnosed with a brain tumour and the actress looks back on her incredible TV career. Read more: 4 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Arthur causes double drama and Aaron's scheme backfires Emmerdale spoilers: Will turns nasty after dramatic split - but Kim gains upper hand Emmerdale confirms return of iconic Barton after 6 years Emmerdale's Isabel Hodgins teases Victoria's big John Sugden discovery Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday 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 from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Neighbours' Ian Smith on what brings Harold Bishop home for good: 'I thought I’d retired!'
The soap icon talks exclusively to Johnathon Hughes about reprising his legendary role and his unfulfilled soap ambition.
No one does nostalgia quite like Neighbours. The 2022 'finale', when Channel 5’s withdrawal of funding ended the show – or so we thought – was a masterclass in eliciting misty-eyed memories among viewers of a certain age. Among the icons who returned to celebrate the Aussie soap was Ian Smith as the beloved, bumbling Harold Bishop. When Amazon revived Neighbours a year later he popped back again to briefly update the Ramsay Street History Book for this new chapter, and this week he becomes a regular cast member for the first time in 15 years. After numerous mini-comebacks, what tempted Smith for a longer stay this time? "I made the mistake of thinking I had retired," he grins, speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com from the soap’s Melbourne studios. "I thought I had made enough provisions, but no. I had about four wonderful things to do, but you can’t do the same four things for the rest of your life. And so I was getting a bit bored and while I was out fishing one day, the phone rang – it was Neighbours asking me if I would come back. "I took all of a tenth of a second then said 'yes please!' What actor at the age of 85 can experience that beautiful thing of doing something they love, being in a studio, standing in front of a camera and everyone telling them they’re wonderful? And I only film one day and week, so it’s lots of lovely bits and bobs." Harold’s own retirement is about to get much more eventful as the character moves into Eirini Rising, Erinsborough’s swanky new retirement village, which is the brainchild of business ballbuster Terese Willis and sensible schoolteacher Jane Harris (aka 'Plain Jane Superbrain'). The venture has been fraught with teething troubles, not least the clashes behind the scenes between bossy Terese and sensitive Jane. Susan Kennedy is also on board as operations manager, but is already finding her endless patience tested by Terese's demands. If Saintly Suze is struggling, things must be bad. It remains to be seen if Harold gets dragged into the drama, but old Jelly Belly (the nickname bestowed upon him in childhood by old mate Lou Carpenter) has always been a reassuring presence the residents of Ramsay Street can turn to in times of crisis. Harold was introduced in 1987, during the soap’s golden era when Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan shot to stardom as teenage sweethearts Charlene and Scott. At first stuffy, fussy and a little pompous, Smith peeled back the layers of his alter ego to create a genuine soap legend, but it didn’t happen overnight. "I knew Reg Watson, the creator of Neighbours, and he asked me to go into Neighbours for five weeks as a potential love interest for Madge Ramsay," recalls the actor. "At first I couldn’t 'find' who Harold was and had real trouble getting it. Then one day I tried a few things out in the performance and the camera crew laughed. Now, if there’s a hard crowd to make laugh, it’s a camera crew, so I asked them what I’d done that amused them – so I did it again! Not long after that I got my first 12-month contract, and Harold has been with me ever since. "I actually build Harold on my knowledge of three real people from my own life, including my father. I see him as the kind of person whose advice might not always be correct, but is someone who is warm, fluffy and comfortable to have around. What I gleaned from those original three inspirations is still very much in Harold, in fact even more so now as he’s the age they were when I knew them!" Playing comedic fusspot Harold thrust Smith into being front of house after many years behind the scenes as a script editor and writer for Australian television, primarily on cult women’s jail drama Prisoner. Another Reg Watson production, it was that connection that put the polymathic Smith on the path to Ramsay Street and high-profile recognition. "I’d been a hand-to-mouth actor since the late 1960s, for which I got paid occasionally," smirks the avuncular star, who has a charming hint of mischief as he recounts his industry anecdotes. "Becoming a script editor and writer meant I had regular work and was still connected with TV drama. I enjoyed it, and would’ve done anything to stay in the business, whether it was behind the scenes or on stage. Neighbours came along once Prisoner ended, when I had a bit of actor panic about what was next!" Already a seasoned professional by the time he became an established part of the Neighbours cast, Smith fondly remembers the early days of buttoned-up Mr Bishop's careful courtship of mouthy Madge, and how the unlikely couple became telly mum and dad to a generation of fans. All feels right with the world when Harold is in Neighbours, which does a grand job of preserving the pantheon of much-loved heritage characters that maintain links to the soap’s rich past of almost 40 years (it hits the milestone in March 2025). When asked which colleague he has particularly fond memories of working with, Smith doesn’t hesitate to answer. "Vivean Gray, who played Mrs Mangel. How lovely it would be to have her back, but of course she passed away in 2016. She was incapable of delivering an 'ordinary' scene, if she complemented you on something it was the kind of praise that keeps you going. "One of my favourite ever scenes was when Mrs Mangel unwittingly got her and Harold drunk! I was reminded that she caught the bouquet at Scott and Charlene’s wedding, and gave Harold a little wink! Maybe in her mind they could’ve got together, but not as far as Harold was concerned…" So huge was Harold’s popularity, he achieved that ultimate soap accolade of being brought back from the dead because the fans missed him so much, five years after his initial exit in 1991. Neighbours itself had become a global cultural phenomenon, and the news it was apparently ending after 37 years prompted a host of former alumni to pay their respects with cameo appearances. In 2022, Smith was reunited on screen with Kylie and Jason, along with current legacy cast members Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson) and Annie Jones (Jane) to say their goodbyes. "It was like a funeral for the show, I promise you," he says, candidly reflecting on the highly-anticipated scenes. "We stood in a group in dead silence, with someone occasionally saying something to break it or offering to give each other a hug for no reason. It was very emotional and we mourned the loss of the show for weeks. "Then of course we got that wonderful, ridiculous news that we were back on! That certainly changed the energy that next time the cast gathered together." Jackie Woodburne, aka Susan, Alan Fletcher, who plays Karl Kennedy, Ryan Moloney aka Toadie Rebecchi and Stefan Dennis are reverently referred to by producers as 'the core four', surely Smith should be added as a member of that esteemed group to make it the core five? "I can’t tell you how nice it is to be back on the floor with the other 'oldies' and getting that feeling back again," he smiles. "From the newer cast, I think Shiv Palekar, who plays Haz Devkhar, the new owner of Harold’s coffee shop, is a wonderful young man. He has lovely charisma and a damn good talent, I look forward to scenes with him. It’s an equal love affair with all the cast, to be honest with you." While Smith is clearly settled and satisfied to be back where he belongs, he confesses there’s still at least one itch to scratch in career terms – and suggests RadioTimes.com may be able to help… "I would love to appear in one of the UK soaps! I don’t care which one, I just really want to work over there. Please make it happen! I came to Britain to present an award to the cast of Coronation Street some years back. Maybe that’s my inroad…" Read more: Vote now in the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 Neighbours nominated for Emmy award seven months after revival Neighbours' Toadie "needs to sleep with one eye open" after shock affair Neighbours' Paul and Terese are a "match made in hell" - will they get back together? Neighbours boss reveals Hollywood A-lister he wants for cast Neighbours boss hints at more original cast returns Neighbours continues on Amazon Freevee every Monday to Thursday from 7am. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
Vote for your favourite soap in the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards now
Have your say on the most dramatic year in soaps ever
Around this time of year, we’d normally be gearing up for the British Soap Awards and TV BAFTAs to dish out prizes to the best that continuing drama has served up in the last 12 months. Unfortunately, the 2020 soap-centric ceremony is cancelled and the BAFTAs are postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic which means the shows will miss out on recognition. So to ensure the biggest storylines, performances and moments don’t go unpraised in 2020, we are launching the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards! Read our full list of nominations and head to the bottom of the page where you can cast your all important vote. [The vote closes on Tuesday 2nd June at 5pm.] View Riddle on the source website Best Actor Ian Bartholomew - Geoff Metcalfe, Coronation Street Geoff has gone from being Tim’s buffoonish dad to a manipulative, menacing bully, and Bartholomew has transformed the character with pitch-perfect levels of calculation and creepiness in Corrie’s coercive control storyline. Max Bowden - Ben Mitchell, EastEnders In just over a year as the recast Ben, Bowden has confidentially made the part his own and it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Phil Mitchell’s tormented son. His romance with Callum and struggle with hearing loss has made the audience really root for him. Jeff Hordley - Cain Dingle, Emmerdale Often overlooked at awards time, Hordley notched up 20 years as Emmerdale’s alpha male recently and he’s still at the heart of the show. Being cheated on by Moira with his secret son divided fans, but you can’t fault his consistently compelling performance. Gregory Finnegan - James Nightingale, Hollyoaks He lost lover Harry to the local serial killer but shot the wrong person in revenge, pushing him over the edge psychologically and making us care about the spiky but sad lawyer even more. Rob Mills - Finn Kelly, Neighbours Fiendish Finn is one of the most dangerous villains Ramsay Street has ever seen, and Mills wasn’t afraid to push his alter ego into seriously dark territory as his reign of terror came to a shocking climax. He’s still causing chaos from beyond the grave. Ray Meagher - Alf Stewart, Home & Away Summer Bay stalwart Alf remains the heart and soul of Home and Away, and this year he finally got a happy ending by remarrying childhood sweetheart Martha, who was missing presumed dead for decades. It was a huge moment for long-term fans. Best Actress Shelley King - Yasmeen Metcalfe, Coronation Street King’s utterly fearless performance as abused wife Yasmeen has made for uncomfortable viewing, and rightly so. Corrie’s unflinching approach to the coercive control storyline would not be as compelling or truthful without her commitment. Letitia Dean - Sharon Watts, EastEnders It was a big year for EastEnders as it notched up its 35th anniversary, and producers gifted original cast member Dean with a roller coaster of emotion that saw Sharon’s fling with toy boy Keanu exposed, her marriage to Phil wrecked, and the tragic death of beloved son Denny. Michelle Hardwick - Vanessa Woodfield, Emmerdale Being held hostage by mad man Pierce Harris was just the start of an enormous journey for the village vet, who was then diagnosed with bowel cancer. Hardwick has always been engaging and sympathetic and this story has seen her finest work yet. Anna Passey - Sienna Blake, Hollyoaks Just when it looked like she was getting her happy ending with Brody and a baby it all came crashing down for Hollyoaks’ tragedy magnet Sienna. Passey effortlessly combines enormous empathy with a hint of that old evil streak, making the character more watchable than ever. Jackie Woodburne - Susan Kennedy, Neighbours Rightly placed at the heart of Neighbours’ 35th birthday year as her long-standing rivalry with Finn Kelly reached a jaw-dropping finale in an electric two-hander (a first for the soap) reminded us what a consummate pro Woodburne is. As if we needed reminding. Lynne McGranger - Irene Roberts, Home & Away Home and Away legend ‘Reenie had one of her biggest storylines in years as a teen online grooming plot opened up a painful chapter of her past, giving McGranger some tough, uncompromising material she knocked out of the park. Best Newcomer Mollie Gallagher – Nina, Coronation Street Roy’s goth niece Nina is a quirky presence on the cobbles who is full of surprises – she shares her uncle’s love of bats and defended poor old Asha during her online ordeal. Gallagher is a real find. Milly Zero – Dotty, EastEnders Last seen as a Wednesday Addams-alike tween, Dot’s granddaughter returned and recast as a punky, sassy troublemaker who reminds us of a young Janine Butcher. Zero has risen to the challenge of portraying the offspring of Nasty Nick Cotton. Mark Womack – DI Mark Malone, Emmerdale Another in a long line Hotten Constabulary’s corrupt coppers, Womack has made Malone an impactful baddie in his first ever soap role with the right mix of charm and menace. Joe McGann – Edward Hutchinson, Hollyoaks Casting a member of a famous acting dynasty was a coup and McGann has not disappointed in his portrayal of the narcissistic surgeon out to steal his son’s life. There’s a delicious dash of dark humour there too. Jemma Donovan - Harlow Robinson, Neighbours Being the real-life daughter of Jason ‘Scott Robinson’ Donovan means young Jemma is already Ramsay Street royalty, but the subtle integrity she brings to principled Harlow has made her one to watch. Kawakawa Fox-Reo – Nikau Parata, Home & Away Hotheaded and impulsive, Nik could’ve been like a million other off-the-rails teens who’ve rocked up in the Bay over the years, but Fox-Reo is a breath of fresh air as part of the soap’s first indigenous family and we feel like he’s been there for ages already. Best Storyline Coronation Street - Coercive Control A rarely-explored form of domestic abuse has been bravely highlighted by Corrie. What started as a slow burning background plot has boiled over into one of the most talked-about storylines of the moment. EastEnders - Boat Disaster The soap pushed the boat out – literally – to mark the 35th anniversary of the TV institution. Pulling together the threads of Sharon and Keanu’s explosive affair saw fights, fallouts and a jaw-dropping death that changed life in the Square forever. Emmerdale - Who Killed Graham? ‘Who shot Graham?’ was elevated from your usual soap whodunnit by the shock reveal that rapist Pierce was the culprit, four years after his exit and with no prior warning he was even returning. Rhona finally getting justice made it all worth it. Hollyoaks - Ste's Radicalisation A true soap first, Hollyoaks deserve recognition for bravely tackling such a taboo topic. Disenfranchised, grieving Ste’s grooming by the far right provoked questions about politics and society, but was ultimately a story about love triumphing over hate. Neighbours - Finn's Revenge Fiendish Finn’s nine lives were finally used up in a brilliantly plotted final act for the sociopathic bad boy as his beef with Elly and Susan put half of Ramsay Street in danger. It was darker territory than normal for sunny Neighbours, and formed the backdrop to the nostalgia-fest of the 35th anniversary. Home & Away - Hospital Siege One of the Aussie soaps best set pieces in years saw a bunch of characters thrown together in terrifying circumstances that brought some stories to a tragic end, sparked surprising new bonds, and shook Summer Bay to its foundations. RIP Mason and Robbo… Best Soap Coronation Street EastEnders Emmerdale Hollyoaks Neighbours Home & Away
Why Sinead had to die – Coronation Street producer explains tragic death
“Life sometimes takes an unbelievably cruel turn…”
Coronation Street fans should prepare for heartbreaking scenes next week when Sinead Osbourne (Katie McGlynn) passes away. An hour-long episode on Friday (25th October) focuses entirely on the character’s tragic exit, a year after she was initially diagnosed with cervical cancer while pregnant with baby son Bertie. Speculation around Sinead’s fate had been rife since she learned her cancer was terminal and had become too aggressive to treat, and Coronation Street producer Iain MacLeod believes the eventual outcome, while undoubtedly upsetting, was the only way the story could have ended. Coronation Street's emotional and dramatic week - what's going to happen “Life does sometimes take an unbelievably cruel turn,” the soap boss told RadioTimes.com at a screening of Sinead’s death scenes in Manchester. “I spoke to Katie when I started on the show at length and we both felt Sinead dying was the most responsible way to end the story. “Sometimes in soap, people miraculously recover from a terrible illness as if it never happened. Telling the tough version was the right version. “With death we secrete people away in a corner and wait for it be over, but it comes to us all in the end. I felt like the respectful, interesting and least soapy way to play it was to be in the bedroom of the Osbournes’ flat for a long period of time and see the difficulties Sinead and Daniel both experience. Daniel cheats on dying Sinead with Bethany “The way death is portrayed on TV makes us immune to the realities of it, we’re scared of looking at it.” McGlynn, who previously corrected claims she was axed after more than six years in the role, is in agreement. “Life is not a fairy tale,” she said. “Sometimes soaps tend to do the happy ending, I thought we need to do the story properly to raise awareness. I hope those who have been through similar situations find it cathartic.” In the lead-up to Sinead’s death, she will be at odds with husband Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) who confesses to kissing Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) as he struggles with watching his wife succumb to her illness. Coronation Street’s Daniel Osbourne spirals into self-destruction following Sinead’s death Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.
Ste rejects the far right in Hollyoaks attack aftermath – but can he escape?
Kieron Richardson admits nerves over radicalisation storyline
Hollyoaks’ radicalisation storyline continues this week as Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson) finally realises he has been groomed by far right extremists following an attack on the village targeting the Maalik family. Tuesday 17th September’s E4 episode showed the aftermath of a devastating explosion caused by a bomb intended to be detonated at Sami Maalik (Rishi Nair) and Sinead Shelby’s (Stephanie Davis) engagement party at the Loft night club, but accidentally went off in Ste’s back garden putting Yazz Maalik (Haiesha Mistry) and Jonny Baxter (Ray Quinn) in hospital. Arriving on the scene with stepmum Misbah Maalik (Harvey Virdi), Sami explained to shellshocked Ste he has been manipulated and groomed by Jonny and group leader Stuart Sumner (Chris Simmons), who took advantage of his disenfranchisement and anger to lure him into their anti-Islam ideology. Far right attack rocks Hollyoaks Hollyoaks autumn 2019 trailer Ste’s eyes may be open at last to the true agenda of his housemates, but the sinister extremist faction are now forcing him to keep quiet before the police find them. Stuart, Jonny, Ste and fellow group member Dave are now in hiding and as the plot unfolds throughout the week, viewers will be wondering how Ste can extricate himself from the far right. Speaking at a screening of the dramatic episodes at the Royal Television Society in Manchester on Monday 16th September, Richardson admitted to being uneasy about the storyline when it was initially suggested. “I told our producer, Bryan Kirkwood, I didn’t want to do it, I was too scared. I love the character and get passionate about defending him. When he was introduced 14 years ago he was hated and we worked hard to get the audience on his side, and I knew this would make them hate him again. “I was nervous taking it on and have had to come off social media as some people think I have racist views in real life. “From speaking to ExitUK, who help people who’ve been groomed escape the far right, I knew some of these groups could get quite violent and the fact we were portraying them in a bad light made me worry about how they’d react – would they come after us? “Now I’m so proud to be have been part of the storyline.” Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 7pm on E4, and is repeated at 6.30pm the following day on Channel 4. View oEmbed on the source website
Sinead's cancer nurse Sheila is a Downton Abbey and former Coronation Street star
This is the not the first time we've seen the actress in Weatherfield
Coronation Street's Sinead Osbourne (Katie McGlynn) is bravely facing up to her terminal cancer diagnosis, but when she visited a hospice this week, some viewers may have been slightly distracted as they recognised Sheila, the kindly care worker who showed Sinead and husband Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) around. The motorbike-loving medic is played by Helen Sheals, familiar to Downton Abbey fans as village post mistress Mrs Wigan. The recurring character appeared in a handful of episodes throughout the period hit’s six-year run, including the very first one back in 2010 – although she doesn’t pop up in the current big-screen version. Who else did Helen Sheals play in Coronation Street? It’s also not the first time the actress has cropped up in Coronation Street: in 2009 she briefly played Lilly Richardson, mother of Sophie Webster’s teenage sweetheart Ben Richardson. The sports-mad schoolboy is best remembered for making an inappropriate move on best mate Ryan Connor’s mum, Michelle, which understandably cut short his time as the family lodger… Sheals has notched up numerous TV credits since the mid-1990s in the likes of Doctors, Casualty, Holby City, Silent Witness, Last Tango in Halifax, defunct C4 soap Brookside and The Hello Girls opposite EastEnders favourite Letitia Dean during one of her hiatuses from Walford. Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers View oEmbed on the source website
Next week in soapland: Fiona's Corrie return, grief for Bailey on EastEnders and Holby City's Essie's dilemma
All the major soap storylines coming up in the week ahead
Monday 19 August Mucky Moira and Naughty Nate sounds like a dubious late-night cabaret act, but Emmerdale (7pm ITV) are pinning their hopes on them providing some summer sizzle for the soap. Fervent flirtation develops into a full-on affair this week as Mrs Dingle finds herself unable to resist her often semi-naked employee, jeopardising her marriage to Cain. It’s unfortunate that yet another popular couple is being torn asunder after the likes of David and Tracy, and Bob and Brenda, hit the skids. Even Robron are on the way out with actor Ryan Hawley leaving later this year — can’t anyone stay together in this village? The bunting is out in EastEnders (8pm BBC1) to celebrate Phil’s return from hospital, with Ben throwing his dad a welcome party. A bit rich, considering he tried to kill Phil while he was in a coma, but that’s the Mitchells for you. Phil has unfinished business with Kat and heads over to the Slaters’ wanting a word, as he’s remembered details of his attack… Tuesday 20 August Essie is thrown off course in Holby City (8pm BBC1) when an encounter with a stranger brings back painful memories. This distressed new face claims to have known her late husband, Raf, who was gunned down by Hanssen’s disturbed and doomed son Fredrik, and they form an alarmingly quick connection. A life-changing pact is made, but who exactly has good-natured Essie got herself involved with? Max Bowden is doing a terrific job as the latest Ben Mitchell in EastEnders (7.30pm BBC1). I was a big fan of his predecessor, Harry Reid, and following him was a tricky task — but Bowden has brought a sinister swagger to the role that masks a convincing vulnerability stemming from his abandonment issues. Fuming Phil is on the warpath now as he demands the truth from his son about who really whacked him over the head — but Ben is hiding much more from Daddy Dearest, which could all come spilling out in tonight’s confrontation. Wednesday 21 August Many soap storylines are built on contrivance that requires huge leaps of faith, but I’m really struggling with the twist in Coronation Street (7.30pm, 8.30pm ITV) of the long-departed Fiona Middleton turning out to be Emma’s mum, and the possibility that Steve McDonald may be her biological dad. After 18 months as a trainee hairdresser at Audrey’s salon, why has Emma never once mentioned that her mother used to work there and lived on the street for many years? Tonight is set to be a roller coaster of emotions for Emma as she buries the man she believed was her dad, and DNA results confirm the identity of her real father. Plus, we clap eyes on Fiona for the first time since 1998, but don’t expect a showdown on the cobbles: I understand Angela Griffin has only filmed a brief video call with her daughter to explain this rejigged backstory. Wouldn’t it have been better to have had Griffin in the same room for such a life-changing reveal? Thursday 22 August EastEnders (7.30pm BBC1) gives award-winning father/daughter duo Mitch and Bailey time to shine as the inquest into Dinah’s death looms. Unsurprisingly, it’s a difficult day for Bailey, who is confronted with the reality of her mum’s death, and her dad and extended family try to keep her spirits up. But it’s Mitch who ends up being the one that needs looking after, as he struggles with how to help his little girl deal with her grief. Despite the morbid subject matter, any scenes with these two are always compelling. Maxine’s Munchausen’s syndrome storyline in Hollyoaks (6.30pm C4) reaches its most jaw-dropping moment of audacity when she attends her own “living funeral”, organised by distraught Damon for his wife, who he believes is dying of a terminal illness. Sienna urges her friend to admit it’s all a lie, but misguided Max is so addicted to the attention garnered by her fake illness, she has no real desire to come clean. Dark, but deliciously entertaining. Friday 23 August Picking the wrong fella must be pretty high up on the CV of Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street (7.30pm, 8.30pm ITV), along with a talent for put-downs and a superb command of the Street Cars switchboard. Reeling from her latest romantic disaster after discovering Polish builder Jan was running a human trafficking ring (in fact, he was working under cover for the police, but he couldn’t tell her that, so she still thinks he was a baddie), Weatherfield’s unluckiest lady tells Tim she’s sworn off men. You can’t blame her, but if Eileen doesn’t have a love life, surely the Corrie plots will dry up? Talking of poor relationship choices, Gail Robinson is back in Neighbours (1.45pm, 5.30pm Channel 5) to warn Terese off tying the knot with her ex, Paul. Spiky-haired, spiky-mannered Gail first appeared back in the Scott and Charlene era as the second of five Mrs Robinsons. Maybe Gail and Eileen could form an international soap singletons support group?
Have Emily Bishop and Norris Cole left Coronation Street for good?
Producer reveals “the door is most definitely open” for the cobbles legends.
Coronation Street boss Iain MacLeod has addressed the future of absent stalwarts Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) and Norris Cole (Malcolm Hebden), following the revelation their house is being sold to new family the Baileys, who move in to number 3 in June. Speaking at a press event in Manchester introducing the first black family to reside on Britain’s most famous street, MacLeod confirmed the sale of the property did not mean the end of Norris, who makes a brief return this spring after leaving in 2017 following Hebden’s heart attack and subsequent recovery. “Norris is not leaving the show, 100%,” he said. “We just thought that given the circumstances we find ourselves in it made sense to put a family in number 3 now, but it’s certainly not the end of Norris.” Rana back from the dead for revenge on Carla in Coronation Street? Who’s to blame for shock Coronation Street factory disaster? Who is loan shark Rick Neelan in Coronation Street? Derbyshire, the second longest-serving cast member after William Roache aka Ken Barlow, made her last appearance as Norris’s tenant in 2016 and is still on an extended break. But again, MacLeod put minds at rest that the sale of her home did not equate her permanent departure. “We are in talks fairly regularly with Eileen, but at the moment there are no plans for her to return. Again, again the door is certainly not closed there. “But definitely in Norris’s case the hope on my part, and I think on Malcolm’s, is that we can bring him back in for good at some point.” View oEmbed on the source website The Baileys, mum Aggie, dad Ed, and grown-up sons Michael and James, will take up residence when they buy the house in June and will quickly clash with next door neighbours the Barlows. Their first big storyline is expected to centre on 19 year-old football prodigy James’s coming out journey and tackles homophobia in the sporting industry.
‘We’re pandas in a zoo – they stick you together and hope it works’: Alan Carr and Melanie Sykes reveal the secret to their radio double act
BBC Radio 2's Alan Carr and Melanie Sykes discuss what makes great – and giggly – radio
Saturday mornings on Radio 2 are alive with the sound of laughter – often uncontrollable hysterics. Alan Carr and Melanie Sykes are back on the airwaves, standing in for Graham Norton for a second consecutive summer with Alan and Mel’s Summer Escape, now entering the fourth of a ten-week run. “Graham’s Saturday-morning show is an institution and people can be wary of change,” acknowledges Carr, and both hosts admit that, despite their combined broadcasting experience and the relaxed on-air repartee, there were nerves. “It’s a big responsibility.” “It’s a prestigious slot,” counters Sykes. “We don’t want to muck it up, we really care about what we’re doing.” The best of British: Radio 2’s Ken Bruce reveals why he still loves working for the BBC The 50 best BBC radio broadcasters of all time Cerys Matthews replaces Radio 2 DJ Paul Jones after 30 years of The Blues Show View oEmbed on the source website The fizzy format is a live, light-hearted mix of chat, music, celebrity guests, quizzes and lively listener interaction, but the real draw is the winning relationship between the hosts. Links dissolve into infectious laughter as the goodnatured banter crackles. Carr and Sykes bounce off each other brilliantly – unsurprisingly since their professional partnership goes back almost a decade. The comic, 42, and model-turned-presenter, 47, first worked together on Radio 2 in 2010 on Going Out with Alan Carr on Saturday evenings, though they had met long before that. “My very first TV appearance as a standup was on Mel’s daytime show with Des O’Connor [Today with Des and Mel, which ran on ITV between 2002 and 2006],” recalls Carr. “I was on with Pam Ayres – she did a poem about a wheelie bin after me. How could I forget that?” Sykes continues: “We didn’t meet again for years until I filled in for [original co-host] Emma Forbes on Alan’s radio show. She then left, so a two-week stand-in turned into a regular job. It was like an on-air chemistry test.” They passed with flying colours. Carr’s quick wit and affectionate teasing, combined with Sykes’s sunny northern charm, created an unexpected dynamic that was warm and completely uncontrived. “We were comfortable from the get-go,” says Sykes. “I work well with comedians because I don’t need to get the laugh. I react, and maybe feed something to them, but I don’t crash over their gags. I tend to say daft things and Alan runs with it.” “With co-hosts it’s like pandas in a zoo,” reasons Carr. “They stick you in together and hope it works. We’re not competitive, but she is hilarious. There are lots of elements to this business that can be hard work and a bit of a drag, but for those three hours we’re together it’s just a chat and a laugh. That’s how I see it.” Why some double acts work and others don’t is a question currently on the minds of Radio 2 bosses, given the recent negative reaction to the Jo Whiley and Simon Mayo drivetime show. Carr believes chemistry isn’t something you can easily quantify. “If we start thinking about why it works, then it won’t work. You can’t overthink it. We are mates and socialise, which helps.” The pair regularly go out for dinner and are planning a holiday to Rome. Both love art – “My other half Paul doesn’t care about all that,” says Carr. “I took him to Pompeii and he said it looked like a building site. Mel also took me to a Liam Gallagher concert recently, which was an experience…” Sykes and Carr’s friendship is the key to their success. Watching them cackle through the photoshoot before sitting down for our interview in a sunny private garden proves nothing is faked for the radio. The conversation takes hilarious tangents such as Sykes’s unsavoury habit of spitting out pork scratchings when laughing (“I’m veggie now so I’m off the pig skin!”), and the time Carr did a link with a mouthful of Jaffa cake (“The song ended quicker than I thought and I was still eating. So unprofessional”). It’s just like listening to one of their shows. The friendship, the fun, the spontaneous sniggering – it’s all real. “It’s not a performance from either of us,” assures Sykes. “One of the criticisms I’ve heard is: ‘All they do is giggle,’” adds Carr. “But if you’re listening to a radio show with two people and they’re not having a good time, then you need to switch over. We are genuinely having fun.” “And it’s not like we’re laughing at nothing,” picks up Sykes. “The public make a huge contribution to the show, they respond so well to us. They email in funny stories, which give us lots to work with. It’s observational humour.” Have the duo considered transferring their radio double act to the small screen? When I suggest the Generation Game as the perfect format for their friendly, raucous rapport, an excited Sykes almost leaps out of her seat as she spins round to her colleague. “What have I been saying?! That’s our show! I don’t think they’ll go for it with different presenters for a while after Mel and Sue. But that is the type of programme I think we’d be really good in. “I love radio, I’m a communicator and there’s no leap to get to the audience. And to be at Radio 2 is a dream fulfilled for me, I’d love to be here regularly. But if you get the right TV format then I’m in my element.” “I get loads of people in the industry saying me and Mel should do something on telly,” admits Carr. “We’d definitely like this partnership to continue, either on TV or more on Radio 2. Somebody send us some ideas!” Alan and Mel’s Summer Escape airs on Saturdays at 10am on Radio 2
Coronation Street star Nicola Thorp teases Nicola and Gary showdown - "He's got a lot to answer for"
Nicola will blame Gary for Phelan's final return to the Street
Actress Nicola Thorp has revealed that her Coronation Street character Nicola Rubinstein will have a heated showdown with Gary Windass once she recovers from the gunshot injury she received on Friday. As fans of the ITV soap saw in last week's dramatic episodes, Nicola landed herself in hospital after being shot by her psychopathic father Pat Phelan. And it looks as though Gary will feel the full force of Nicola's anger once she discovers that his actions led to Phelan's final return to the Street. Speaking to RadioTimes.com on the red carpet at this year's British Soap Awards, Thorp said: "Nicola's got a couple of bones to pick with Gary. They were always in cahoots about the Phelan plans, but he left her out of this crucial one at a time when she was giving birth to their son. He’s got a lot to answer for." Coronation Street win big at The British Soap Awards Eva to take baby Susie? Catherine Tyldesley on her "juicy" exit Recent episodes saw Phelan be abducted and dragged back to Weatherfield by Gary, only to then escape, storm Number 11 and shoot Nicola. Following a tense stand-off, Phelan ended up dead after being stabbed by Anna Windass, while the residents of the Street learned that Nicola's bullet wound would not be fatal. Speaking about what lies ahead, the Corrie star commented: "Nicola now has to deal with the repercussions of what Phelan has done. The writers have set up this lovely relationship with Nicola and Eileen and I’m excited to see that blossom and develop. They’ve both had some horrible things happen to them in the past year, but this could solidify their friendship." As for whether Nicola could end up taking after her murderous dad, Thorp said: "I think there’s a side to Nicola that is very strong-willed and strong-minded. Up until now she’s used that for good, whereas Phelan used it for evil. But, you know, never say never." View oEmbed on the source website Thorp's comments came on a good night for Corrie at London’s Hackney Empire that saw it take home six awards including Best Actress for Lucy Fallon (Bethany Platt), Best Villain for Connor McIntyre (Pat Phelan) and the coveted Best Soap Award. Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. View oEmbed on the source website
Coronation Street: Eva to take baby Susie? Catherine Tyldesley on her "juicy" exit
The Corrie star teases her upcoming departure from the ITV soap
Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley has revealed that Eva Price could well leave Toyah Battersby heartbroken by departing Weatherfield with baby Susie. The actress - who has just three more weeks of filming left before she leaves the ITV soap - spoke to RadioTimes.com on the red carpet at this year's British Soap Awards and revealed that her character was to get "a very interesting and juicy exit". As viewers know, Eva recently handed over her newborn to Rovers Return landlady Toyah after deciding that she didn't want to be a mum to her baby girl. But it seems that Eva could well have second thoughts about her decision as tensions mounts ahead of her final scenes. British Soap Awards: Coronation Street in clean sweep Phelan lives: the Coronation Street cast arrives on the red carpet at this year's British Soap Awards Said Tyldesley: "As a mum myself, I can’t begin to imagine her not taking Susie with her. Eva has a heart of gold. She makes a lot of mistakes because she doesn’t think about the consequences. But I'm really hoping she takes Susie with her." View oEmbed on the source website Acknowledging the knock-on effect this would have for Toyah, the Corrie star added: "Eva would feel guilty because she cares so much about Toyah. If Eva was to take Susie, it would be incredibly difficult for Toyah." Tyldesley has been a regular member of the cast since 2011, with Eva's most notable storyline being a high-profile revenge scheme that saw her seek vengeance on boyfriend Aidan after she discovered he’d been cheating with local hairdresser Maria. In a memorable showdown, Eva scrapped it out in a fountain with Maria last year while wearing her wedding dress. Speaking about how she herself is feeling as she prepares to leave Coronation Street behind, Tyldesley commented: "There have been many tears. I'm all cried out!" View oEmbed on the source website Tyldesley's comments came on a good night for Corrie at London's Hackney Empire that saw it take home six awards including Best Actress for Lucy Fallon (Bethany Platt), Best Villain for Connor McIntyre (Pat Phelan) and the coveted Best Soap Award. Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.