Emmerdale's Lisa Riley pays tribute to Steve Halliwell with RadioTimes.com Soap Awards win
The soap legend sadly passed away late last year.
Emmerdale star Lisa Riley has paid tribute to the late Steve Halliwell in her acceptance speech f0r Best Comedy Performance at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages. The actor and comedian could not attend the ceremony in person due to a previously booked holiday, but recorded a heartwarming video message from the set of Emmerdale in which she expressed sincere appreciation to all those who voted for her. "Thank you, thank you, a million thank yous that I've won Best Comedy Performance," she began. "I don't even think I'm funny! It is the writers at Emmerdale, they're amazing. "I'm sure they have three glasses of Malbec when they write for Mandy. But it's a joy. It's a true joy to play Mandy, I love it every single day and I love working with other brilliant comedy characters like the amazing Dominic Brunt playing Paddy. "I'm really blessed [and] I'm only funny because they're funny – that's the truth of it, really." Riley first appeared on the soap between 1995 and 2001, before taking an extended absence that continued until Mandy Dingle's re-introduction in 2019. Both stints saw her work closely with the late Halliwell, who played Mandy's uncle Zak Dingle for almost 30 years, but sadly died late last year after a period of illness. Riley reflected in her acceptance speech: "The one true comedy icon is Steve Halliwell, Uncle Zak, the love of my life. All them years ago when I was a kid, he taught me so many comedic skills. "So I'd like to please say thank you to everyone who voted for me, but I'd like to dedicate this award to our lovely Steve Halliwell." Although Zak Dingle was not formally written out of the soap before Halliwell's passing, it has been announced that the character will die off-screen and a moving funeral service will be held for him. Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper explained: "As many of you will know, of course, we lost Steve recently... So we're going to be marking Zak's passing, [the] iconic Zak Dingle character, in the coming months with a Dingle funeral. "[It will be] so very difficult for a lot of people who work on the show and, obviously, for a lot of our viewers who have grown and loved Zak for many, many years. But it will be a hugely fitting tribute to such an iconic character." Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV. 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.
Hollyoaks' Jessica Fox praises young actors in sibling abuse storyline
"Both Isabelle and Ryan are just phenomenal young actors."
This article contains discussions of sexual abuse that some may find upsetting. Jessica Fox has spoken about the talented young stars at the heart of Hollyoaks' harrowing sibling abuse storyline. Fox's on-screen stepdaughter, Frankie (played by Isabelle Smith), has been abused by her twin brother JJ (Ryan Mulvey) since childhood. As yet, Nancy and her husband, the pair's father Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson), are unaware of what has been going on. Also in the dark is Frankie and JJ's mother, Suzanne Ashworth (Suzanne Hall), who made her return to the village alongside the twins and oldest daughter Hannah (Emma Rigby) in January this year. Speaking exclusively at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, Fox was asked about the role she and her cast mates have played alongside co-stars Smith and Mulvey – and she was full of praise for the young actors. "I always say, Hollyoaks is a lot like a big family, and the Osbornes are very protective. So both Isabelle and Ryan are just phenomenal young actors, and the effort and their work ethic, and the way they think about scenes beforehand is really inspiring to see in young actors," she explained. "And it's my job as one of the older ones, and Ash who plays Darren, to support that and give them the best space for them to play." Deputy headteacher Nancy has been instrumental in trying to help troubled Frankie, but she hasn't yet realised what's been going on in her own home. Nancy herself was sexually assaulted in the past, by ex-husband Jake Dean (Kevin Sacre) and teen student Finn O'Connor (Keith Rice). Might Hollyoaks draw from her history and allow Nancy to be a central part of Frankie's support system when the truth finally comes out? "Absolutely," said Fox. "Nancy's been really unlucky with some sexual assaults in her past, and has never got the justice that she wanted for it. "So I think there will be an element where Nancy wants to do right by Frankie, and wants Frankie to get that justice and feel that what she's saying is being believed, and being taken seriously." For support and advice on matters raised in this article, please visit www.rapecrisis.org.uk, call the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222 or chat to Rape Crisis online 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk. Read more: Hollyoaks' Tamara Wall "laughed" at wild Freddie and Grace reunion Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe thought Mercedes's 2 baby dads storyline was "fantasy" Hollyoaks legend Jamie Lomas on signing up for another soap: "Who knows?" Hollyoaks' Iz Hesketh celebrates positive impact of trans youth storyline Hollyoaks' Kieron Richardson on the "dangerous" side of Rex Hollyoaks star Harvey Virdi teases 'danger' for Misbah and Donny The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
EastEnders' The Six promise story isn't over as they accept award
"We loved telling this story, and it's not over yet."
Among the incredible seven wins that EastEnders scooped up at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages was Soap Moment of the Year, a fan-voted category which went to Sixmas, the storyline which had been teased in a revolutionary flashforward at the start of the year. The storyline came to its dramatic conclusion at Christmas and was beloved by fans, so much so that they voted in their droves for the moment to win. Now, the actors behind The Six – Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater), Balvinder Sopal (Suki Panesar), Kellie Bright (Linda Carter), Letitia Dean (Sharon Watts), Diane Parish (Denise Fox) and Gillian Taylforth (Kathy Beale) – have sent a message thanking the fans... and teasing more to come from the storyline. You can watch the thank you video at the top of this page. In the video, Turner, Sopal, Bright, Parish and Taylforth are seen on the set of the Queen Vic, shouting: "Thank you to everyone who voted!" Read more: EastEnders airs double Reiss Colwell twist in early BBC iPlayer release Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick reflect on EastEnders marathon scenes Bright then says: "Thank you so much from all of us. That includes Tish (Letitia Dean), who can't be here right at this minute, she's filming next door, but we really are chuffed to bits." "We loved telling this story, and it's not over yet, but this is for everybody who worked on this in EastEnders. There are so many people behind the scenes, people that you don't ever see but who really made this happen, and we are just the cherry on top of the cake, aren't we girls? But thank you, honestly, it means a lot, we really do appreciate it, thank you." The other four then add a final: "Thank you!" At the BAFTA TV Awards earlier this year, Parish said that they would be "coming back to The Six later on", teasing "more angst, more tears". Meanwhile, Turner added that "they'll be up to something, I promise you that". The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Hollyoaks' David Ames says it was "difficult" portraying Carter
"I had to be horrible, I had to say spiteful, vicious things - some of which I've had said to me in the past."
David Ames has described what it was like to play Hollyoaks villain Carter Shepherd, who was the central figure in the soap's disturbing gay conversion storyline. Carter arrived in the village to take over as headteacher of Hollyoaks High school last year, and embarked on a turbulent series of liaisons with John Paul McQueen (James Sutton). But Carter hated himself for having feelings for men, and used his position of power to bully teen Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) into rejecting his sexuality. After kidnapping John Paul and nearly drowning him, Carter was arrested - and Ames exclusively told RadioTimes.com that portraying this sinister character was "difficult". "Carter is someone who really struggles with who he is, so as someone who's very comfortable with who they are, there was a lot for me to unpick there, with regards to his distaste for the LGBTQ+ community, and how he didn't align himself with all of that," he explained. "So, there were really heavy moments where I had to be cruel to people; I had to be horrible, I had to say spiteful, vicious things - some of which I've had said to me in the past. "So, to be able to get into that mindset, actually, was quite difficult at times, and was heavy." Luckily, Ames and his co-stars knew how to unwind from such distressing material whenever they could. "But in between scenes and in between takes, myself, James Sutton, Ellie Henry, we would all lighten things, we would make things fun and mock the situation, as opposed to letting it bog us down." Ames was chatting all things Hollyoaks at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, where his tale was nominated for Best Storyline and he was up for Best Villain. Asked whether he was glad to be raising awareness of the dangers of gay conversion therapy, the actor said: "Absolutely, it is something that is still yet to be made illegal in the UK. "Hopefully, with our new government coming in, that will be something that will happen. It is frightening how this kind of thing happens, and so to be able to shine a light on that, and how easily it happens... "Carter was someone who had experienced conversion therapy himself, and therefore dived into it and practised it himself, and then tried to do it to Lucas," he added. "So, you got to see what could happen to Lucas with who Carter was, and how he struggled and how it broke him. So, I think it's really important to show all sides of that." To find help and support in overcoming conversion therapy, visit Ban Conversion Therapy. Read more: Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe thought Mercedes's 2 baby dads storyline was "fantasy" Hollyoaks legend Jamie Lomas on signing up for another soap: "Who knows?" Hollyoaks' Iz Hesketh celebrates positive impact of trans youth storyline Hollyoaks' Kieron Richardson on the "dangerous" side of Rex Hollyoaks star Harvey Virdi teases 'danger' for Misbah and Donny The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Hollyoaks' Tamara Wall on Grace and Frankie friendship: 'Grace has a heart'
"She is a mother at the end of the day, and I think a lot of people forget that."
Hollyoaks star Tamara Wall has opened up on her character's friendship with Frankie (Isabelle Smith), who is currently suffering abuse at the hands of her twin brother. Earlier this year, Hollyoaks viewers learned that the abuse Frankie suffered when she and JJ (Ryan Mulvey) were younger had started up again, all under the noses of their family, with Frankie yet to tell her parents what has been happening. But there could be a change, as in the trailer for this summer on Hollyoaks, Grace and Frankie share a sweet moment in which Grace tells her: "You remind me a bit of me - you're a tough little cookie." In the scenes that follow, Frankie can be seen telling JJ, "If you don't stop, I'm going to tell Darren," and it has been confirmed that the truth will come out "relatively soon". Speaking exclusively at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, Wall said Grace's scenes with Frankie will show viewers a much "softer side" to the villain, something that is rarely seen in the soap. She said: "I love when you see [Grace's] softer side, and you know that underneath all of that bravado she's got a heart, and so it's really nice when they write scenes like that, where I think she'll want to take care of her." When asked if Frankie could have a confidante beyond the Osbornes, Wall added: "I think it would be nice that it is Grace because everyone always thinks of her as being a bit careless and unempathetic. "But this kind of shows people that she is a mother at the end of the day, and I think a lot of people forget that because you haven't seen her with kids for so long." The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Emmerdale's Lesley Dunlop on Heath's devastating exit: 'There was no acting required'
The scenes were incredibly powerful over the new year.
Emmerdale said goodbye to Heath Hope (played by Sebastian Dowling) over the New Year following a brutal car crash. One of the stand-out performances came from Lesley Dunlop, who plays Brenda in the long-running ITV soap, and was nominated at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, for the part. Dunlop spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the event, where she explained it was a difficult thing to film and didn't require much acting at all to pull out her amazing performance. "It's that sort of place where you don't want to go as a parent anyway. Nobody wants to go there. And also I've known Gabby and Sebastian since they were tiny! It's horrible. It was awful. "And seeing their mother who went to the graveyard in Emmerdale and saw his gravestone and was in bits. I had to go and say look it's not real. It was very, very sad and not a lot of acting required because we were just very sad to lose him." Elsewhere at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, Danny Miller and Lawrence Robb revealed how they think the Dingle family will act when they find out about what's been happening to their very own Belle (Eden Taylor Draper). The Mack star told us 'they'd floor Tom' if they found out about the abusive relationship, before Miller admitted they've have "a long chat" with the villain. Read more: Emmerdale's Karen Blick doesn't think Lydia truly got justice Emmerdale star isn't sure Ruby and Rose have what it takes to bring down Kim Tate The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Emmerdale star Louise Jameson doesn't want Mary to find love soon
"I'm hoping it's going to be one conflict after another."
Since arriving on Emmerdale in 2022, Louise Jameson's Mary Goskirk has been eager to find the perfect match, so much so that her quest for love in later life was nominated for Inspiring Storyline of the Year at Saturday night's RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, But as rewarding as that storyline has been, Jameson has revealed that she hopes the quest isn't successful any time too soon – as she fears that would make her storylines on the soap less interesting. Asked during an exclusive interview if she thought finding true love would be on the cards any time soon, she responded: "Well, in a way I hope she doesn't." She continued: "Because once she does, that's all the drama taken out of her life, isn't it? And as an actor, of course, I want as much drama as possible. So I'm hoping it's going to be one conflict after another." Meanwhile, asked what her dream future storyline would be for the character, Jameson didn't get too specific – but did say that she hopes Mary can get to keep a big secret at some point. "I think whatever it is, it's very important for the audience to be in possession of the secret with the character," she explained. "That's when you're in a very powerful position as a performer because if the audience knows something that the other characters on stage or in front of the camera don't know, then you can really twist out the story in a very... almost indulgent way. "So yeah, whatever it is, I want her to have a big, big secret of some sort that nobody on stage knows!" Read more: Emmerdale's Karen Blick doesn't think Lydia truly got justice Emmerdale star isn't sure Ruby and Rose have what it takes to bring down Kim Tate The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick reflect on EastEnders marathon scenes
Barton and Borthwick were speaking at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024.
It's been a huge year for BBC soap EastEnders, and that was made clear at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, where it picked up a whopping seven wins. The soap has been praised for its experimentation over the past few years, with storylines such as The Six, which featured a flash-forward to Christmas months in advance. Another way in which the soap has experimented in the past year was seen during the 2024 London Marathon, where Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick took part in character as Honey and Jay Mitchell, and filmed scenes which were added into the programme at the last minute before broadcast. Speaking exclusively at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, Barton and Borthwick reflected on the experience, admitting that they were at first reluctant to do it. Barton said: "We were a bit shocked I think, we were a bit nervous. We did it before, five years ago, but not very well. So it was a bit scary, but an honour at the same time." Borthwick added: "Yeah, we can tell the truth now. We was like 'What?! What do you mean, like, what?!' Don't wanna do it.' But, anyway, obviously we ended up doing it and we're really pleased that we did 'cause actually it was a really good day." Read more: EastEnders star Francesca Henry says it's "privilege of a lifetime" being on soap EastEnders' Angela Wynter opens up on exploring Yolande's difficult storyline Borthwick also spoke about how the arrivals of Teddy, Harry and Barney Mitchell has been stirring things up in the Mitchell family, and how fans can expect this to play out. He said: "[It's] been really good. The boys are great! Any new additional Mitchells are always welcome, aren't they? I'm sure that there will be plenty of Mitchell drama with them three and the old Mitchells coming up." The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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 Jodie Prenger hopes Glenda will settle down and find love again – with Pedro Pascal
The Coronation Street star was speaking at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024.
It's been a tough time for Jodie Prenger's Coronation Street character Glenda Shuttleworth, after Ryan Russell's Michael Bailey ended their relationship. Glenda has long been unlucky in love on the show, but, speaking exclusively at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, Prenger has revealed her hopes that the barmaid will eventually find love - with a certain Mandalorian star. "I mean, I'm not being funny, but I got dumped, so you're bringing up a very raw situation for me," Prenger joked about the topic of Glenda and Michael. "I hope she finds love again. I mean, if Pedro Pascal wants to come on the show, I'll be happy to do it..." You heard it here first, Corrie fans - Glenda's dream man, played by Pedro Pascal, might be on his way. You can watch a clip of Prenger's interview above now. Ahead of the awards taking place, Prenger was asked whether she was happy to see Glenda finally getting a love interest, to which she said: "God love her, she’s been on every dating site. Michael dumped her and I’m still not over it, but hey-ho, she had a little dalliance with a toy boy. Read more: Coronation Street's Joel will do "anything" to marry Dee-Dee, says Calum Lill Coronation Street's Daniel Brocklebank on Peter Ash: "I'll miss him terribly" "Some fans want her and Steve McDonald to get together, one even called them the next Jack and Vera! Actually, I used to have a tight perm like Vera’s years go, and I wore these huge glasses. "I looked like the love child of Russell Grant and Deirdre Barlow – how could Steve McDonald resist that? I don’t know what Tracy would have to say - I’m missing her in the show, I’ve got to admit." Coronation Street picked up two wins at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards - for Best Young Performer, which went to Charlie Wrenshall, and for Best Storyline, for Paul's motor neurone disease diagnosis. The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Hollyoaks' Tamara Wall "laughed" at wild Freddie and Grace reunion
Tamara Wall has given her reaction to Hollyoaks' latest love story, with her alter ego Grace Black having wed former enemy Freddie Roscoe (played by returning star Charlie Clapham). Grace was written out of the Channel 4 soap last year, with the character going to prison after taking the blame for a botched robbery. But, happily, Grace has made a triumphant comeback, and in an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, Wall spoke of how she felt about Grace's unlikely romance with Freddie. "I know!" she giggled. "Can you imagine, when they told me? I laughed, I absolutely laughed, 'cause it's just so random. "Obviously, we were together in real life a very, very long time ago, so it was like, 'Oh!' "But it's actually been brilliant, because we know each other so well. We're really good friends, so we spend most of the time on set laughing. So it's been brilliant, it's been really nice." Fans will recall that, in 2014, Freddie shot Grace's ganger father Fraser (Jesse Birdsall) to death - so the fact that, 10 years later, she has fallen for Freddie is a real shocker. But then again, this is Grace we're talking about - the woman who has blackmailed a doctor into lying that Grace has a terminal illness, just to secure her freedom! Will she be caught out? "I think, it's Grace; she manages to sidle her way out of anything, doesn't she, to be fair?" Wall pointed out. "It's the most Grace story, the fact that she's managed to blackmail her way out of prison - I mean, who does that? That's ridiculous! But I don't think she's gonna be going back anytime soon." The star credits the Hollyoaks fans for bringing about her return to the show, and explained just how thrilled she is to be back where she belongs. "You can imagine what it was like - I was so gutted I was leaving, and so many of the fans and people just sent me the most lovely messages saying how sad they were. "I was like, 'I'm sure it's down to a lot of people saying that.' I felt very, very loved. "You know when you've spent so long being around so many people every single day, and then all of a sudden you wake up and you're like, 'Where did everyone go?!' It's horrible, so I was literally crying when they said, 'Do you wanna come back?' I was like, 'Yes, please!'" Wall was speaking at the inaugural RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, and she told us that being there felt "amazing, because I'm back at Hollyoaks!". "I haven't been to an event for ages, so I'm absolutely so excited." We were certainly glad to hear that, and you can check out all our coverage from the night below. Read more: Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe thought Mercedes's 2 baby dads storyline was "fantasy" Hollyoaks legend Jamie Lomas on signing up for another soap: "Who knows?" Hollyoaks' Iz Hesketh celebrates positive impact of trans youth storyline Hollyoaks' Kieron Richardson on the "dangerous" side of Rex Hollyoaks star Harvey Virdi teases 'danger' for Misbah and Donny The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Emmerdale's Danny Miller hopes Aaron and Mack get into more trouble
The pair have had a blossoming friendship in recent months.
Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) have forged something of a double act on Emmerdale in recent years – and it looks like their friendship is going to continue to blossom in the future. Appearing at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages on Saturday evening, the pair were asked if they'd be getting into a bit more trouble as time goes by, and they definitely seemed open to that idea. "I hope so," said Miller. "I love working with him. And I know he's here – it sounds weird that I'm saying it 'cause he's here – but I do love working with him. So hopefully, the more the merrier. "But no, it's great," he added. "And it takes a... it adds a bit of lightness to the show, it adds a bit of lightness to our characters. I think we've been through quite a lot of stuff, you know, separately, character wise. So it's nice to do a bit of a... have a bit of a laugh and enjoy it." Robb added: "We always tend to find the humour in the scenes and that's... it's great fun. It's nice for a wee bit of comic relief. We enjoy it." Read more: Emmerdale's Danny Miller is "happy" to be playing the "real Aaron" now Emmerdale stars reveal how Dingles will react to Tom's abuse of Belle Miller returned to play Aaron towards the end of 2023 after an absence of almost a year – with his surprise return earning a nomination for Best Twist at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards. And despite a rocky start for the character following his re-arrival, he's since rebuilt several of his key relationships to the point that Miller believes the 'real' Aaron is back once again. "[Viewers] didn't like me for the first three or four months," he said. "It kind of made me think was I doing a bad job of acting. But it wasn't, it was the story. I can only act out what's on the page. "It was a different way of bringing him back in. Obviously, I've been away a couple of times, so I think they wanted to bring a different sort of edge to Aaron and a different version of Aaron. "So it's nice to play it for a little while, but I'm happy playing the real Aaron." The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Emmerdale star James Chase says it is "challenging" portraying abuser Tom
Chase caught up with us at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024.
At times on Emmerdale, it's incredibly difficult to watch evil Tom King Jr (played by James Chase) when he's at his worst in his abuse of Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper). But if we thought it was hard to watch, a thought for Chase, who finds it hard to play such an evil man. We caught up with Chase at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, and spoke all about the villainous character. "I think it is challenging [playing Tom], because some of the scenes are pretty dark," the actor admitted. "I always try to throw myself into it as much as I can, but I always stop myself from taking it home because it can be so dark." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2024/02/emmerdale-belle-tom-dc78e10.jpg" width="4016" height="2676" alt="In a stylised shot to promote a domestic abuse storyline on Emmerdale, Belle sits with a purple top on while Tom stands behind her menacingly. She has her hands clasped in front of her and a concerned look on her face. Tom is in black, with one arm in front, his hand clenched in a fist next to Belle. He has a stern look on his face. They are in front of a dark green background." title="Emmerdale's Belle and Tom King" /> Chase continued: "You have to make sure that you do enough to honour it, but not enough to the point where it affects you as a person, because you obviously know that you're not that character. "But there definitely are times where it's uncomfortable. At the end of the day, we know it has to be done because that's the only way we can really do this storyline." As for the future of Tom and Belle, there's still a long way to go in the storyline. "Unless there's an absolute brick wall that's before him, I think there's no barrier that's going to stop him from doing what he's doing," Chase admitted. "The bar is going to probably keep rising as to what he will do. I think he will do relatively anything to get control over her." Read more: All the stars at RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 – behind the scenes pics EastEnders star Francesca Henry says it's "privilege of a lifetime" being on soap EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw teases big summer and autumn on soap Emmerdale's Karen Blick doesn't think Lydia truly got justice Emmerdale's James Chase: "Tom won't stop until he's caught" The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Hollyoaks' Jessica Fox hopes Nancy and Darren stay together for "a very long time"
"The fans just keep pushing those two back together, and I'm not complaining!"
Jessica Fox has spoken about her Hollyoaks character Nancy Osborne's longstanding relationship with husband Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson), which has been a fan-favourite soap partnership for years. Nancy and Darren have clocked up three marriages, several affairs and two children together, as well as raising Nancy's nephew Charlie Dean (Charlie Behan). But despite multiple splits that have always felt very final at the time, the couple are always brought back together in the end. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Fox was asked if she's glad that Hollyoaks has never given up on Darren and Nancy. "I think there's been a couple of attempts, to be honest, over the years," she laughed. "But the fans just keep pushing those two back together, and I'm not complaining!" Indeed, Nancy and Darren are affectionately dubbed 'Dancy' by viewers. Fox went on to reveal that she adores working with co-star Taylor Dawson, and hopes that their alter egos will remain a solid unit for years to come. "Me and Ash have a lovely time working together, and hopefully Darren and Nancy will be with us for a long time yet," she enthused. With Noah Holdsworth, who has played Fox's on-screen son Oscar since 2015, having been nominated for Best Young Performer, the actress praised the young star's rise into bigger storylines, and revealed her pride for Noah's achievements. "We've had Noah with us since he was teeny, teeny-tiny, and now he's getting storylines of his own, and he's holding his own, and he's doing it beautifully. All his family are so supportive of him, and I couldn't be prouder." On attending the very first RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, Fox told us: "It's lovely to be at an event! "This is my first time getting dressed up since I came back from maternity leave, so it's extra special. I've got make up on, I've got nice hair, I've got high heels on - it's very exciting!" Read more: Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe thought Mercedes's 2 baby dads storyline was "fantasy" Hollyoaks legend Jamie Lomas on signing up for another soap: "Who knows?" Hollyoaks' Iz Hesketh celebrates positive impact of trans youth storyline Hollyoaks' Kieron Richardson on the "dangerous" side of Rex Hollyoaks star Harvey Virdi teases 'danger' for Misbah and Donny The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Emmerdale stars reveal how Dingles will react to Tom's abuse of Belle
This article includes discussion of domestic abuse, including coercive control, that some readers may find distressing. One of the most prominent storylines in Emmerdale in recent months has been the domestic abuse that Belle King (Eden Taylor-Draper) has been suffering at the hands of her controlling husband Tom (James Chase). It's something that will continue to be a focus in the coming weeks, and speaking at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, cast members Danny Miller and Lawrence Robb revealed what they think would happen if their characters found out about the abuse. "They'd floor him," said Robb, who plays Mackenzie Boyd on the soap, with Aaron Dingle actor Danny Miller adding that they would "have a really long chat" with Tom. Robb continued: "There'd be a couple of sarcastic comments, and then... he'd be, at the end, just 'bang!'." But Miller suggested that there was more likely to be a different resolution to the storyline that didn't necessarily involve his character. "As a viewer, watching it, you're kind of going, 'I hope Aaron does it,'" he said. "But there's other ways of getting justice." Robb then went on to say that he thinks Belle's half-brother Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) will be the one to intervene, with Miller agreeing: "That's the most likely... the obvious one." Emmerdale's Karen Blick doesn't think Lydia truly got justice Emmerdale star isn't sure Ruby and Rose have what it takes to bring down Kim Tate It's already been revealed that the storyline will come to a head in upcoming episodes, when Tom takes Belle to Wales, with Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper revealing: "Tom’s coercive and controlling behaviour will see Belle further isolated from her family." She added: "The behaviour Tom King is exhibiting is typical of a coercive, controlling relationship, and at times will prove difficult and uncomfortable to watch. "The assistance the charity Refuge has given us whilst researching this storyline has been enormously helpful in bringing this incredibly important storyline to our screens." Meanwhile, Chase himself teased that his character's behaviour could be discovered by Belle's family in the not too distant future. He explained: "I think something that's going out in a couple of weeks, I don't know how much I can say, but there is a sort of moment where potential Dingles notice something, and there's a moment [where they] come down on him like thunder." But it seems Tom may get away with things again, as Chase noted that if they do find out, "It'd be absolutely game over," but his manipulation tactics may preside once more. "I think that's why Tom [has] survived up until now," he continued. "He's so good at hiding it, and he's so good at manipulating that he can keep the truth at bay." The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
EastEnders star Francesca Henry says it's "privilege of a lifetime" being on soap
The Gina Knight actress says "you can't top" the experience.
Francesca Henry has described being part of EastEnders as the "privilege of a lifetime". The star joined the cast of the soap as Gina Knight just over a year ago and has been involved in some dramatic storylines since then, including violent confrontations with both Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo). And speaking at Saturday night's RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, the star revealed that she's been loving every minute since moving into the Queen Vic. "It's been... honestly it's been the privilege of a lifetime," she explained during an exclusive interview. "I've watched the show since I was a little girl and to be in the pub with the most incredible people and the best actors has been like... you can't top it." Henry was also full of praise for her on-screen family members Colin Salmon and Molly Rainford, who play her father George and sister Anna, respectively. "Colin's like a really kind of like... quite a big father figure in my life outside the show. And I think you can see it on screen that we get on really well and I really trusted his advice," she explained. Read more: EastEnders' Ellie Dadd and Jaden Ladega on the future of Amy and Denzel EastEnders' Angela Wynter opens up on exploring Yolande's difficult storyline "And I really kind of see him as a mentor. So it's been really lovely to kind of have that outside of that onscreen relationship and then have it feed into it. "And Molly... like I'm an only child. She's like an absolute like ray of sunshine. It's really lovely to like, do this experience with her and have a little sister – it's great!" The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Hollyoaks' Kieron Richardson was "worried" Ste would go to prison
"I was like, 'Am I going, then, am I going to prison?!'"
Kieron Richardson has revealed he had cause to worry that his Hollyoaks alter ego Ste Hay would be heading to prison after his role in the soap's shocking crash stunt. Back in January, Ste accidentally killed teen Ella Richardson (Erin Palmer), only discovering that he had mowed her down in his car after he had rushed daughter Leah Barnes (Elá-May Demircan) to hospital for alcohol poisoning. After attempting to cover up his actions, Ste confessed all, leading Ella's dad Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) to punish him by ordering him into dodgy jobs. When the case went to court, Ste was stunned to be let off the hook - but, in an exclusive chat with RadioTimes.com, Richardson explained that he thought Ste was destined for a life behind bars! "The first thing I asked when we got told about it last year, that there was gonna be this big crash stunt episode and it was all gonna be Ste's fault, I was like, 'Am I going, then, am I going to prison?!'" The star was quickly reassured otherwise - but he had no idea how much Ste's circumstances would spiral as a result of his actions. "So, I did know from the very beginning that I would get away with it, but I didn't realise the scenarios and situations that would happen to get him to this point." Over the years, Ste has been at the centre of many storylines as the guilty party, including domestic abuse and far right extremism. But somehow, we've always seen him get away with it. The actor can't help but note his alter ego's luck: "He's like a cat with nine lives, he gets up to mischief and always gets away with it." Asked how it felt to be attending RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, he added: "It's quite exciting because it's the inaugural one, so obviously there's not so many times that we get together because there's people down south, there's people in Leeds, we're in Liverpool, obviously we're in Manchester tonight. "So it's nice to see everybody come together. Radio Times is an iconic magazine in itself, so the fact that they're doing this and it's the first one, and we're here, and I'm nominated is really exciting." Read more: Hollyoaks legend Jamie Lomas on signing up for another soap: "Who knows?" Hollyoaks' Iz Hesketh celebrates positive impact of trans youth storyline Hollyoaks' Kieron Richardson on the "dangerous" side of Rex The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Coronation Street's Peter Ash opens up on "amazing" response to Paul's MND storyline
Peter Ash has spoken about the incredible response he's experienced following the portrayal of Paul Foreman's motor neurone disease diagnosis. On Coronation Street, Paul has been slowly deteriorating after being diagnosed with the degenerative disease, which currently has no cure. The performance has been widely praised by critics and fans alike, with it also picking up the award for Best Storyline at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards, sponsored by Inspired Villages. Ash spoke to us ahead of winning the award and opened up on the public response to the important storyline. "With a storyline like that there's a lot of pressure to get it right," Ash said. "Obviously you don't want to misrepresent it or anything, so there is a lot of research being done. "It's tough and it's been such a heavy storyline, but it feels good knowing we're getting it right." Ash continued: "The response to it has been amazing from people living with MND themselves, and also their families responding to it, so it's been amazing in that regard." Taking on the storyline, of course, means that Paul will die, and Ash will have to leave the soap, something the actor has "mixed emotions" about. "It's a bit of a double-edged sword. Really sad to go, but really grateful that they trusted me with this storyline." Ash's on-screen partner, Daniel Brocklebank, also paid tribute to the storyline and Ash's performance at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards. Read more: Coronation Street's Peter Ash "very proud" to raise awareness for MND Coronation Street’s Peter Ash opens up on his “tough” departure from soap Corrie's Charlie Wrenshall reacts to "surreal" win at RadioTimes.com Soap Awards Emmerdale's Chris Chittell "humbled" by Special Recognition at RadioTimes.com Soap Awards The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
EastEnders' Angela Wynter opens up on exploring Yolande's difficult storyline
Wynter took home the award for Best Actor at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards.
Angela Wynter has left audiences in tears after her performance as Yolande Trueman in a recent EastEnders storyline. Back in April, it was announced that Yolande would be the focus of a new sexual assault storyline in which Pastor Clayton's behaviour turns nastier, and in an hour-long special episode, flashback scenes featuring accounts from other women who are survivors of sexual assault at the hands of Clayton were shown. Her portrayal saw Wynter named the winner of Best Actor at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, which she described as "surreal" before thanking the BBC for "always" giving her work. Prior to her win, Wynter spoke exclusively with RadioTimes.com about exploring Yolande's story. "I kind of have a spirit that likes to dig in deep into things that are a bit tricky," she explained. "Things that need exploring, need examining, whether or not they're going to be resolved - because I don't think this very bad thing that's been happening for year on year in decades will ever stop. "But it's just good to get in there and have a dig at it and portray what a woman goes through." On her storyline with Pastor Clayton, Wynter said: "I wish it would stop, you know. But it isn't going to stop. "There's a lot of women, like myself, who escaped it because we knew how to get out of there swift. But lots of us don't escape - lots of women, children, men don't escape it, and it needs to stop. "I'm just glad that I was able to carry the story, and I hope that it keeps the awareness up, because everything is large, but that one germ that has always been prevalent just keeps lurking around the place and it destroys lives. "So yeah, let's alert it - let's call them out." The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Hollyoaks' David Ames would return as Carter "if the scripts were right"
In recent months Hollyoaks has tackled a gay conversion storyline, which saw it nominated in the Best Storyline category at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages. The controversial plot was led by David Ames, who portrayed Carter Shepherd in the soap, and the storyline saw Carter attempt to "convert" John Paul (James Sutton) and other gay villagers under the guise of a support group. Now in prison, Carter is no longer wreaking havoc across the Hollyoaks village, but Ames has revealed he is open to the idea of returning to the character if the details were right to do so. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Ames explained that it would be "interesting" to return to Carter after his time in prison. He explained: "I think it would be interesting to return to the character having spent a lot of time alone to think about all of his choices. "I would return if the story was right, if the script was right, if the situation was right." Read more: Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe thought Mercedes's 2 baby dads storyline was "fantasy" EastEnders' Jonny Freeman on why Reiss keeps making bad decisions Ames noted that it should be shown that "people can reform" and "change", and how hard it can be "to work through that". "It would be something interesting to explore," he added. Ames previously told RadioTimes.com in a separate interview that it would be "fascinating" to show Carter "coming out of the other side". "He is an interesting, layered character," he said. "There is more to learn about him, and to teach others through portraying him and how detrimental it can be mentally and physically to withhold your true self. It can have a horrendous effect on you." The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
EastEnders' Ellie Dadd and Jaden Ladega on the future of Amy and Denzel
EastEnders stars Ellie Dadd and Jaden Ladega have lifted the lid on their hopes for characters Amy Mitchell and Denzel Danes, and have answered the all-important question as to whether they should rekindle their romance. Over the last few months, Ladega has led a storyline involving the use of and dependency on anabolic steroids, which has recently come to a head as his best friend Nugget began using them and fell seriously ill. Amongst that, Denzel's use of steroids saw his personality shift, which involved him often lashing out at those around him, including ex-girlfriend Amy. During upsetting scenes, the pair struggled to take their relationship to the next level, and Amy believed Denzel was disgusted by her scars. Later that episode, Nugget lied and told Denzel that Amy had tried to kiss him when it was the other way around, which led to Denzel shouting and breaking up with Amy in the middle of the Square. Speaking exclusively at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, the young actors revealed whether or not they'd like to see their characters back together. When asked if Amy could ever forgive Denzel, Ladega said: "I don't think she should, to be honest." Dadd echoed this and said: "Me speaking? She shouldn't, but Amy is Amy. She's a young woman who is finding her feet, going through teenage years. "So, she probably will end up forgiving him. Young love, as they say!" The actress admitted that she and Ladega don't know what's next for their characters as they continue to navigate the fallout from Denzel's steroids use. Read more: EastEnders' Jamie Borthwick teases "plenty" of drama for the Mitchells Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe thought Mercedes's 2 baby dads storyline was "fantasy" EastEnders took home an impressive seven awards at the ceremony, dominating across the categories, which saw them up against Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks. Alongside taking home the prize for Best Soap, Danny Walters won Best Exit, while Best Episode was awarded to the one where George confronts Eddie. Suki coming out to her family won the Inspiring Storyline of the Year award, sponsored by Inspired Villages, and Sixmas won Soap Moment of the Year. Elsewhere, Navin Chowdhry took home the award for Best Villain for his role as Nish Panesar and Angela Wynter won the Best Actor award for her portrayal of Yolande Trueman. The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Coronation Street's Joel will do "anything" to marry Dee-Dee, says Calum Lill
"I don't think we've seen the worst yet."
Joel Deering has recently been unveiled as Coronation Street's latest villain, as he was revealed to be behind Lauren Bolton's (Cait Fitton) disappearance - and there aren't any lengths Joel won't go to get what he wants. While Joel (played by Calum Lill) masquerades as the happy-to-help lawyer, there is a dark side to him that was finally shown to fans in a series of flashbacks. The scenes revealed how Joel cosied up to a vulnerable Lauren when he represented her after her arrest and he began to groom her. In disturbing moments, Lauren stood up to Joel, but he snapped and beat her over the head multiple times. After Lauren played dead, she made a run for it, and she has been in hiding ever since - but it was recently revealed she was alive, much to the annoyance of Joel. While all of this has been going on, Joel has been in a relationship with Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown), and while they've had their bumps in the road, they are now engaged! But is danger on the horizon for Dee-Dee as she prepares to marry Joel? Well, speaking exclusively at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, Lill lifted the lid on how Joel really feels about Dee-Dee. "Joel is genuinely head over heels in love with Dee-Dee, and he will do whatever it takes to protect that and to try and get married," he confirmed. He continued: "I think he's a very nasty person as well, and I don't know how bad that's going to get. I don't think we've seen the worst yet." And it's clear viewers certainly haven't seen the worst yet as Joel continues to manipulate those around him, but he will get his comeuppance soon enough, with Sterling-Brown telling RadioTimes.com: "Eventually, what's in the dark will have to come to light, so we'll see what happens." The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas promises Warren is going out "with a bang"
"Whatever happens with Warren, it's always a bang!"
Jamie Lomas has teased that his Hollyoaks character will be going out with a big bang in his upcoming exit storyline. The actor confirmed that he would be leaving the Channel 4 soap this year, and during an exclusive chat at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, Lomas was asked just how explosive Warren's departure would be this time around. "Whatever happens with Warren, it's always a bang!" he promised. "Trust me on that one. There were some pictures in the paper a few weeks back, with him being stabbed, so you'll just have to wait and see what happens from there. But all I can say, it's exciting stuff!" Viewers will recall that Warren previously ran off with twins Sophie and Sebastian – first taking a newborn baby Sophie, before returning months later to steal Sebastian from their mother Sienna Blake (Anna Passey). While Warren and Sienna later agreed to co-parent, Warren has just become a father again after Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) gave birth to twin girls – though only one of them is Warren's child! Could history repeat itself and see Warren kidnap his newborn child before he flees? "Who knows? You'll have to wait and see!" replied Lomas. "It's superfecundation, where you have [a conception] from two people in the same cycle. So I don't know of he'd leave with both, because one's Felix's and one's Warren's, so you'll just have to wait and see!" So there's no telling yet whether Warren would take his twin away; but, asked who he thinks is the love of Warren's life, Lomas is certain: "Oh, definitely Mercedes, I would have to say," he told RadioTimes.com. "It's been great working with Jen over the years, and we have such a laugh together. I'll be sad to say goodbye to her, but who know, maybe it's not forever!" While we cheer at the prospect that Warren may be back one day, he'll have to survive the threat of mysterious gangster Blue first! The Hollyoaks Summer trailer shows Warren's mother, Norma Crow (Glynis Barber), commenting that Warren is "spiralling out of control" while a plot to destroy him unfolds. Read more: Hollyoaks' Kieron Richardson on the "dangerous" side of Rex Hollyoaks legend Jamie Lomas on signing up for another soap: "Who knows?" Hollyoaks unveils explosive summer trailer teasing brand new gangster mystery The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
All the stars at RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 – behind the scenes pics
Take a look inside the glamorous ceremony...
The inaugural RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place over the weekend, bringing the biggest stars from EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks together for a very special night. Some awards were voted for by fans, while others were decided by an expert panel, with EastEnders being the most highly awarded soap of the night with seven prizes, including Best Soap. Long-serving Emmerdale star Chris Chittell was honoured with the first Special Recognition award, celebrating decades on ITV's Yorkshire-based ongoing drama, where he plays Eric Pollard. EastEnders star Angela Wynter, who also appears in Doctor Who as grandmother Cherry Sunday, won the Best Actor award for her powerful performance as Albert Square resident Yolande Trueman. Coronation Street's Charlie Wrenshall was named the Best Young Performer, with Danny Walters's dramatic departure as Keanu Taylor being deemed the Best Exit and Navin Chowdhry earning Best Villain for his turn as Nish Panesar. Hollyoaks star Iz Hesketh won for Best Newcomer, while Lisa Riley won Best Comedy Performance for her work as Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale – a beloved role she originated back in 1995. Below, you can find a gallery of images from the night, featuring some of the names above and many others who were in attendance, including Adam Woodyatt, Dawn Hope, Jennifer Metcalfe and Jorgie Porter. View Gallery on the source website The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Coronation Street's Daniel Brocklebank on Peter Ash: "I'll miss him terribly"
Daniel Brocklebank has paid tribute to his co-star Peter Ash, as the pair continue to portray Paul's motor neurone disease battle on Coronation Street. Paul is dying and while we don't know exactly when we'll bid farewell to him, Billy has been supporting him every step of the way. Speaking exclusively to us at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards, sponsored by Inspired Villages, Brocklebank admitted he will miss his on-screen partner. "Well, I adore that man," he said. "We get on incredibly well. And his performance has just been astonishing. I'm gonna miss him terribly." As for how Billy will take Paul's death? He will be understandably crushed. "He's about to lose his husband, the love of his life. I don't think anybody would take that very easily," Brocklebank shared. The actor has been very open about his own experience of motor neurone disease following his grandfather's death from it. He's also a patron of the MND Association for the past 23 years. "In the 30 years that I've been doing this for a living, I don't think I've ever played anything so close to something I've actually lived through," Brocklebank explained. "Our research team, our writers' team have done an incredible job. I'm very proud to be able to represent the MND community in this way – but it's been difficult. And Peter Ash is incredible." For information and support on all aspects of motor neurone disease, visit the MND Association's website or call the charity on 0808 802 6262. Read more: Corrie's Charlie Wrenshall reacts to "surreal" win at RadioTimes.com Soap Awards EastEnders' Angela Wynter gets emotional at RadioTimes.com Soap Awards win Emmerdale's Chris Chittell "humbled" by Special Recognition at RadioTimes.com Soap Awards Coronation Street stars knew Joel's dark twist right from the start The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Hollyoaks' Kieron Richardson on the "dangerous" side of Rex
Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson has offered up some intriguing new details about new character Rex (played by former EastEnders star Jonny Labey), who Ste recently became very intimately involved with! Speaking exclusively at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, Richardson was asked whether Ste will stick with husband James Nightingale (Gregory Finnegan) or find more excitement with fling Rex, who brings plenty of chaos to the village. "Without giving too much away, the Ste and James relationship - James is gonna have to find out at some point, because anyone that cheats in a soap, it never stays buried. It is gonna come out." While the actor couldn't reveal too much on Ste's future, he has hinted that there's a lot at stake when it comes to Rex. "So there will be scenes of volatility and upset and tears, but I also think it's quite nice to see the dangerous side of Rex and not knowing [what he's going to do]. "Ste's quite susceptible at being manipulated and groomed in situations, and Rex is quite a powerful character. It'll be quite nice to see the dynamic between [those] two and what could happen." Read more: Hollyoaks legend Jamie Lomas on signing up for another soap: "Who knows?" Hollyoaks unveils explosive summer trailer teasing brand new gangster mystery Then there's the prospect of Hollyoaks' September flash-forward, which sees the soap jump forward to a year later in the village. What can we expect of Ste? "I've got long hair now, so that's a clue as to something! Maybe I'm allowed to grow it because I don't need to keep it the same anymore," Richardson teased. "He's heavily involved, and I say the last line of the episode before the new stuff kicks in. That's all I can say!" So, it looks like Ste is set to be central to all the action! But as for that jaw-dropping twist which, at the start of the year, saw Ste accidentally kill teen Ella (Erin Palmer), the star did briefly wonder whether his character's time was up! "The first thing I asked when we got told about it last year, that there was gonna be this big crash stunt episode and it was all gonna be Ste's fault, and I was like, 'Am I going, then, am I going to prison?!' "So, I did know from the very beginning that I would get away with it, but I didn't realise the scenarios and situations that would happen to get him to this point. "He's like a cat with nine lives, he gets up to mischief and always gets away with it." The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Emmerdale's Danny Miller is "happy" to be playing the "real Aaron" now
When Danny Miller returned to Emmerdale late last year, fans couldn't believe it as the Dingle clan grew bigger once more - but many were unimpressed with Aaron's attitude as he arrived in the village. Furious with his uncles, cold with his mother and cast aside by all those around him, the Aaron Dingle that was back was not the one viewers knew and loved. During explosive scenes, Aaron had gotten himself involved with the Italian mafia and stole £30,000 from them, leaving them no choice but to rescue their nephew. Aaron was less than impressed to be tied up by Cain, and eventually came face to face with Chas (Lucy Pargeter), who he, at the time, blamed for his sister Liv's death. Prior to returning to the soap, Miller told RadioTimes.com and other press that viewers would be seeing a "completely different" Aaron. "He's just off the rails and he's lost the plot entirely. So, the state of mind is very much that he's very selfish, quite angry and maybe slightly depressed in a way, I guess, from everything that's happened. He's not dealt with the grief [for Liv] very well. "So the state of mind is that he's just... he's angry at everybody, and he's just constantly looking for a fight." But since then, Aaron has overcome a lot and has restored his relationships with his family, and Miller is more than pleased to play the Aaron everyone knows. Speaking exclusively at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, Miller explained: "Well, [viewers] didn't like me for the first three or four months. It kind of made me think was I doing a bad job of acting? "But it wasn't, it was the story. I can only act out what's on the page. "It was a different way of bringing him back in. Obviously, I've been away a couple of times, so I think they wanted to bring a different sort of edge to Aaron and a different version of Aaron. "So it's nice to play it for a little while, but I'm happy playing the real Aaron." Read more: Hollyoaks' Iz Hesketh celebrates positive impact of trans youth storyline EastEnders' Angela Wynter gets emotional at RadioTimes.com Soap Awards win Aaron's return to the village was nominated for Best Twist at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards - however, it missed out as Hollyoaks took home the award for its 'Mercedes's twins have different dads' storyline. But elsewhere on the night, Emmerdale won two awards, with Lisa Riley taking home the trophy for Best Comedy Performance and Chris Chittell being given the Special Recognition Award. Chatting exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Chittell said he was "humbled" to have won. He said: "I'm humbled. This represents not me, it represents all of us. It represents my family who, bless their cotton socks, I'd be up the road on a Sunday night and come back on a Friday night and pretend to be the father and the husband etc... "I'm in great company because this is a body of people, a huge body of people, and they are all over the world. A great team, I'm in awe." The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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 Vicky Myers on potential DS Swain and Carla romance: 'She is not looking for love'
Coronation Street fans have been shipping DS Swain and Carla Connor for a while now, but it seems their bubble has burst as Vicky Myers has shut down any iteration of romance for her character. In the last few months, Swan has become a fan favourite as she was made a regular character, and after many scenes with Carla (Alison King), viewers have touched on the chemistry between the pair, but it looks as though all they will ever be is friends. Speaking exclusively at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, Myers admitted that Swan "isn't looking for love", with her work and daughter being her number one priorities. She explained: "I think, for now, because of everything that's happening at work... the best that she could hope for will be a friendship, and I think that's all she's interested in. "Life is so busy - she's got Betsy to look after and she's fiercely protective of Betsy, so I think she's her number one priority, especially after losing Becky. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2024/07/coronation-street-ds-swain-betsy-1833487.jpg" width="3000" height="2000" alt="Vicky Myers as DS Swain and Sydney Martin as Betsy. They both have their arms folded and are looking forward whilst stood in front of the police station. In the right hand corner there is a badge that reads 'RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024'." title="coronation-street-ds-swain-betsy" /> "I think she's not really perhaps looking for love. It's certainly not the moment, and something tells me I think she might be a little bit busy over the next few months." Alison King previously shut down rumours of a romance between the characters, nodding that the pair have been through a lot and are simply "reaching out to each other". In an exclusive interview, she told RadioTimes.com: "I believe it came from them sharing their softer sides recently to each other. "They are two strong women, both at an important stage of their independent life having been through a hell of a lot and are reaching out to each other." Earlier in May, Carla supported Swain over the grief of losing her partner, Becky, and the pair shared an emotional moment which led to fans sharing their predictions - but it appears this is not on the cards! The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
EastEnders' Jonny Freeman on why Reiss keeps making bad decisions
Bumbling Reiss has been making a few questionable decisions.
He may have been nominated for Best Comedy Performance at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, but over recent weeks, Jonny Freeman, who plays Reiss Colwell in EastEnders, has been showing a darker side to his bumbling character of late. Viewers know he's been using his ex wife's (who's also comatose) money to pay for IVF with Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) – twisted on paper, but in reality, the situation is much more complex than on first glance. Sonia accepted his decision to use this money, despite Bianca (Patsy Palmer) finding out the horrifying truth and trying to show Sonia how wrong it was. But with money worries continuing for Reiss, he will undoubtedly turn darker to help collate the funds he so desperately needs – even keeping it from Sonia. Despite his questionable behaviour, Freeman doesn't think he's character is "dark", it's just that he's making some bad decisions. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Freeman said: "There's a sense of it being darker, but what we all try and do on all the soaps is try and reflect real life. People behave differently under different circumstances. "Rather than the darker side of Reiss, it's the same character but obviously the circumstances have changed and he's perhaps making mistakes to get out of them. "Like anyone under huge pressure, one mistake is made and it can start to unravel, so I think that's what we're seeing with Reiss. Rather than a darker side, I think the essence of the character is the same but the circumstances are getting a bit more complicated." Discussing the accounting element in particular, Freeman said Reiss is ultimately trying to do the right thing – and keep a hold of Sonia. "He's trying to make the right choice, and he's made mistakes in the past, not least with Sonia – I think he's desperately worried about losing her. "I suspect he thinks it's all going to come good and he's going to make everything right, but whether that comes to pass, we'll have to wait and see." Read more: EastEnders' Balvinder Sopal teases big drama for Suki, Eve and the 'dysfunctional' Panesars Coronation Street’s Peter Ash on how Rob Burrow inspired Paul’s heartbreaking MND storyline Hollyoaks' Kieron Richardson reveals Ste's darkest moment and dramatic future ahead Emmerdale’s Lucy Pargeter on how cancer changed Chas and her take on Belle and Tom’s storyline Emmerdale's James Chase: 'Tom won't stop until he's caught' The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Hollyoaks star Harvey Virdi teases 'danger' for Misbah and Donny
Harvey Virdi has revealed that her Hollyoaks character Misbah Maalik could be walking into danger very soon, as she becomes embroiled in the mystery of unknown gangster figure 'Blue'. Misbah has entered into a new relationship with Donny Clark, played by Brookside legend Louis Emerick. And with Donny somehow involved in unravelling the identity of Blue, Virdi joined us at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages to exclusively tease where her alter ego fits into the drama. "I think initially there's excitement there of, 'Wow, what's going on here?' and trying to play a little bit of Miss Marple. "But actually, it's more serious than that, and getting caught up in all of that stuff is quite scary - so I think she's jumped in with two feet into something she doesn't really know a lot about," warned the actress. "I think she thinks it's all going to be okay and, 'We'll have to work it out,' but I don't think she realises how actually dangerous this could be. It's outside her comfort zone; she's a doctor, she doesn't do things like this!" As for Misbah and Donny's future as a couple, does the star think Misbah is making a mistake rushing into another romance so soon? "I think she went into a relationship with Zain quite quickly, and that sort of love was a different kind of love to what she sees with Donny. "I hope not - to be honest, I don't even know myself what's gonna happen," she mused. "He has got a chequered past, we know that; what's going to happen, I don't know, because she's had to overcome a lot of her inhibitions to be with someone like Donny, and it is quick, but fun! "So maybe she's in that place where you're getting older, your kids are grown up - why not?" Virdi went on to explain her hopes for Misbah for the coming months, and it looks like she's firmly behind this new pairing with Donny. "I used to say I'd really want Misbah to fall in love and be all girly, and I think that's sort of happening now and she's kind of fallen for this chap. "I'd really like them to see where this goes with [those] two, to explore that, to see how tight they can be as a couple. And then who knows what they're gonna have to deal with? That's probably storylines that the producers are maybe thinking up right now!" It remains to be seen whether Misbah and Donny can become a solid, united couple - but they'll have to overcome potential peril first! Read more: Hollyoaks legend Jamie Lomas on signing up for another soap: "Who knows?" Hollyoaks unveils explosive summer trailer teasing brand new gangster mystery The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.
Coronation Street's Peter Ash "very proud" to raise awareness for MND
"It's tough, being such a heavy storyline, but it feels good knowing we're getting it right."
For over a year, Coronation Street viewers have seen favourite Paul Foreman (played by Peter Ash) diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), and him coming to terms with the diagnosis and living with it day in and day out. In the coming weeks, the ITV soap will air a special episode dedicated to Paul and Billy (Daniel Brocklebank) as Paul's daily life continues to change as he begins to struggle with his speech. In the episode, Paul is determined to make the most out of his last day outside of the house, and Billy takes him to do all of his favourite things for one final time. At the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 sponsored by Inspired Villages, Ash took home the award for Best Storyline, and reflected on what it has been like to take on such a hard-hitting narrative. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Ash said: "With a storyline like that there's a lot of pressure to get it right, obviously you don't want to misrepresent it. A lot of research has been done, the writers have done their research as well. "It's tough, being such a heavy storyline, but it feels good knowing we're getting it right, and the response to it has been amazing from people living with MND themselves and the families [that have] been really responding to it. It's been amazing in that regard." In a previous interview with RadioTimes.com, Ash opened up on meeting with the late Rob Burrow in preparation for the storyline. "Him and his wife Lindsey came to the Corrie studios last year," he explained. "It was amazing to meet the guy, sad to see by that point the condition had taken so much from him, but they were both really glad we were doing the storyline. We were made up with that. "They came in at lunchtime and I remember the scenes we filmed that afternoon felt all the more poignant after meeting Rob and Lindsey." Following his win at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, Ash said it was "totally unreal", admitting he wasn't expecting to win "at all". Speaking of the public reaction to the storyline, Ash said: "It's been amazing, it's one of the things that's really surprised me in the best possible way. People's response to it, it's great. "I'm so glad to be part of a storyline that can raise awareness for MND." For information and support on all aspects of motor neurone disease, visit the MND Association's website or call the charity on 0808 802 6262. The RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024, sponsored by Inspired Villages, took place on 13th July. Find out more about the winners! 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.