This Week In Soapland: 28 July - 3 August
A homeless Ian Beale resurfaces in Walford while Emmerdale's Alex parades around with his top off

After two months missing, Ian Beale resurfaces with one of Columbo's cast-off raincoats and a beard worthy of Catweazle. Since his mental health nosedived, E20's premier businessman has been dossing in an underpass (presumably box and cox with Emmerdale's Ashley). But can he be convinced to head home? Perhaps not washing at all is preferable to a bog wash from Phil.
Ever since Alex moved in with Moira, he's been finding it hard to keep his shirt on. Any chance to walk around the kitchen semi-starkers and he'll take it. So no prizes for guessing what happens when he spills a pint over himself during a night out at the Wooly. Victoria's dander will be up when she discovers how intimate it's getting down on Butler's farm.
At one time, you couldn't throw a barm cake the length of the street without hitting at least three women that Steve had slept with. But he's been cutting a lonely figure since Becky bolted in a flash of velour. Can former squeeze Michelle put some pep into his step? Well, only if she can first work out how Ryan's managed to turn from a mophead to a cokehead.
Authors

David Brown is Deputy Previews Editor at Radio Times, with a particular interest in crime drama and fantasy TV. He has appeared as a contributor on BBC News, Sky News and Radio 4’s Front Row and has had work published in the Guardian, the Sunday Times and the i newspaper. He has also worked as a writer and editorial consultant on the National Television Awards, as well as several documentaries profiling the likes of Lenny Henry, Billy Connolly and Take That.





