UK SOAPS - Hollyoaks Minibus Crash Leaves Repercussions

Hollyoaks Channel 4 weekdays 6:30pm is back as The Top of the Soaps for me after the explosive “wedding crashers” storyline last week. Four deaths, one critical patient, an unwanted pregnancy revealed and a whole bag of drama awaits those mourning the deceased.

Rot in hell Maddie

So the wicked witch bitch Maddie finally got her comeuppance. A burning piece of flying debris in her face is more than the evil, manipulative bully deserved but I didn't want her to die. I wanted her to suffer for the misery she's inflicted on Esther and leaving poor Neil to burn alive. Thankfully, her best friend Tilly discovered her nastiness before Maddie died but the rest of her sheep – Sinead, Ruby and George are deep in mourning of their heroine.

Widow McQueen

How much more can poor Jacqui take?

Watching Jacqui McQueen falling apart over the dirty rat, Rhys wasn't easy viewing. She loved him with all her cold heart and now joins sisters Carmel and Mercedes as a widow McQueen. Either way, Rhys was going to leave her after being ordered to leave the village by Tony and Myra and had the crash not occurred, cheating Cindy was going to take off with him. I can't believe that Tony is sticking with the munchkin minx, despite knowing of her affair with Rhys. Is he that desperate to be married? I mean how many times has Tony got wed now? Die-hard fans want Tony and Jacqui back together. Its in the soap fate, they belong together.

Back to Rhys, tonight's episode (Monday 19^th November), signs are showing that he could possibly be the father of Sinead's baby. Hollyoaks never tie off things simply (except with their black characters) so there could be more heartbreak for Jacqui to come.

Jono dies in Ruby's arms

Will Ruby Button grow up after the loss of Jono? What lies in store for newlyweds Ste and Doug? Ste ain't gonna die, I'll put money on it and fans desperately want him and Brendan to get back together. Many were disappointed that Doug wasn't killed in the crash.

Why was Cindy's daughter Holly brought back when she barely spoke two words and had little interaction with her mother before swanning off screen again, and don't even get me started on how much she's grown. Will she be back to stir up Cindy's stewing pot? Keep your fingers crossed.

I'm loving the 'Oaks and I sincerely hope the team will scoop some awards next year at the Soap Awards. Powerful acting, brilliant writing, the perfect ingredients to a Successful Soap.

Male-Bashing Goes Rife In UK Soaps

Recent storylines in UK soaps has seen quite a number of male characters experiencing 'male-bashing'.

Alfie Moon played by Shane Ritchie

Poor Alfie in Eastenders (BBC1) is unaware that his beloved wife, Kat, is up to her cheating ways again. He goes out of his way, running around after and trying to please Kat, their son, Tommy (who is not biologically his), Kat's friends daughter, Shenice, grandmother-in-law, Mo, and extended family member, Jean, who is bipolar, only for Kat to treat him like a loyal mug and refute his romantic gestures.

Is Former vicar Ashley Being Punished By God?

Over on ITV1, in Emmerdale, there's Ashley Thomas who's paying a heavy price for the way how he victimised his elderly father. As if being thrown out of his family home, losing his job, being shunned by his friends and served with a divorce from wife Laurel wasn't enough. Scriptwriters furthered his agony by making him homeless, scavenging for food and harassed by ruthless teens only to be rescued by Marlon Dingle, the root of his down fall.

Fighting A Losing Battle, Peter Barlow

On ITV1, in Coronation Street, alcoholic Peter Barlow has lost his son to his ex, Leanne, who's now shacked up with her ex, Nick Tilsley and planning to leave the street. Peter hasn't been the best of father's but he genuinely loves curly Simon. Since gaining custody, Leanne has come down hard on the access Peter has with Simon, and when he is allowed time with the boy she undermines his authority and mocks him in front of Nick. I understand Peter treated her badly but the way she uses HIS child, not hers, to taunt him makes uncomfortable viewing and the storyline will strike a chord with father's fighting for access to visiting their children.  And not only does it look like Peter's losing his son, girlfriend Carla walked out on him in yesterday's episode.

Troubled Tyrone

Male bashing storyline of the week has to go to fellow Coronation Street resident, Tyrone Dobbs. At the time of publishing this post, Tyrone's latest suffering at the hands of his psycho pregnant girlfriend, Kirsty, hasn't been screened but from the exclusive clips I've seen Corrie fans are gonna be screaming at their TV sets when she hurls a treasured photo of Tyrone's late treasured surrogate father, Jack at him. How can anyone want to hurt Tyrone and when will he confide in somebody? Or will they surprisingly find out? Keep your eyes peeled.

UK Soap Watch 19th March - 23rd March

EMMERDALE

Image Source: ITV.com
Cain Dingle

Emmerdale has produced some hard hitting story lines recently, displayed fine acting from its cast and, in my opinion, a seriously underrated quality British Soap against Coronation Street and Eastenders. Explosive scenes this week as grieving Adam Barton set fire to the garage with enemy Cain Dingle still inside it. The farmer boy later rescued his victim and Cain reluctantly agreed not to tell the police about his involvement, thanks to Aaron. However, this could prove worse for Adam who will soon wish he left Cain to toast when the villainous mechanic decides on how to punish him.

Troubled Zach Dingle is hard hitting his pints and showing signs of disillusion. Has Megan hit the point that he's showing signs of Alzeihmers or is the Dingle Head just supping one pint too many?

Sinful Vicar Ashley Thomas
Image Source ITV.com

Ill treatment of the elderly is a sore subject and a current topic amongst Brits so vicar Ashley Thomas stands out as the biggest villain in Emmerdale at the moment. His bestiality towards his father and deviousness in covering up to outsiders is a huge change in the normally placid vicars character. Things are stepping up next week when Sandy is injured and social services are called. Can the character of Ashley ever redeem itself to viewers.

On the lighter side, Jimmy King used reverse psychology against wife Nicola's sex ban. Oysters and champagne worked but will he still have to go through with a vasectomy? My fellow soap community also kindly informed me that Jimmy has a well packed lunch box. I missed out on the view but will be looking out in the near future.

Watch The Emmerdale Cast & Crew In Fabulous Farewell Video For Danny Miller

Eastenders

Shirley was absolutely bang on the nail the beginning of this week when she told freshly released Phil that his son Ben was “...wrong in the head”. Psycho Ben bashed 'Poor Hev' with a photo frame causing her death then cracked jokes about her whilst he, witness Jay and cover up expert Phil dined with the Mitchell clan. Even now he knows he killed Heather for his brother Ian's wrongdoing, he fails to show any remorse. Even hard nut Phil seems appalled by his coldness and adopted brother Jay is a nervous and ill looking wreck trying to show Mitchell loyalty. His clothes that could implicate him to the murder were sneakily hidden by Ben. Is the psycho teen hoping to frame Jay? The viewers already know how jealous he is of the closeness between Jay and his father.

Bad Ben
Image Sources BBC.CO.UK

Poor Andy, Heather's fiancé is the prime suspect with his history of violent behaviour. His mother Rose didn't help by immediately telling cops that he was with her around the time of the murder. The poor guy isn't even able to grieve his bride-to-be whilst he defends himself down the 'cop shop'. Most of the residents of Albert Square will believe he's guilty as who else would want to murder simple Heather? Best mate Shirley is a broken woman, especially as she and Heather didn't get to make up from their row. Shirley's locked in grief but she's not a stupid woman and her relationship with Phil will be over should she discover the truth.

Devastated Dot
Image Source BBC.CO.UK

The most emotive impact of grief was shown by the brilliant June Brown who plays Dot Cotton. She's lost so many people she's loved or got close to that she believes herself to be a bad omen turning on Fatboy and insisting he keep well away from her.

Next week sees Ben confiding in Roxy. Will he reveal all or will he spin her lies with his wickedness?

Coronation Street

Sally Webster
Image Source itv.com

The build up to the revealing of Franks killer, his mother Anne was well played out. Busybody Sally worked it out after the funeral and almost paid with her life as she fell and knocked herself unconscious, not attacked by the killer as stated in the press. With a son like Frank, no-one could really blame Anne for doing him in. She's now safely behind bars and the residents can move on now Sally's out of danger and she and Carla have resolved their differences with Sally even being offered her job back. I still feel Corrie should have made the killer be a major character to spice up the soap.

Glad to see the school dinnergate storyline brought to closure with little Max back in school. It was a little far fetched for me and didn't bring the light relief as intended.

Sunita Alahan
Image Source itv.com

Things are hotting up between Karl and Sunita as the pair kissed this week. She walked away apologising but with her marriage to Dev in tatters and Karl not putting up much resistance, this is definitely going to go further and it will all end in tears.

STORYLINE SPOILER: As if Tyrone Dobbs hasn't suffered enough, his bad luck will soon take a further knock when he becomes a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of wacky girlfriend Kirsty.

HOLLYOAKS

Mercedes McQueen
Image source e4.com

Not a good week for Mercedes McQueen as she found out ex fiancé Riley and her family were planning Bobby's christening behind her back. Her and Riley made amends and the tart without a heart finally displayed emotion towards her son but soon lost interest when she discovered Riley and his cousin Mitzeee snogging each other.

Poor Riley is in a mixture of emotions torn between his love for his cousin and the torch he still carries for Mercedes and the hurt of her sleeping with his father Carl. Next week another brunette minx is thrown into the mix as he and nurse Lynsey become closer.

Jackie McQueen

Homeless hard headed Phoebe

If you're going to mess with a McQueen, Jackie is the worst pick of the bunch as ungrateful Phoebe will find out when Jackie gets her hands on the homeless teen. Phoebe exploited Jackie's kindness when she allowed her to stay the night by robbing her flat and her beloved dog Terry. No sign of her former homeless companion, George but away from screen viewers know he is catching up with his family who believed the runaway was dead. He returns next week with big news for his friends. Is he going to leave them behind to be with his family?

CORONATION STREET! Frank Foster Killer Revealed

I was right.  I knew Anne Foster would be revealed as the killer of her rapist son Frank from day one.  Nobody in my soap gossip world believed me so it's a major buzz to my ego to be right once again.  I only managed to catch snippets of tonight's episodes so I will give my full review in UK Soap Watch when I've viewed the omnibus over the weekend. 

I accussed Corrie writers and producers of copping out by not letting a major character be the murderer but Gwen Taylor, who plays Anne revelled in her role turning on Sally and Carla tonight making her a worthy baddie.  Obviously where Frank inherited his nasty streak from.


Anne Foster
Corrie Killer

UK Soap Watch w/e 13/03/2012

UK Soap Watch w/e 18th March 2012

CORONATION STREET ( Central/ITV Mondays 7:30 and 8:30pm, Thursdays 8:30pm, Fridays

7:30 and 8:30pm)

Corrie's big 'whodunnit' storyline took a twist this week when alcoholic Peter Barlow confessed to murdering nasty Frank Foster. Peter didn't kill Frank but confessed as he thought girlfriend Carla, rape victim of Frank done the deed. She's adamant she didn't so viewers were left hanging last night as to who the killer might be. All will be revealed next week when Sally Webster discovers Franks missing watch.

No leaks have been given in the press as Coronation Street producers want to give the viewers a surprise. A surprise to me would be a major character revealed as the murderer. However, I've got a huge feeling that viewers are going to be disappointed when Anne Foster, Frank's mother is revealed as the killer. The signals are all there and I think instead of using a brilliant idea to make a key character get away with murdering a vile character like Frank with the viewers knowing but the street characters not Corrie are going to cop out and close the storyline. I really hope I'm wrong and I'll eat my hat next week if I am wrong.

image source itv.com

                                             Lewis Archer (The Charmer) and Audrey Roberts

Elsewhere on the cobbles, widow Audrey Roberts has rekindled her romance with former male escort cum conman, Lewis. Audrey's deeply dippy in this secret affair as she knows her daughter Gail disapproves of Lewis being back on the scene. A huge shout out to Nigel Havers for his acting. Lewis hasn't shown any form of his former ways but Nigel plays the charmer so brilliantly that viewers are constantly waiting for him to trip.

Watch out for a budding romance between shop wife Sunita Alahan and gambling Karl from the Rovers.

EASTENDERS BBC1 Mondays and Fridays 8pm Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30pm

Unlucky Heather Trott
Image source:  bbc.co.uk

Poor fat Heather. The simpleton single mother has finally found love after a long and rocky road. She's all set to marry Andrew Cotton when he reveals he's spent time in prison for GBH. His mother doesn't think Heather's good enough for him and Heather's best pal Shirley can't stand the man who's come between their friendship. After being given an ultimatum by Shirley in Fridays episode, Heather chose love over friendship. Soap fans will know though her happiness won't last for any time as her character is to be killed off next week by (don't read on if you don't already know) mixed up school boy Ben Mitchell. There's gonna be tears.



Relief for Tanya
Image Source:  bbc.co.uk

On the other side of the square relief for Tanya Branning as she found out her chemotherapy treatment had been successful in clearing her cervical cancer. Great acting from Jo Joyner (Tanya) and her family cast members in playing the story out with such gutso and showing the impact on all their emotions. Max had viewers wondering if he would stray (AGAIN) from his sick wife with his brothers ex, Roxy Mitchell. Thankfully he didn't. Too much brother and wife sharing with those Branning Brothers has gone on to go down that route again.

Humour of the week in the nit storyline. Kids and adults are scratching their barnets due to a breakout. My favourite Eastenders character, Kim Fox is also a victim which threw her plans (for a moment) with lover boy Ray.

Phil Mitchell is back on the square next week. I'm hoping the Eastenders baddie can put the foul Derek Branning in his place.

EMMERDALE Central/ITV Weekdays 7pm, Thursdays 8pm as well as 7pm

The Barton family are still struggling with the loss of John. Wife Moira is locked in mourning, eldest daughter Holly sought comfort in heroin, son Adam can't cope taking on his fathers role as farm manager and youngest daughter Hannah wants everyone to stop arguing and unite in their grief together. Now Moira has got out of bed to take charge and handed over the farm management to former owner Andy Sugden the family is at war again. Things take a turn for the worse next week when Adam takes revenge on Cain Dingle, the man who was a key figure in his parents marital problems shortly before John's death. A fire started by Adam leaves an already injured Cain fighting for life. Sources say this fire will lead to the departure of Adams best pal, Aaron Livesy, played by award winning Danny Miller. Danny leaving will be a huge loss to Emmerdale.



Neglected Sandy
Image Source: itv.com

Emmerdale have taken on the social issue on caring for the elderly with old and frail Sandy Thomas It has been uncomfortable for viewers watching his son Ashley shout and lash out at his father in frustration even more so because Ashley is the communities gentle vicar. Well done for Emmerdale for tackling this topic and highlighting issues many older viewers are familiar with and younger viewers may be ignorant to.

HOLLYOAKS Channel 4 weekdays 6:30pm



George goes home
Image Source e4.com



Hollyoaks is a regarded a teen soap but it deals with many issues that need to be made aware with adults also. I must admit I kind of lacked interest after the Silas storyline, the departure of Warren Fox and new college characters were brought in and didn't ignite me. Well the sparks back and 'Oaks is back on form with the homeless/missing storyline with George Palmer and the mysterious Phoebe. Having escaped from the evil clutches of sex traffickers Deena and Graham. George returned to his family, who thought he was dead and Phoebe to her mother, which viewers know is not really her mother. More will be revealed about Phoebe when she moves in with Jackie McQueen next week.

Cold hearted bitch, Mercedes McQueen has shown her true colours to her family by showing them she's more interested in getting ex fiancé Riley back than she is her son. When she finds out Riley is seeing Mitzeee next week she kidnaps Bobby in fury. Mercedes is a hard character to love and viewers are constantly wondering how low will she go?

Dennis is back from India next week with an eerie mysteriousness about what he's been up to in his absence. I'm not a fan of this character and he strangely resembles Ben Mitchell from Eastenders.

Hollyoaks are well known for love triangle story lines, the present being students Annaliese, Rob and Scott. Annaliese dumped boyfriend Rob last week as she feels more for his mate Scott. On Friday she hinted to Scott that she was ready to “move on” to which Scott wished her well and walked off. Poor Scott deserves a girlfriend as he hasn't had no female interests besides Annaliese but his character is such a sweet and loyal mate that it'd be horrid to see him and Rob at loggerheads. Can't wait to see how this plays out.