Peggy Mitchell

It has been announced that a reworked composition of the Eastenders theme tune for Peggy Mitchell’s exit has been made and will be available for download on September 13.

The original theme tune composed by Simon May but has been revamped especially for Peggy’s final episode which is now only weeks away.

According to the new ‘Peggy’s Theme’ website, the EP will also contain past songs from Nick Berry, Letitia Dean, Paul Medford and Anita Dobson and can be pre-ordered on September 9th for iTunes.

Stefan Booth

Stefan Booth, best known for his role as Jamie Nash in Hollyoaks and as Sergeant Marc Rollins in the Bill, has landed the role of the fiancé of Tanya Branning in Eastenders.

The 30-year-old actor will be appearing on our screens next month as he takes on the role of his character Greg opposite the actress Jo Joyner.

Jo is due to make her full-time comeback soon following her maternity leave after the birth of her twins born on the 7th December 2009, a son Freddie, and a daughter Edie.

Inside Soap Awards 2010

The nominations for the 2010 Inside Soap Awards sponsored by Littlewoods.com have been made and now it is up to you to vote for your own particular soap favourites and special moments from the last twelve months.

Once again the UK soaps have thrown up some extraordinary story-lines, of particular note Corrie’s Tony Gordon blowing up Underworld, Jan Slater moved to tears when Eastenders Stacey Branning gave birth to baby Lily, Emmerdale Natasha Wylde shooting her husband Mark or how about Hollyoaks Sarah Barnes’ ill fated parachute jump.

Inside Soap magazine has made a short list of the nominations for this years awards and now it is up to you to decide who should go home with the prizes.

There are to ways to cast your votes, the simplest way is to visit the Inside Soap website and follow the instructions, alternatively you can vote by post, by picking up the current Inside Soap magazine.

WIN A VIP TRIP TO THE INSIDE SOAP AWARDS!
Everyone who votes in the 2010 Inside Soap Awards – be it on the web or by post – is eligible to be entered into a prize draw to win a VIP trip for two to the hottest awards show in town. The prize includes transport to London and a night in a top hotel. Readers need to make sure they enter their details at the end of the form.

The 2010 Inside Soap awards take place in London on Monday 27th September 2010

Inside Soap Awards  – Nominations 2010:

Best soap – Sponsored by Littlewoods.com
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks

Best Actor
Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow, Corrie)
Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald, Corrie)
Gray O’Brien (Tony Gordon, Corrie)
Nitin Ganatra (Masood Ahmed, EastEnders)
Don Gilet (Lucas Johnson, EastEnders)
Scott Maslen (Jack Branning, EastEnders)
Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk, Emmerdale)
Jeff Hordley (Cain Dingle, Emmerdale)
Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy, Emmerdale)
Ashley Taylor Dawson (Darren Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Kieron Richardson (Ste Hay, Hollyoaks)
Glen Wallace (Malachy Fisher, Hollyoaks)

Best Actress
Sally Dynevor (Sally Webster, Corrie)
Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald, Corrie)
Alison King (Carla Connor, Corrie)
Diane Parish (Denise Johnson, EastEnders)
Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning, EastEnders)
Nina Wadia (Zainab Masood, EastEnders)
Emma Atkins (Charity Tate, Emmerdale)
Charlotte Bellamy (Laurel Thomas, Emmerdale)
Amanda Donohoe (Natasha Wylde, Emmerdale)
Claire Cooper (Jacqui McQueen, Hollyoaks)
Gemma Merna (Carmel Valentine, Hollyoaks)
Carley Stenson (Steph Cunningham, Hollyoaks)

Best Young Actor
Alex Bain (Simon Barlow, Corrie)
Elle Mulvaney (Amy Barlow, Corrie)
Lorna Fitzgerald (Abi Branning, EastEnders)
Maisie Smith (Tiffany Butcher, EastEnders)
Oscar Lloyd (Will Wylde, Emmerdale)
Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale)
Ellis Hollins (Tom Cunningham, Hollyoaks)
Lydia Waters (Holly Hutchinson, Hollyoaks)

Best Newcomer
Cherylee Houston (Izzy Armstrong, Corrie)
Holly Quin-Ankrah (Cheryl Gray, Corrie)
Zoe Lucker (Vanessa Gold, EastEnders)
Ricky Norwood (Arthur ‘Fatboy’ Chubb, EastEnders)
Natalie J Robb (Moira Barton, Emmerdale)
Marc Silcock (Jackson Walsh, Emmerdale)
Dean Aspen (Duncan Smith, Hollyoaks)
Kris Deedigan (Des Townsend, Hollyoaks)

Funniest Performance
Patti Clare (Mary Taylor, Corrie)
Craig Gazey (Graeme Proctor, Corrie)
Himesh Patel (Tamwar Masood, EastEnders)
Nina Wadia (Zainab Masood, EastEnders)
Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk, Emmerdale)
Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle, Emmerdale)
Ashley Taylor Dawson (Darren Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Bronagh Waugh (Cheryl Brady, Hollyoaks)

Sexiest Male
Keith Duffy (Ciaran McCarthy, Corrie)
Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw, Corrie)
Scott Maslen (Jack Branning, EastEnders)
Neil McDermott (Ryan Malloy, EastEnders)
Rik Makarem (Nikhil Sharma, Emmerdale)
Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy, Emmerdale)
Ashley Taylor Dawson (Darren Osborne, Hollyoaks)
Anthony Quinlan (Gilly Roach, Hollyoaks)

Sexiest Female - Sponsored by Littlewoods.com
Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre, Corrie)
Alison King (Carla Connor, Corrie)
Zoe Lucker (Vanessa Gold, EastEnders)
-Samantha Womack (Ronnie Mitchell, EastEnders)
Alice Coulthard (Maisie Wylde, Emmerdale)
Suzanne Shaw (Eve Jenson, Emmerdale)
Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes Fisher, Hollyoaks)
Carley Stenson (Steph Cunningham, Hollyoaks)

Best Exit
Tony Gordon (Gray O’Brien, Corrie)
Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale, Corrie)
Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning, EastEnders)
Larry Lamb (Archie Mitchell, EastEnders)
Maxwell Caulfield (Mark Wylde, Emmerdale)
Sian Reeves (Sally Spode, Emmerdale)
Loui Batley (Sarah Barnes, Hollyoaks)
Ricky Whittle (Calvin Valentine, Hollyoaks)

Best Wedding
Steve McDonald & Becky Granger (Corrie)
John Stape & Fiz Brown (Corrie)
Ricky Butcher & Bianca Jackson (EastEnders)
Syed Masood & Amira Shah (EastEnders)
Jimmy King & Nicola De Souza (Emmerdale)
Charity Tate & Michael Conway (Emmerdale)
Tony Hutchinson & Cindy Cunningham (Hollyoaks)
Calvin & Carmel Valentine (Hollyoaks)

Best Dramatic Performance
Alison King (Carla Connor) –  Tony Gordon holds the factory hostage (Corrie)
Helen Worth (Gail McIntyre) – Joe McIntyre’s death (Corrie)
Don Gilet (Lucas Johnson) – Lucas murders Owen Turner on his wedding day (EastEnders)
Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning) – Stacey is sectioned (EastEnders)
Amanda Donohoe (Natasha Wylde) – Mark Wylde’s murder (Emmerdale)
Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy) – Aaron beats up Paddy (Emmerdale)
Carley Stenson (Steph Cunningham) – Steph’s cancer (Hollyoaks)
Stephanie Waring (Cindy Hutchinson) – Little Holly’s disappearance (Hollyoaks)

Best Stunt
Tony Gordon holds the Underworld factory hostage (Corrie)
Joe McIntyre accidentally kills himself (Corrie)
Bradley Branning’s death (EastEnders)
Home Farm shop crash (Emmerdale)
Laurel Thomas trapped in the church fire (Emmerdale)
Josh Ashworth’s car crash (Hollyoaks)
Sarah Barnes’ parachute death (Hollyoaks)

Best Drama
The Bill
Casualty
Holby City
Waterloo Road

Best Daytime Soap
Doctors
Home and Away
Neighbours

Best Daytime Star
Donnaleigh Bailey (Michelle Corrigan, Doctors)
Matthew Chambers (Daniel Granger, Doctors)
Selina Chilton (Ruth Pearce, Doctors)
Adrian Lewis Morgan (Jimmi Clay, Doctors)
Esther Anderson (Charlie Buckton, Home and Away
Luke Jacobz (Angelo Rosetta, Home and Away)
Todd Lasance (Aden Jefferies, Home and Away)
Ada Nicodemou (Leah Patterson-Baker, Home and Away)
Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson, Neighbours)
Ryan Moloney (Jarrod ‘Toadie’ Rebecchi, Neighbours)
Kym Valentine (Libby Kennedy, Neighbours)
Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy, Neighbours)

Jack Duckworth

The son of Coronation Street actor Bill Tarmey who plays the part of Jack Duckworth, has been stabbed outside a pub in Ashton under Lyne.

The incident took place at the March Hare public house, which he runs with his wife and sons at the beginning of August at around 1.30am.

The 44-year-old was taken to the nearby Tameside Hospital where he was treated to stab wounds to both arms before later being discharged.

Bill, who is leaving the soap following it’s 50th Anniversary in December, was said to be very upset about the attack but grateful that it wasn’t alot worse.

Patsy Palmer ( Bianca Jackson)

Patsy Palmer better known to all of us as Bianca Jackson in Eastenders, has confirmed that she is pregnant with her fourth child.

The 38-year-old British actress returned to our screens to play her soap character once again in April 2008 following a 10-year absence after declaring she would like to spend more time with her young family.

Patsy is married to taxi driver Richard Merkell and they have two children together, Fenton, 9, and Emilia, 8, Bianca also has a 17-year-old son Charley from a previous relationship.

The couple are said to be shocked but delighted about the pregnancy and are looking forward to the new arrival in December.

Amanda Donohoe

Amanda Donohoe who plays the part of Natasha Wylde in the ITV soap opera ‘Emmerdale’ is leaving the show after almost two years.

The 48-year-old actress initially only joined the soap under a year’s contract but has put down her extended term to the fantastic cast, crew and producers.

The actress will film her final episodes later this year as a climax to her current storyline surrounding the murder of her late husband whom she killed and buried in the woods.

It was announced earlier in the year that her on screen daughter Alice Coulthard who plays the part of Maisie will also be leaving the show this year.

Despite the secret of which characters the two are to play it has been announced that they will both be in the programme for at least two series when it returns in the autumn.

The pair have played opposite each other in the drama trilogy ‘Christmas Lights’, ‘City Lights’ and ‘Northern Lights’ and are said to be just two of the new faces that will appear in the new series of the BBC drama after announcements that  Denise Welsh, Angela Griffin and Eva Pope, leave the show,  making way for their fellow actors which have so far been named as Amanda Burton, Tina O’Brien, Wil Johnson and George Samson.

Coronation Street

For almost fifty years Coronation Street has enthralled millions of avid fans with its tales of everyday life in a Northern town, but throughout that time many stories have emerged from the actors and producers claiming that the set is haunted.

Perhaps the most famous of those stories is Coronation Street producer Tony Warren’s claim that he saw the actress Pat Phoenix who played Elsie Tanner, after she died of lung cancer in 1986.

Warren said of the paranormal experience, “I would smell this great gale of perfume and one of my dogs, who would always go bananas when Pat came to the house, suddenly started to behave as if she was there again. It was really very odd, but I was not afraid. Pat is welcome at my place anytime, dead or alive.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly Pat Phoenix was seen again, at a party to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the show in 1990. This time it was Lynne Perry (Ivy Tilsley) who made the claim.

Like others on the Street cast Perry had an interest in Spiritualism and when her character in the soap made an attempt to contact her murdered son Brian, Perry had an overwhelming experience when Doris Speed appeared on stage.

“At that moment I felt very strongly that she was sitting there with me and the cast. Only Julie Goodyear and I knew that Pat was there in spirit, enjoying it too.”

Long serving Corrie star William Roache has had his share of bad luck both on and off the set and has a life long interest in all things psychic and paranormal.

The sudden tragic death of his baby daughter Edwina in 1985 made him reassess his life and he began a spiritual search. He now believes that there is an afterlife.

When interviewed in 1993 by Dr Anthony Clare on Radio 4’s ‘In the Psychiatrist’s Chair’ he said “The manner of death is frightening, but death itself is not- because I know it’s not the end”

Roache said how he awakened on the day 18 month old Edwina’s funeral to see her face “glowing and smiling” in front of him “I got a sense of peace, freedom and release- and I knew all was well.”

“I couldn’t have got through the funeral without that. I carried her coffin. It still hurts, but I know she came down and went back and that there’s an existence beyond. Knowing about reincarnation helped.”

It is no longer frowned upon to visit a medium or have a tarot reading in the UK, in fact Spiritualism in general is more widely accepted in our society than ever before.

There are so many questions that remain unanswered about the afterlife and all things paranormal, but if it brings comfort to those that seek it, then so be it.

Emmerdale

The 17-year-old son of Shane Richie and Coleen Nolan, has landed a role as a college student in the popular ITV soap opera Emmerdale.

Jake Roche is to become a potential boyfriend of Hannah Barton played by Grace Cassidy in the programme as he follows in the footsteps of his dad who played the part of Alfie Moon in the BBC’s Eastenders.

Jake’s character Isaac will appear on our screens from August and will be part of the show for at least the next few months.

Jake along with his brother Shane are also trying to make their name on the music scene after supporting their mother and aunts on their recent concert tour with their cover versions of popular pop songs.

jessie wallace

Jessie Wallace who played Kat Slater in Eastenders is to star in a BBC drama depicting the birth of Coronation Street, she will play the part of Pat Phoenix who starred in the early days of Corrie as feisty Elsie Tanner.

The documentary/drama will tell the story of how Tony Warren brought together the actors for the first episodes of Coronation Street, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year.

Filming is taking place in Manchester and the film will be shown on BBC4 later this year.

Among the star studded cast assembled for the project are Lynda Baron, playing Violet Carson (Ena Sharples), Celia Imrie as Doris Speed (Annie Walker), Jane Horrocks as casting director Margaret Morris and John Thompson.

The longest serving cast member on Coronation Street, William Roache (Ken Barlow) will be played by his son James Roache.