An African adventure!
Inside Soap editor Steven Murphy writes...
It was a real treat to be invited to South Africa to cover the filming of the Coronation Street DVD special, Out Of Africa (available from 10 November in a shop near you, Street fans!). Normally on Inside Soap, we get no further than Leeds on a rainy Tuesday (not that there’s anything wrong with Leeds, of course. Or rainy Tuesdays, come to that).
So, spending four nights in the lovely Bakubung Game Lodge in the stunning Pilanesberg National Park, watching filming, interviewing the cast and hanging by the pool in the sunshine (just a little bit!) seemed too good to believe. After the 11-hour flight (believe me, that’s a long time to be sat on a plane!), I arrived at the lodge, where all the cast and crew were staying. Some of the cast I know already – Wendi Peters (Cilla) and I have bumped into each other loads of times over the past couple of years – but others, such as Sam Aston (Chesney), I’d never actually met before (and wwhat a good-mannered, down-to-earth little chap he is. His mum, Janet, was telling me that he’s one of nine children, and she’s equally proud of each and every one of them and their achievements – Sam’s treated no differently just because he’s on the telly).
Once I’d settled in, I headed out to Sun City, the entertainment and hotel complex where most of the filming was taking place. Now, let me tell you a little showbiz secret – watching filming is fascinating… for about 20 minutes. The next hour and a half where they then redo the same scene from four different angles is not so thrilling! However, most of my experience of watching filming has been in a wet, cold November in some industrial estate or other on the outskirts of London – so being in the sunshine at a five-star resort did make it quite a bit more bearable! As well as chatting to the crew and cast, I was even offered the chance to appear as a background artist in one of the shots, so when you watch the DVD, look out for me wandering through the hotel reception as Cilla and co check in.
After a hard day’s filming, the cast all got the chance to relax back at the hotel, where we ate dinner together from the most enormous buffet in the world, before relaxing with a few drinks. And a few more, on occasions! Jennie McAlpine (Fiz) was only there for the first week, so was leaving the day after I arrived, but we still found time for a quick catch-up, and she warned me that the rooms in the hotel were rather prone to power cuts, leaving you in darkness as you’d just stepped out of the shower or whatever!
The highlight of the trip was a fantastic game drive, where we got to see all sorts of big, scary animals, followed by a trip to a lion park, where we got to cuddle little baby lions, possibly the cutest thing ever in the world (check it out in the issue of Inside Soap on sale now).
And after four days and nights, it was all over. I’d beat Chesney and Kirk at tennis (well, one game – they beat me about five times after that!), interviewed all the cast, read the top-secret script (I can’t give away any secrets – you’ll have to watch the DVD) and hung out in a hotel suite they’d hired for the filming which is apparently where Michael Jackson stays when he visits (it went on for ever; I’d say it was 20 times bigger than my entire house). After some goodbyes to the cast, I was off home
– another 11-hour flight, then straight into work from the airport. But I’m not complaining. Thanks, Corrie, for a great trip – I’m waiting with baited breath to see where EastEnders is going to fly me off to now…
| Posted Wednesday, October 22 at 09:40 by Inside Soap | Click to see article > |
Eastern promise
When I learn that I'll be joining the Inside Soap gang on our EastEnders awards shoot today, I can hardly contain my excitement. After all, stepping on to Albert Square has been a dream of mine almost as long as Pat Evans having a passion for earrings!
As we approach the EastEnders set – situated in the heart of Elstree – I can just about make out the blue bridge that can normally be seen looming over Walford’s market. Thankfully, Mark Fowler's not about to hurl nasty Nick Cotton off it!
Upon entering the BBC's photographic studio, press officer Cathy greets us with a cheery welcome and informs us that Rob Kazinsky (Sean), Tiana Benjamin (Chelsea) and Rita Simons (Roxy) have all kindly agreed to come in and be snapped on their day-off. If that's not utter devotion to their favourite mag, we don't know what is!
Speaking of Rita, the bubbly blonde suddenly emerges wearing a jaw-dropping floor-length white dress, looking like a Greek goddess. Rita's clearly impressed too – and promptly snaps up the gown from our stylist to wear to this year's National Television Awards! Fashion moguls – you heard it here first!
As we earnestly discuss vital accessories with Rita, Jake Wood (Max) enters the room. We're not quite sure why, but as Jake politely introduces himself, we suddenly go weak at the knees and the girly giggles take over. It's obvious that the Inside Soap gang love a bad boy just as much as Stacey Slater!
While Jake and Charlie Clements (Bradley) pose for father and son snaps (awww), Rob arrives and apologises for being a tad late. He tells us that he was playing on his PS3 until 6AM this morning, which is why he slept in this afternoon! We forgive him though, because coupled with his roguish charm and rugged good looks, he's the nicest interviewee ever!
After a hectic shoot, we say our goodbyes and reluctantly depart the studios. Although, isn’t it about time for a quick G'n'T down the Vic?
Posted by Laura-Jayne Tyler, Editorial Assistant
Look out for the EastEnders shoot in the issue of Inside Soap on sale Tuesday 26th August.
Want to vote for the Walford wonders? Click on to 'Inside Soap Awards' on the left-hand menu.
| Posted Tuesday, August 26 at 11:37 by Inside Soap | Click to see article > |
Making pals in the Dales!
There should be a law against our alarm clocks ringing at 5am on a Monday morning – but this wasn’t just any Monday morning. With the assurance that life's far from quite in the country ringing in our ears, we leap out of bed (despite the ungodly hour!) and board a train to Leeds from London's Kings Cross. Yes, the Inside Soap team are off to an Emmerdale awards shoot – and dying to experience drama in the Dales first-hand!
As we arrive in Leeds a little bleary-eyed, we note that it's only 9am – despite assuming that it's at least lunchtime. We set off to a photographic studio, just minutes away from the Emmerdale set. There's no time to swing by the Woolpack for a swift half, sadly, as Sammy Winward (Katie) is already in make-up getting glammed up. Not that she needs much work done, however!
While chatting to Sammy, we're aghast to learn that poor Roxanne Pallett (Jo) has called to say she's stuck in Manchester after breaking down in her car! Determined not to miss out on our shoot, Roxy promises us she'll be with us faster than a dastardly Dingle leaving the scene of a crime – but will she make it?
Speaking of the Dingles, we're soon bowled over by an energetic little blonde brimming with charm and enthusiasm in the form of Eden-Taylor-Draper (Belle). We can't believe that Eden's only ten years old as she poses for snaps and munches on the tasty fruit salad set out in front of us. She's clearly an old pro when it comes to working it for the camera.
Just as our tiredness begins to kick in, we sit down for a natter and custard cream with Chris Chittell's (Pollard) mum, Margi – who informs us that she never misses a copy of Inside Soap! It's music to our ears and we're suddenly wide awake again, ready for the next village resident to glide into the studio. Thankfully, it's Roxanne – she's defied the odds and her dodgy exhaust with half an hour to spare before she's due to start filming with Kelvin Fletcher (Andy).
After a hectic day and a few gossip-filled hours later, it's a race against time for the Inside Soap gang as we make a mad dash for our London-bound train (luckily we're not travelling in Roxy's car) and we dive through the beeping carriage doors with seconds to spare. As we reflect on our day, we wonder what might have happened had we missed our ride home and been left stranded in the Dales. After all, shacking up with hunky David Metcalfe for the night wouldn’t have been so bad, would it?
Posted by Laura-Jayne Tyler, Editorial Assistant.
Do Emmerdale get your vote in this year's Inside Soap awards? Click on 'Inside Soap Awards' on the left-hand menu.
| Posted Monday, August 18 at 12:14 by Inside Soap | Click to see article > |
Hanging with Hollyoaks
As massive fans of the goings on in a certain Chester village, we’re really excited about our Hollyoaks awards shoot today – and after much dodging of summer rain showers, we enter Liverpool’s chic new Grey Space studios looking a little bedraggled. Not the image you want to go for if you are about to meet a gang of gorgeous Hollyoaks stars! But there’s no time to sneak off to the loos and sort out our panda eyes, because early bird Emma Rigby (Hannah) has already arrived…
As she swings around to greet us from the make-up chair, with her trademark 100 watt smile, we are reminded once again how stunning she is in the flesh. But thankfully she’s also one of the sweetest girls we’ve ever met, and our own self consciousness vanishes as we have a good old natter about frocks and fellas, in between mouthfuls of delicious caramel squares.
The fabulous staff at the photographic studio soon make us feel at home, but we can’t help but feel a little disappointed at the fact that we’re not snapping the photos on the set of our favourite soap village today. So no chance of sneaking into Drive ‘n’ Buy to steal some Banana Bongo Flakes for us – well, we’d do anything to be arrested by hunky cop Calvin!
Speaking of Calvin, actor Ricky Whittle strolls in. At this point, we’re debating the pros and cons of various corn-based snacks with Hollyoaks press officer Gemma, and Jake Hendriks (Father Kieron) - who has already filmed his last scenes at Hollyoaks, and takes various calls from his agent about work ‘in the pipeline’ as they say in biz. When cheeky Ricky pulls up a chair to join us, he can’t help but get us back for all the hours we’ve spent grilling him this year by turning the tape recorder on us for an interview. Eeek!
All too soon the day sadly draws to a close - and while we’d love nothing more than popping to The Dog for a glass of vino, we have to make do with a pub at the train station. Things get slightly surreal though when Barnesy and Zoe – aka actors Tony Hirst and Zoe Lister - walk in. We can’t resist going over to say hi, and discover they’re heading to London too, to watch Zoe’s boyfriend, singer Mark Hole, play. As we fondly reminisce about an Inside Soap photo shoot Zoe did at Easter, she invites us to tonight’s gig – we obviously look like indie chicks with our dishevelled clothes and panda eyes!
Woo-hoo! This is one of the best days ever - we knew we’d be hanging out with the stars, but we didn’t expect them to make us feel like their bezzie mates. We’ll definitely be voting for them in this year’s Inside Soap Awards!
Posted by Katy Moon (Junior Writer), and Sarah Ellis (Senior Writer)
Want to vote for Hollyoaks too? Click on ‘Inside Soap Awards’ on the left-hand menu.
| Posted Tuesday, August 5 at 09:27 by Inside Soap | Click to see article > |
Shooting stars!
Tottering across the cobbles of Corrie in skyscraper heels a la Liz McDonald has featured in my daydreams ever since I can remember. However, as we head to the Corrie photographic studio for this year’s Inside Soap Awards photo shoot and I venture onto the legendary street I realise it’s slightly trickier than I imagined! Beverly Callard should get an award for acting and agility!
In the studio I put my feet up and settle down for a brew and a gossip with the lovely Samia Smith (Maria) as she is having her make-up done. Before long we are nattering away like old friends. So when I make the major faux paus of commenting that you can’t trust property tycoons in soapland like that Tony Gordon – forgetting momentarily that her husband Matt is a property developer! Luckily, we have a giggle about it. Phew!
Puncturing our laughter is the sound of lots of ‘ooohs and aahs’ as Kym Ryder (Michelle) and her adorable Chihuahau Charlie enter the building. As the cute pooch is made a fuss of by Michelle Keegan (Tina), who looks like a movie star in an amazing mustard coloured dress, Kym takes calls from her boyfriend Jamie Lomas (Hollyoaks’ Warren). Lucky girl!
Next on my hit list of interviewees is Ryan Thomas (Jason). Press Officer Stuart leads me to a mysterious place called ‘Stage One.’ I later discover this contains the stars dressing rooms, make-up and wardrobe departments, a tutoring room for the young actors and the main sets like the Rovers, Street Cars and Underworld. Wow!
But as I wait outside to meet Ryan my heart pounds when I see feel a pair of eyes upon me: it’s Teresa Moron. “Are you sure you want to wait outside love? It’s a little cold,” she says kindly. I snap back to reality and realise I’m talking to actress Karen Henthorn, and she’s not about to start pulling my hair.
Just as I am daydreaming about how I might defend myself in a Corrie catfight Ryan shows up and leads me into through the magical doors of stage one. I wonder if they’d let me set up a little Inside Soap office up here? I think I could get used to this…
Look out for the Corrie shoot in the issue of Inside Soap on sale 29 July.
Posted by Katy Moon, Junior Writer
| Posted Tuesday, July 29 at 10:04 by Inside Soap | Click to see article > |
