'EastEnders' do Motown for CIN 2009

In case you missed it on Friday evening, here's the cast of EastEnders performing Motown hits for Children In Need 2009.

Click 'play' below to watch.



> Click here to see last year's performance

Videos: Carla returns, Cain catches Charity

Here are a couple of short video previews from tonight's episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

On the cobbles, Maria (Samia Smith) decides to leave for Ireland with Liam's parents Helen (Dearbhla Molloy) and Barry (Frank Grimes) but just as she does, Carla (Alison King) rocks up on her doorstep.

Just what does Carla want? Why is she back (again)? And how will Maria react to her reappearance?

Click 'play' on the console below to watch the clip.

Max's deceit, Zoe's trial and Rosie cries wolf

EastEnders' Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) turns to Max Branning (Jake Wood) in a fortnight's time in the hope that he'll help raise the funds to save the Mitchells from financial ruin.

Max, however, is bogged down with money troubles of his own - hence the reason why he conned the Mitchells in the first place! Lauren (Madeline Duggan) and Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald) hand over their Christmas lists and insist on having a real tree this year, as opposed to their usual artificial one. With Phil in one ear and his family in another, Max resorts to selling his watch online in a bid to raise some spare cash.

Later, Phil suggests to Max that they scam Ian out of a shedload of cash and solve both their money woes in one fell swoop. Max insists that he's no crook, but Phil tries to remind him otherwise as he mentions the endless fraudulent insurance scams he's been involved in recently.

While Max goes to buy a Christmas tree, he spots Ian and has some compassion for him when he asks if Tanya's (Jo Joyner) heard from Jane (Laurie Brett). His thoughts about scamming Ian, however, change when the chippy owner starts flashing his cash at the tree stall in the market. Ian's later surprised when Max turns up with his towel and trunks for a session in the hot tub.

With that, Max tells Ian about a fictional property deal that would result in a hefty payout. Flattered by Ian's praise for his business acumen, Ian agrees. He's a little taken aback, though, when Max reveals that he'll need to invest £150,000...


These scenes air on Monday, November 30 at 7.30pm on BBC One.

In Hollyoaks, Cheryl (Bronagh Waugh) plans a Caribbean meal at the Valentines' but when Calvin (Ricky Whittle) and Leo (Brian Bovell) try to squirm their way out of the plans, Lauren's (Dominique Jackson) furious. Lauren's further annoyed when her brother reveals that Cheryl's using Gilly (Anthony Quinlan) to make him jealous.

Gilly then turns up at the party dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, having totally misunderstood the theme. Their evening turns sour when Lauren repeats what Calvin said earlier in the day about Cheryl using Gilly to snare Calvin. Cheryl, however, makes a shock announcement when she finally chooses her man.

Elsewhere, it's the week of Zoe's (Zoë Lister) trial and while Lydia (Lydia Kelly) gives her convincing evidence, Zoe panics that she's about to be wrongly sent to prison for murdering her best friend Sarah.

However, there are a few twists along the way, though - someone recognises the knife used to cut the parachute cords when it's shown to the court, while one of Sarah's diaries also surfaces.

But will this all be enough to save Zoe from a stint behind bars for a crime she didn't commit?

Check back on Tuesday for my interview with the gorgeous Zoë Lister about trial week!






These scenes air on Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, December 3 at 6.30pm on Channel 4.

On the cobbles of Coronation Street, Rosie's (Helen Flanagan) up to her old tricks as she falsely accuses John (Graeme Hawley) of assaulting her.

John's pleased to hear that Rosie's decided to go back to college but he's not prepared when Rosie demands money to fund her further education. He politely declines, but Rosie turns nasty, threatening to accuse him of assault if he doesn't hand over £50,000.

The former teacher-turned-café worker flatly refuses and with that, Rosie bolts from the café screaming for help. With that, Bill Webster (Peter Armitage) rushes to her rescue. Not long after, John's arrested after Sally (Sally Whittaker) reports him to the police.

Will John be sent back to prison again for crimes against Rosie Webster?

Note that Corrie has a strange scheduling pattern during that week due to I'm A Celeb... It airs each day - Monday at 7.30pm, Tuesday to Thursday at 8pm and Friday at 7.30pm.


These scenes air on Tuesday, December 1 at 8pm on ITV1.

And finally to Emmerdale, where Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) finally realises what Sally's (Siân Reeves) game is as she relives the night of the church fire with Nicola (Nicole Wheeler).

Laurel frantically calls the police when they can't find Sally and the kids anywhere and as they try to explain her predicament to the police, Sally turns up with Arthur and Ashley (John Middleton). Despite feeling like a fool, Laurel maintains to her husband that Sally was responsible for the fire but he brushes off her suggestions.

With that, Laurel bolts upstairs and packs her belongings, before heading out the door. Will Ashley see the light before Laurel walks out of his life?


These scenes air on Wednesday, December 2 at 7pm on ITV1.

Let me know your views on the above using the usual form below!

> Click here to vote for DS's 'Soap Of The Year' 2009!

Poll: Would Tony have really handed himself in?

Last week, I asked whether you felt any sympathy for Emmerdale's resident psycho bitch Sally Spode and boy, have you spoken...

This poll's the one that has surprised me the most in recent months as despite the fact Sally (Siân Reeves) needs severe psychiatric help by the bucket load, you don't care in the slightest! To be fair, though, she doesn't do herself any favours, so I see exactly where you're coming from.

A whopping 84.4% of those who voted don't have any compassion for the deranged firestarter and wannabe smotherer, while 9.9% are deeply concerned for her wellbeing and think she should hop back on the next bus to Broadmoor. The remaining 5.7% of votees aren't fussed either way.

Only yesterday did I speak to Emmerdale series producer Gavin Blyth and he teased that there's a lot more to come from the Ashley and Sally storyline! There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel, as a character like Sally can only last so long. Keep checking back on DS in the coming weeks for the full transcript of my chat with the Emmerdale boss.

Moving onto this week's Corrie-centric question which focuses on Tony Gordon's (Gray O'Brien) decision to turn himself into the police. Not literally, but you know what I mean. Although the recent trailer showed him morphing from good to bad, that's where the sci-fi regeneration material ends...



So on Thursday, we saw Tony's conscience finally make an overwhelming appearance, causing him to drop by the police station and casually admit to ordering the death of Liam Connor last year.

Gray's portrayal of a killer's struggle to cope with his conscience has been captivating and over the last fortnight, he's really showed us why Kim Crowther - the leading producer at the soap - was so eager to extend his contract beyond its planned expiry.

For those who don't know, producers held talks with Gray back in May while planning their long-term stories and they managed to convince him to return for another brief stint in the New Year for Tony's murder trial.

The short break between now and next year is to allow Gray to fulfil his contractual obligations to Manchester's Opera House where he's due to play evil uncle Abanazar in this year's panto Aladdin.

Who knows what would have happened if he'd declined to come back - maybe Tony would have killed himself or fled Weatherfield, never to be seen again? Maybe Carla or Maria would have killed him? Who knows.

That said, do you really think Tony would have handed himself in?

Let me know by placing your vote using the console below.



Don't forget you can leave me your comments about the Tony storyline using the form at the bottom of this blog!

Corrie's Kim Crowther teases show in web chat