Issue #13: Fact or Fiction?

Soap Scoop will be back soon with a new, improved format as part of the new-look Digital Spy!

There have been a plethora of soap-related news stories over the past couple of weeks, claiming this, alleging that, suggesting something else - but do we all really know what’s Fact and what’s Fiction?

Let’s take a look at some of those recent offerings.

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EastEnders

New Year’s Day saw the news that Sid Owen would be returning to Walford to reprise his role as Ricky Butcher. Show bosses were said to have been tempted to revive Ricky after Sid’s recent appearance on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and because Pat Evans’s family is being built up again. And what better time to bring back a Butcher to upset the apple cart?

FICTION: My EastEnders’ insiders reliably inform me that there are no current plans to bring back Ricky, but a return at a later date hasn’t been ruled out.

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In the same news report, it was also speculated that Michael French – who played Pat’s son David Wicks from 1993 to 1996 – would also be revived following the current expansion of the Wicks family: Phil Daniels will appear as Kevin Wicks, Kellie Shirley as Carly Wicks, Diane Parish as an acquaintance of the Wicks and more recently Matt Di Angelo, who arrived this week as Deano Wicks. So, will Michael be completing the line-up?

FICTION: Micheal French hasn’t been approached by the producers, nor has any approach made by him. Mind you, let’s hope his return hasn’t been dismissed completely…

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A story earlier this week saw ex-EastEnder Charlie Brooks suggesting that her character, Janine Butcher, would be returning to the Square, but with a different actress assuming the role. Well?

FICTION: A spokesperson told me that nobody is being re-cast as the character of Janine. I just hope that some day Charlie will return as Janine did turn out a force to be reckoned with and just think of the storyline possibilities with the Wicks family…. Maybe, someday…

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Coronation Street

Veteran Corrie actor John Savident was apparently on the verge of quitting the Street as butcher Fred Elliot last week after becoming “fed up” with the ITV soap. Some actually suggest that John has, indeed, left the show. Today’s tabloids also report that John believes Corrie is “awful” and “can’t maintain the standard” due to the number of episodes that air each week.

FICTION: John Savident hasn’t quit, I say hasn’t quit, the cobbles. John is, in fact, contracted to stay with the soap until October. An insider told me: “John hasn’t expressed any wish to quit the show to producers and he’s contracted to the back end of the year anyway.”

So, there is still a possibility that John will quit this year, but it looks like he’s here to stay for a while yet - I say a while yet.

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Rumours were rife this week that Corrie stunner Samia Smith has quit her role as Maria Sutherland for love and to start a family with her husband and property developer, Matthew Smith.

FICTION: A spokeswoman for the soap told me that Samia has no intention of leaving to start a family, nor has she expressed any wish to leave. New storylines for the coming months suggest Samia’s character could get the break in hairdressing she’s always wanted - her own salon - as Audrey prepares to sell-up and retire.

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Finally, Vicky Entwistle was reported to be keeping her role as knicker-sewer Janice Battersby on the Street after earlier being given the boot by ex-producer Tony Wood. New executive producer Steve Frost, however, apparently reversed Wood’s decision after a chat with the actress.

FACT: Hurrah! At last, a story which has some truth behind it! Yes, Janice has kept her Corrie role. I’m not really sure about this one. When I heard she’d been given the boot I wasn’t that fussed since I thought the character had actually run its course. Looking at the situation now, Janice is – and always has been – an integral part of many storylines. Let’s hope there are a few more juicy ones in the pipeline...

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The Bill

A recent story in a magazine suggested that one half of Oasis, Liam Gallagher, wanted a part in The Bill after bumping into the cast at a club. He reportedly told Michele Austin – who plays PC Yvonne Hemmingway – that he is glued to the series and would love to be a part of it.

FICTION: Michele Austin did bump into Liam Gallagher and he did, indeed acknowledge her. He did not, however, express his wish to appear in the cop drama.

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Meanwhile, keep an eye on DS as there’s a new signing to The Bill expected to be announced within the next couple of weeks.

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Shed

Chatter on the forums suggested that Shed were producing a new Bad Girls spin-off called Bad Girls: Lock Up where each episode would follow one of the prison guards (screws) after hours and show how they spend their home-life.

FICTION: A spokeswoman for Shed told me that “there are currently no plans for such a show.”

I do, however, think there could be mileage in such a spin-off as Footballers’ Wives: Extra Time hasn’t done too badly for itself, has it? Extra Time, by the way, is starting its ITV1 run at 11pm tonight.

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The season at Earls Park is back on track for a fifth series of Footballers’ Wives later this year. As yet, no start date has been confirmed, but here’s what to expect...

The men are out scoring goals while the litter of wives and girlfriends have established a hierarchy in the players’ lounge. But when an old face makes a dramatic return, their lives will never be the same again.

Conrad Gates is dead, but his steely widow Amber (Laila Rouass) is out for revenge and is determined to find out who pulled the trigger, even calling up the spirits to help.

With a new club chairman, Garry Ryan (Nicholas Ball), it looks like the Sparks are set to fly this season. But is this randy music mogul in a game he doesn’t understand?

As I revealed way back in Issue #4, Tremaine Gidigbi (Chucky Venice) is the sensational new signing for Earls Park and he arrives with a stunning international model girlfriend, Liberty (Phina Oruche). Liberty seems attentive enough but, while Tremaine has been in the slammer for GBH, her career has soared - she’s even employed a PA (Lucia Giannecchini) to help. Tremaine might find his diva lady hard to handle.

Broken-hearted Shannon (Sarah Barrand) is desperately missing Harley, who’s been transferred to Real Madrid. She’s worried he’s run off with their nanny, Katie, but her mind is soon distracted by Earls Park’s youngest signing, Callum (Craig Gallivan). He’s her biggest fan and is soon wooing her with champagne and cheeky charm. But it’s not going to be easy for Shannon who is about to meet a mother from hell.

Roger Webb (Jesse Birdsall) is worried about working with this new corrupt chairman, but at least his marriage to Jackie (Gillian Taylforth) seems back on track. And is Bruno Milligan (Ben Richards) losing his mind - could Conrad really be sending messages from the grave? This unstable footballer has already lost his business, could he be about to also lose his wife, his captaincy and his marbles?

Footballers’ Wives: Extra Time will also be back for a second series on ITV2 with more off-the-pitch antics this winter.

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Competition

Right, for all you Coronation Street fans out there I’m going to give you yet another opportunity to swell your collection of yesteryear DVDs – by winning the latest in the series of decade discs from our friends at Network DVD.

This time, it’s 1976 and 1977, so let’s take a brief look at their content.

The year 1976 was another classic for ITV1’s flagship show as Gail contended with a stalker, Annie was caught without a TV licence and Albert and Stan got drunk in the cellar of The Rovers.

Other highlights include Eddie making a citizen’s arrest, Mike Baldwin opening a new factory, Rita hitting a jealous Len and Hilda and Stan having an argument before he disappears for the night.

The following year was also a vintage one for the world’s longest running soap, as Deirdre gave birth to a baby daughter, Janet was found unconscious in Ken’s bed and Suzie cleaned the Ogdens’ chimney with a brick.

In addition, we witness Len and Rita’s marriage, Bet catching Alf in Renee’s bed, Hilda holding a séance, Deirdre being assaulted under the viaduct and the Ogdens going on their second honeymoon.

Thanks to Network DVD, I am giving away a copy of both the 1976 and 1977 discs to TWO lucky readers who can answer the following question:

How did Ken Barlow’s first wife, Valerie Tatlock, die?

UPDATE: This competition has now closed.

Send your entry to me with your full name and address by the closing date of Tuesday 17th January. The first two correct answers pulled out of the hat will win the four DVDs up for grabs.

Best of luck and that's it from me until three weeks' time when I'll be back serving up yet another array of scoopings.

Kris.