Inside Soap UK

Welcome to a brand new year in soapland – and boy, has it been an exciting start to 2026 already! Hopefully by now you’ve all had the chance to watch Corriedale – I can finally tell you that I gasped out loud when Emmerdale’s Graham Foster popped up on the screen! Didn’t he die in 2020? For that, and all your other burning questions in the aftermath, turn to p14 for our full guide to what we can expect in the coming weeks… “Didn’t Graham Foster die in 2020?” But those aren’t the only 2026 teasers we’re bringing you. We have all the goss from Walford head honcho Ben Wadey on p10, plus we even bring you a sneak peek of what you can expect in 2027 as we deep…

First with the week’s HOTTEST headlines Moira is arrested for human trafficking this week, after the police find incriminating evidence at Butler’s Farm linking her to Celia’s sick operation! As Hotten police swarm the village in search of answers about the horrors that have been occurring right on the locals’ doorsteps, Moira’s fraught business relationship with wicked Celia puts her in the frame… “Moira would never have believed this was being orchestrated right under her nose!” cries Dales star Natalie J Robb, who plays Moira. “Celia may have been devious, but Moira had no idea she was doing such evil stuff. This is a lesson to everyone – always query a deal that’s too good to be true!” “The penny drops when the police start digging…” Tough questions! Moira’s ordeal…

Did Moira ever like Celia? Certainly last summer. She thought Celia was helping her out at a really sticky time for the farm and was better to be with than against. Also, Moira was desperate. It all seemed good until Moira decided to ease back from the poultry farming. On reflection, she’ll remember that as the point Celia changed… Emmerdale has worked with the Salvation Army on this story – what did you learn? I hadn’t realised many people trapped like this are people like Bear that have slipped through the cracks. Prior to this, I had assumed that it was made up of people from outside our country, brought in for cheap l abour. Cheap comes at a price. Would you agree that Celia is one of Emmerdale’s all-time…

David and Shona’s poorly newborn daughter Harper is left fighting for her life this week, in desperate need of an emergency blood transfusion to save her! “David and Shona are thrown into panic when an alarm starts to ring while they’re visiting their fragile daughter,” reveals our Coronation Street source. “Being born prematurely and undergoing complex surgery so soon afterwards has left young Harper extremely vulnerable. The doctor tells David and Shona that their baby needs the transfusion urgently – but can it be done in time to save her life?” As petrified parents David and Shona cling to each other on the ward, can little Harper defy the odds and survive her medical complications? Aside from grave concerns about their little baby’s health, David and Shona have another problem…

During the aftermath of the car crash, Shona crossed paths with Emmerdale legend Charity. And at the Corriedale premiere, Emma Atkins – who plays Charity – had nothing but good words to say to us about working with Shona actress Julia Goulding… “I got to watch them pull off some quite intense emotional scenes,” Emma said of Julia and Jack P. Shepherd’s (aka David) acting skills. “Because we know each other, but we don’t know each other, to see them in that capacity felt humbling. I was blown away by their performances, it was lovely!”…

One of the most talked-about plots of 2025 will be revisited this new year, as Joel Marshall stands trial for his brutal attack on stepmum Vicki. Joel is currently being held in a detention centre awaiting trial for assault, after Ross uncovered video footage of his son’s crime, and Vicki is still haunted by her horrific ordeal. Soon, she will be forced to relive that awful incident when Joel takes the stand, but will justice finally be served? “We will see Joel again as we have the trial coming up,” reveals EastEnders’ executive producer, Ben Wadey, as he leads us through 2026’s hottest plots. “As we know he’s decided to plead not guilty, and the community is struggling with why he would want to put everyone through a trial. “Vicki…