Neighbours: Whatever it Takes

(Wednesday 25^th – Friday 27^th March 2020)

Wednesday welcomes the new credits for Neighbours and I have to say, I absolutely love Bonnie Anderson’s vocals. She sounds beautiful and it’s real throwback to old school, traditional Neighbours. I love it. My only disappointment was that I had been hoping for a genuine shake-up to the credits and completely new clips but there were actually no real changes. Gary had already been mercilessly removed at the beginning of the week and now Finn is also gone. But the loveliest thing is all is that Georgie Stone joins the regular cast as Mackenzie Hargreaves alongside the Rebecchi clan. I am so happy!

So, to the show itself… Elly denies murdering Finn, explaining that she attempted to bury him because she needed to know that he wouldn’t come back and harm anyone again. I mean, it’s dodgy storytelling but we’ll go with it. Call it guilt, shock, grief or whatever. Mark visits her at home after she is released and warns her that Finn died from blunt force trauma which left him paralysed (ironic after his fakery as Patrick) and led to him drowning. However, Elly’s fingerprints were found of the tap, which she didn’t mention touching. He advises her to lawyer up and be careful about everything she says.

While Mark and Paige feel guilty about their own personal happiness, Sky and Lana are reluctant to be separated. However, Lana has a book tour to complete and Sky needs to stick around for Finn’s murder investigation. I particularly enjoyed the moment that Mark dismissed her interrupting ‘police business’ and then she introduced herself as Senior Detective Mangel. Ha! Sorry, I know Mark is a really popular character but I find him ever so arrogant. Sky visits Toadie as a civilian, wanting to know how he is but also wanting to know how on earth he escaped The Island when he was so injured. Because he’s a hero, Sky, because he’s a hero.

Worried that Sky believes Elly is guilty, Mark decides not to return to Adelaide (with Paige’s permission) and after waving his wife off at the airport, informs Sky that he is sticking around to work on the case. Sky assures him that she will follow the evidence.

Karl tells Elly that Bea feels responsible for Finn’s actions. He is sure that Sky will be a reasonable voice during the investigation but Mark is convinced she is going to put her through hell. Forensics don’t prove or disprove Elly’s innocence but Sky is certain that she is holding back after watching Finn’s increasingly intense video diaries, revealing his feelings for her and her feelings for him. She believes there is more to the story than Elly has told them. Elly’s DNA has also been found on the rock that killed Finn; Elly explains that she pulled him up to check his pulse when she found him. She didn’t think their feelings for each other were relevant. Um… I think that’s a big, fat lie, young lady!

Susan and Elly meet up, both overwhelmed with guilt for letting the situation with Finn spiral; when they knew he had developed feelings for Elly, they should have shut him down then. Well, yes! Obviously! Susan, you did disappoint me. Anyway, Karl struggles to get Susan to slow down as she throws all of Finn’s belongings out and rips up the family photo from the christening. Susan is called in for questioning and makes the whole situation worse by admitting that Elly stated she was going to make sure Finn wasn’t going to hurt them again, that she would do whatever it takes. She hurriedly insists that Elly didn’t kill him. Well, it’s a bit late for that, Auntie Suse… Elly is arrested for Finn’s murder and Hendrix breaks the news to Susan that Finn killed Prue. It all gets a bit much for her.

Sheila is broken over the loss of her son…

Grief hangs over the Canning House as Sheila and Kyle struggle to come to terms with Gary’s death. Xanthe refuses to come home (presumably the actress declined to reprise her role!) Terese visits to console the family. Roxy does her best to cheer Kyle up. She is so clumsy, it’s cute. Toadie’s first port of call upon his release from hospital is to visit Sheila and Kyle. Sheila asks him to speak at the funeral but she is soon hit with the realisation that they haven’t even found Gary’s body yet, although they soon get word that his body has been recovered and needs to be autopsied. Mark tells her about Prue’s death.

Kyle moves back in with Sheila in time for Mark to break the news that Gary was shot in the back with an arrow. A shirt in the car Finn was driving was found, covered in Gary’s blood. They can only hope that Gary’s death was quick and painless. Kyle is torn up with guilt over bringing the archery set to The Island. Sheila’s anger switches to one person: Susan, the woman who brought Finn back to Ramsay Street. Oh dear.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Paul and Terese opt to delay telling Harlow about the death of her mother. Paul continues to refuse to let Hendrix near his granddaughter. Ned advises Hendrix to give Harlow and her family space and lets slip about Prue’s death. Ignoring him, Hendrix sneaks in to see hospital to see Harlow and he is so lovely to her. I was on the edge of my seat, assuming that he would let slip about Prue but he doesn’t. Paul takes him out of the room, asking him if he has told her but the young man simply says that it’s not his place. It thaws things between them at last. Paul seems to understand that Hendrix really does care about Harlow and wants the best for her.

While poor Harlow tries to piece together all her confusing memories of The Island, her loved ones avoid all her questions. Alone, she listens to a voicemail from her mother, at the end of which there is an explosion. Harlow demands answers from Paul, who has no choice but to explain that Prue has died. Heartbroken, Harlow listens to her mother’s final words on repeat. She feels terrible for being on bad terms with Prue when she died.

Between Sky, Mark, Paul and Terese, they work out that the bomb that killed Prue must have been contained in the Honeymoon Box she had with her – and that it was originally intended for Lucy. Paul explains to Harlow what really happened.

There is a particularly sweet scene where Chloe offers her support to Hendrix, who accepts her as a ‘sort of’ parent. He also accepts, in light of Harlow’s situation, just how lucky he really is.

David is torn up with guilt over not noticing that Finn’s memory had returned and for also letting him visit Harry; if he had done things differently, would he have been able to stop things from turning out the way they have? Ned accuses Finn of having faked his memory loss from the start.

Due to the Coronavirus, Neighbours did temporarily suspend filming

It doesn’t look like there will be a break in schedule in Australia but in the UK, Channel 5 will now only air episodes on Mondays and Fridays, 1:45pm and 6pm

Home and Away: The Best Sheila in the World

(Monday 23^rd – Friday 27^th March 2020)

Ryder hands Jade’s phone into Colby but when Nik refuses to step up, Ryder begs him to make a statement or the whole thing might fall to pieces. Nik comes through and tells the police everything he knows. Ryder is exonerated and Jade, should they ever find her, is potentially in big trouble. Mac happily gives Ryder his job back at Salt and arranges his shifts around TAFE.

Ari gets the wrong end of the stick when he spots his nephew in the back of a police car and lays into him, thinking he is in trouble. After yet another argument, protesting his innocence, Nik calls his other Uncle, Tane, for support. Gemma is relieved to confirm with Colby that Nik really isn’t in any trouble with the police.

Gemma is excited to start her job with Marilyn and Irene in The Diner but payday isn’t close and the family are three days behind in paying the rent on their motel and get a demand notice through the door. Ari still can’t find any work and gets into a row with John, who is clearly concerned about how protective his wife is of the family. Ari admits his troubles to Dean who asks around about jobs for Ari and casually buys him some lunch. Marilyn also slips the family as much food as she can get away with. Unfortunately, the family are faced with the prospect of packing up and moving away when they find they have been evicted from their motel.

Now, I am starting to work them out, I think… Bear with me… Gemma’s husband, Ari’s brother died. Nikau is Gemma’s son. Ari has taken it upon himself to look after them but Nik is resistant and blames him for the way they have to live. Tane, Ari’s other brother, has been somewhat outcast from the family by Ari, although he is still in touch with Gemma and Nik. I have read that Gemma’s husband died during a crime and Tane’s income isn’t the most legally obtained. We already know that Ari did time in jail, where he met Dean but appears to have changed his ways. He and Gemma are definitely sleeping separately; he has been doing his back in, sleeping on the floor in order to give her the bed. So, this family are clearly going to provide a lot of secrets and drama!

Still haunted by the loss of Robbo, Jasmine interrupts an argument between Colby and Bella about her resistance to begin counselling. Bella is worried about talking about things she isn’t supposed to. Jasmine snaps at the them that they should remember how lucky they are to have each other. In a bid to escape her memories of Robbo, Jasmine decides to move in with Irene.

Bella lies to Colby about her progress with the counsellor…

Colby takes Bella to see her new counsellor, Patricia the next day but Bella refuses to speak to her. However, she lies about it to her brother and insists that it went well and she was able to open up. When Colby attempts to book another appointment, Patricia doesn’t think she is the right counsellor for Bella, explaining that they didn’t make any progress in the session. He decides not to call Bella out on her lies. He worries about making ends meet now that he has lost Jasmine and Robbo’s rent. Aware of the difficulties he is facing, Roo and Maggie look into the financial help he and Bella can receive with Bella’s education.

Alf and Martha refuse to go on honeymoon so Roo and Ryder arrange to stay away from the house for a couple of days, leaving the newlyweds with a special breakfast. Roo goes to stay with the Astoni Family, only for Alf and Martha to decide they do want to go on honeymoon after all. Alf declares that Martha is ‘the best Sheila in the world’. So cute.

Roo and Maggie are frustrated with themselves that they haven’t done anything in the search for Leah. To be fair, I’d be a bit annoyed if I was Leah. Apart from Irene for a few days, nobody has really been very bothered about finding her until now. Anyway, they decide to start their own investigation, coming back time and again to the same question: who called her on the day she disappeared? Having passed around posters in the local area, they are shocked to discover that Leah’s previously shut down blog is now live again and full of anti-feminist rants that she absolutely would never have written – but only Leah has the password. I mean, websites can never be hacked, can they? Especially not something as professional as a part-time blog.

Tori and Justin are back from Mason’s funeral and are quickly updated on the progress of the hunt for Leah. Suddenly reminded that his girlfriend is missing, Justin immediately becomes absorbed in the posts. Tori is not impressed with the grammar. Justin furiously demands to know what the police are doing to find his girlfriend. He is convinced that the person writing the posts is holding Leah captive. His own guilt over his neglect of Leah at the time of her disappearance leads him to breaking down in the garage. I wonder if James Stewart, who plays him, is dreaming of happier storylines when he has to stop crying over Tori/Leah/Mason? Ziggy gathers friends together to help Justin run the garage, including finishing fixing Ryder’s car as a surprise, which he is thrilled about. In return, Justin arranges to fast track Ziggy’s apprenticeship.

Willow and Alex have also returned from Mason’s funeral, heavy hearted over the loss of their friend and original #Willex shipper. Willow still doesn’t know if she will have a job for much longer. While Alex waits for Willow to arrive for a date at Salt, she receives a call from the Locum Agency, offering her next job in Queensland in three weeks’ time. She delays telling Willow before she can speak to Tori and confirm whether she is planning to return to work immediately, which she is, dashing Alex’s hope that she could just stay on at Northern Districts. With no other option, Alex tells Willow about the job and takes the risk of asking Willow to go with her.

Alex asks Willow to move to Queensland with her…

In turmoil over what to do, Willow has a rather one sided conversation with Mac where she doesn’t really let the poor woman speak as she tries to make up her mind! Dean is not impressed when Mac tells him that Willow may be moving away with Alex and he doesn’t hesitate to tell Alex what he thinks. Alex eventually decides to turn the job down. She doesn’t want to lose Willow but she doesn’t want to drag her away from her friends and family either. However, Willow has already decided: taking the job is the best thing for Alex and being with Alex is the best thing for Willow. Oh, if only it was going to be that easy! But this is a same-sex love story and Home and Away do have previous so…

Dean gives Alex a hard time about taking Willow away…

Due to the Coronavirus, Home and Away has had to suspend filming

Home and Away will now air on Channel 5 on Mondays and Fridays at 1.15 only

There is a sneak peek episode on 5Star at 6:30pm

These reviews are based on the lunch time Channel 5 episodes

Hollyoaks: The Devil’s Dinner Party

(Monday 23^rd – Friday 27^th March 2020)

Mercedes and Grace are both desperate to stop Liam but neither can agree as to how to do it. Maxine attempts to calm things down; she is shocked to hear about his creepy dartboard. She reaches out to Damon. I do hope that despite everything, one day, they might find their way back to each other. Meanwhile, Liam is going a bit bonkers in The Loft. Grace and Mercedes tackle him but cannot dissuade him from going after Maxine who for once, didn’t do anything wrong. Courtney arrives and Mercedes bluntly tells her the truth about Liam’s behaviour. She is disgusted, warning Liam that if he continues on this path, he will ultimately self-destruct. He breaks down in tears and they all end up pitying him – even Mercedes. He promises to stop his revenge plan for good.

Liam then apologises to Maxine and offers her all the profits from the salon in a bid to get her back on her feet, accepting that it’s what he should have done in the first place. Damon arrives and realises that Maxine was telling the truth a few weeks ago when she told him that Liam had forced her to prostitute herself. She dissuades him from going after Liam or telling the police; everything is sorted now. Yeah, right!

Having deleted all the footage of Jesse and Courtney’s wedding in a fit of despair, Liam goes through all the CCTV footage from the club, which of course shows Jesse arguing with James and Grace about them shooting Mercedes. It explains why he was drinking so heavily, which led to his death and reveals that he was deeply upset when he died. Liam’s mood changes dramatically.

Liam makes a video for Iona. He knows that whatever happens, he is not coming back from this. He then abducts both John Paul and Sylver before inviting Mercedes, Grace, James and Maxine to The Devil’s Dinner Party, held at The Dog.

Arriving at The Dog, Liam has indeed set it up like a dinner party. He also has a gun. First, he sends Grace and James off hunting round the building for John Paul and Sylver; they have three minutes or Maxine is dead. They don’t find them. Thankfully, Goldie interrupts what could be Maxine’s death. Mercedes has to send Goldie away. John Paul and Sylver are merely revealed to be hidden behind a curtain. Liam then announces that Grace and James shot Mercedes.

While Goldie rushes to the hospital to alert Warren, sure that something is wrong at the pub, John Paul is locked up in the basement with James. He makes it clear that should they survive this ordeal, they are over. He is horrified that all this time, it was him who shot his sister.

Up above, Liam order Mercedes to get her revenge and shoot Grace in order to save everyone else. He tells everyone what she did to Eva and Jesse. Remember Eva? That annoying woman Liam was in love with that Grace killed that ultimately changed Liam’s personality, not to mention his face. Grace is broken mess of guilt for her crimes; she genuinely has changed. Mercedes turns the gun on Liam and fires but it’s not loaded. Liam then orders Sylver to take over and kill Grace.

Meanwhile, Warren, Joel, Goldie and Brody try to get into the pub. Warren breaks in upstairs, meeting John Paul and James on the way, who have just escaped from the basement. The three of them listen to Liam telling Sylver that Grace is the Devil and requesting that he gives him the order to kill her. When he refuses, Liam decides to kill her himself but Warren bursts in and intercepts, tackling Liam and allowing everyone to make their escape. Liam makes a grab for Mercedes, holding her back. It’s Grace that comes back to save her, leaving Liam teetering at the top of a staircase. She ignores his pleas for mercy and down he goes – dead. I will not miss him. He was possibly one of the most annoying and overused characters that soap has seen for a very long time.

Courtney is horrified to discover the truth about Grace – that shot Mercedes and that she essentially caused Jesse to drink himself to death. Unable to excuse herself any longer, Grace asks Courtney to take custody of Curtis as she hands herself into the police for the shooting. Grace apologises to Sylver, who is more sad than angry.

James is also prepared to confess. Mercedes tracks them down to the police station and intercepts. She tells the police that she killed Liam in self-defence; she was in fear for her life. The police accept Mercedes’ version of events and no charges are brought. James and Grace can’t believe they will not pay for their crime. Mercedes tells them she needs to face up to her own behaviour, which led to the shooting in the first place. Now, she just wants to put everything behind them all and move on. And the first step to moving on is the long awaited reunion between Mercedes and Sylver! Hooray!

Brody is uncomfortable when Liberty makes a heart shaped photo frame of herself and Brody for the baby and thinks she is becoming too intense. He is then frustrated and confused when she asks Damon out, not wanting his friend to be used. Courtney consoles Liberty over her feelings for Brody. Maxine encourages Liberty to be honest with Brody about her feelings. She opts to do so in song but she is hurt when he doesn’t respond. Eventually, he admits that he feels the same way, just as Sienna returns home.

In the best moment of the whole week, Marnie calls Walter out for his homophobia towards Mitchell, comparing him to Mac and warning him of what he stands to lose if he doesn’t change. I just love Marnie. Thank you for calling his behaviour what it is. It doesn’t matter if he thinks he is justified and if it’s caught up in his religious beliefs. It’s still homophobia and he is treating his grandson abysmally.

Taking Marnie’s words to heart, Walter invites Mitchell and Scott, as a couple to lunch. Walter has also invited Toby and Celeste to the lunch with Scott, Mitchell, Lisa and Martine, wanting to bring the whole family together. Things go south when Scott holds Mitchell’s hand under the table to encourage him. Walter is disgusted and Toby and Celeste enjoy winding the situation up, prompting Mitchell to start to walk out. Lisa tells her grandfather off. He is in the middle of apologising when who should walk in, fresh from charming Grace? Toby, Celeste and Mitchell’s father, Felix (played by Richard Blackwood – well, I guess he’s not going back to Eastenders then!)

Misbah catches trainee nurse Peri in a medication error at the hospital. She is kind to her and lets her off. She is just learning and no harm was done. Unfortunately, Edward notices and gives both of them a huge dressing down, undermining Misbah and derailing all of Peri’s confidence. However, as predicted weeks ago, he takes the opportunity to steal the drugs and swap them for Tony’s medication, another chance to screw with his son’s life and ruin his marriage. I really cannot stand this guy! Has Tony not been through enough already?

Due to the Coronavirus, Hollyoaks has had to suspend filming

Hollyoaks will now air Monday to Wednesday at 6:30pm on Channel 4 with a sneak peek on E4 at 7pm

These reviews are based on the E4 episodes

Emmerdale: Anaphylaxis!

(Wednesday 25^th – Friday 27^th March 2020)

Brenda and Eric launch their new menu at the café and despite some resistance, people dig in. Dan ends up overindulging and ends up rather hungover. Brenda rescues him with a wrap the next morning, only for her not to check the ingredients of some salad dressing. It contains almond milk and he goes into anaphylactic shock in the garage, falling and fracturing his back. Thankfully, Eric and Brenda find him in time to get him medical treatment, although when Eric tries Jacob’s epi-pen on him, he discovers it is well out of date (prompting him to scold Jacob for not looking after himself properly).

Dan is rushed to hospital with Kerry, Amelia and Mandy (haven’t they flirted like, once?) by his side where he is rushed into emergency surgery but it is possible that he may never walk again. At least he is in Emmerdale. Usually when this happens in soap, paralysis means a swift exit unless the character has actually been brought in for the purpose of being disabled but Emmerdale at least has Chris Tate in their history books. Anyway, at first, Brenda tries to pass the blame onto Wendy, who gave Dan some painkillers for his hangover but when she is confronted by the fact that it was more than likely a food allergy, she has to confess the truth. Dan and his loved ones are absolutely livid. I have to say that Kerry’s anger is somewhat hypocritical considering Frank is literally ashes because of her, don’t you think?

Paddy and Chas finally talk things through and this time, she is a lot more compassionate and forgiving about his mistake. They meet with the social worker who is happy not to pursue things any further.

Things are tense between Jamie and Belle as they are both jealous of each other’s partners. Jamie and Belle end up together in the back of his car. Classy. Even classier, he ends up straight back in Andrea’s bed, as she has taken Leyla’s advice in how to seduce her husband. When Paddy unwittingly drops Jamie in it, Kim is quick to cover for her son, hoping to win her way back into his affections. When he wants to know why she would even begin to help him save his marriage, she concedes that even Andrea is better for him than a Dingle. Jamie tells Belle that it’s over between them. Kim warns Belle away from her son again. When Ellis feels like Belle is pulling away from him, she tells him she loves him. He loves her too. But he is actually telling the truth. As for Jamie, quite frankly, I’m disappointed. They brought him in as such an honest, moral character. I don’t buy that the moment he got back together with his wife, he would be at it on the backseat of his car with Belle. He’s grown up despising this kind of behaviour, the deceit and the lies. It seems a shame to take him down this path.

Belle and Jamie can’t resist each other…

Dawn is nervous as the social worker and Luca’s foster mother bring him to live with her. His foster mother is clearly reluctant to let him go and has left an ‘I love you’ recorded message in a teddy bear. He calls her ‘Mummy’. Dawn struggles with feeling like Lucas is bonding with everyone but her.

Meanwhile DI Malone continues to stir up trouble for Will, calling him in on a job with Cain and Billy. Will is not impressed to discover that Billy has been dragged in on the situation. Cain refuses to participate. I remain bored.

The truth is out about Liam and Leyla and Diane and the kids are unreasonably unhappy. Their loyalty is with the woman who went off to Australia permanently without bothering to end their relationship, leaving him hanging in absolute turmoil and grief instead.

Things remain awkward between Victoria and Luke; he tells his mother about the breakup. Rhona is relieved when Pierce is given a life sentence.

Due to the Coronavirus, Emmerdale have had to suspend filming

Emmerdale will now air on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV1 at 7pm

Coronation Street: I May Take a Holiday in Spain, Leave My Wings Behind Me…

(Monday 23^rd – Wednesday 25^th March 2020)

Geoff books another date with ‘Rachel the Escort’ while having a go at Yasmeen for making too much noise, hoovering the house he is so obsessed with being perfectly clean. He is then too busy with his ‘date’ to go with Yasmeen to the Doctor about her stomach cramps, snapping at her that he doesn’t need permission to go out and he is entitled to a life of his own. What a bloody cheek! Also, what is wrong is Yasmeen?!

Meanwhile, Alya discovers that Zeedan is getting married in Spain and nobody is invited. And why have they changed his character so much off-screen? There is no way that he would have ignored Alya’s concerns about Yasmeen or shut them out of his wedding. But anyway, Ryan comes up with the idea of getting herself and Yasmeen invited, without Geoff, in a bid to get Yasmeen away from her husband. She excitedly tells her Gran about the wedding. Geoff fakes excitement but the next thing Alya knows, Geoff has invited himself, claiming to have rearranged their finances and booked a fancy five star hotel for himself and Yasmeen to go on a lovely holiday.

David resists Maria’s support over the loss of Shona and is extremely rude to Brian. He then spends the day with Alina. Emma admits to Seb that she had an awkward conversation with Alina about her possible feelings for him and now she seems to be avoiding them. She asks him to fix it but when he goes home, he finds her half undressed on the sofa with David. He is not happy. Alina is upset to discover that David has a wife and children. When he explains, she still doesn’t want to get involved. Fair play. David winds Seb up in the pub, prompting him to punch him. Emma is heartbroken to realise that her boyfriend still has feelings for his ex. It wasn’t Alina she should have been worrying about, it was Seb. Nick begs David not to give up on Shona.

Bernie does her best to help Gemma around the house and with the children, although it is not appreciated. She also takes her to see Doctor Gaddas, although she is frustrated when Gemma is not honest about how she is really feeling. Gemma promises to let Bernie keep an eye on her and if she doesn’t think she is coping, she will let her take her back to the Doctor.

At Stillwaters, the Retirement Village, Charles finds a patch of dog urine on the carpet in the hall and then hears Eccles barking in Ken and Claudia’s room. Ken is furious to receive an excessive bill for cleaning. Norris is happy to wind the situation up as much as possible.

Evelyn and Arthur finally go out on their date and they have a lovely time. Evelyn is overwhelmed when Arthur gives her a memento from a date they had all those years ago. Hopefully this will turn into a beautiful love story.

Due to the Coronavirus, Coronation Street has had to cease filming

For the foreseeable, Coronation Street will air on ITV on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30pm