Coronavirus has spun the whole world on its axis. It will never be the same again. For a good long while, we were completely grounded to a halt and even now (unless you happened to be a Tory, of course). With restrictions lifted, things are still so different, so many of us still do everything with such an awareness of Covid lurking around every corner. We don’t just leave the house having to remember our keys, wallet and phone anymore – it’s always hand gel and facemasks too now.
For the first time ever, all our soaps had to stop filming. A lot of them filmed far enough in advance that will a lot of gapping, they were able to keep on air. Eastenders shortened their episodes. We got a lot of classic Hollyoaks! And we still don’t have a full week of Doctors. I miss it terribly on a Friday.
Doctors filmed a special Covid episode (The Mirror)
In summer 2020, Doctors put together one of the most amazing pieces of television ever. Filmed on phones and computers at the actors’ homes, they produced a Covid special that brought so many viewers, including myself to tears. It charted them, as frontline workers, all checking in with each other as they battled Covid. Ruhma then developed Covid symptoms and was eventually brought back from the brink. It was just incredible. The script. The story. The fact that they managed to put it together in those circumstances and with such little time. And the sheer tribute to the true NHS who were and continue to go through hell to save all our lives.
But then Doctors resumed as if that episode had never happened and Covid didn’t exist. Ruhma continued her storyline where she was actually suspended from work (so how could she have been working during the pandemic and therefore nearly died of Covid?) and not a single cast member mentioned Coronavirus for weeks or months. There were no signs, no hand gels and the cast were just socially distanced like they’d had a bit of a row. As for patients, they just seemed utterly incompetent. How do you treat an emergency without actually going near someone?
Eventually, they started slipping the odd mention of Covid into the script. So, did they recognise their mistake that as a medical drama, they were in a position to really tackle a really important subject? The fallout of Covid is not just physical but the mental torture people have gone and are going through is immense, particularly being trapped inside and then being too scared to venture back out. And you know what? I bet a lot of those people will be watching shows like Doctors! Their writing team are so incredibly talented. They have tackled so many stories, particularly recently in such an educational way without preaching or patronising. They are challenging and sensitive as well as entertaining and they could do so much for people in terms of exploring the after effects of this hideous pandemic.
Well, apparently they have realised this because recently, there was a fantastic episode which told the story of a woman who had become so anxious about going back out after being trapped in, shielding, that she almost didn’t make it to her vaccination at The Mill. She lost her son to Covid (highlighting the awful situation where people with learning difficulties were not initially prioritised for the vaccination). There was also an episode where a taxi driver had become so overwhelmed with protecting her cab and herself and her customers during the pandemic from germs, that it had spun completely out of control.
These were such a good episodes and I for one, would love more of them. I don’t want to be beaten over the head with Covid episodes. There’s enough of it in life and on the actual news but episodes that are more reflective of the world we are currently living in are most definitely welcome.
Hollyoaks Village is definitely Crime Capital of the UK, there can be no doubt. Every year in Inside Soap, they add up all the murders and the Chester based soap always tots up the most kills, even if, currently, Meena in Emmerdale is working pretty hard to challenge that, as is Gray down in Albert Square.
Ste was indoctrinated into a far right, racist group (Metro)
However, in recent years, Hollyoaks appears to be tackling these ‘big’ stories that span almost an entire year. And the first time they did it, with Ste being indoctrinated into the white supremacist hate group and all the discussions of racism and all those powerful scenes entailed… well, it was amazing. They took a most beloved character and turned them against everything in our moral fibre. They did something that no soap has ever attempted before (although Eastenders are clearly touching on something similar with this new boy, Aaron) and it challenged people’s ways of thinking. I cried my way through that entire story. Every time Ste and his gang abused the Maalik family, it broke my heart. I was shouting at the television, wondering how people could let this happen. But of course, that was the whole point.
The kids were caught up in county lines drugs running (Radio Times)
The following year, they got bigger. They took on this whole ‘flashforward’ story (which was rudely interrupted by the pandemic and then thrown somewhat by actor, Aedan Duckworth (Ollie Morgan) exiting his role with no warning. Can you even imagine the panic of reshooting and reimaging the story when they had not only filmed the end of the story but also aired it a year before?! The county lines drugs story spanned the entire year and although I know it’s a massive issue, for me, it was just too long. The young actors involved were wonderful and it was a great way of showcasing their talent. But by the end of it, I’d pretty much stopped caring what happened – not to mention lost track of it all. It just got too dark and too complicated (not to mention too unlikely that anything like this would happen in a tiny, little village!)
Fergus’s crimes were adding up… (Metro)
So, imagine how thrilled I have been by the latest, massive project surrounding Fergus and his exploitation of every woman in Chester. Again, it’s a hugely important issue. And it is something that’s important to me. But there has to be some level of realism, surely? Would this bloke really come to a small village and set up a series of pay per view spy cams in women’s homes? Locally? Where he lives? And nobody even noticed? Then would he shoot his tech guy for spilling the beans, having become obsessed with one of the girls? Oh and then sell his daughter in law to the highest bidder? It doesn’t make logistical sense. And once again, for me, it just got too dark and too complicated. It’s Hollyoaks, not Line of Duty.
In conclusion, sometimes, a less complex story can actually go a lot further.
Although I was expecting the awful attack on Seb and Nina (the Internet and my favourite magazine, Inside Soap had prepared me); I wasn’t expecting the tragic outcome. I don’t know why but it just didn’t enter my head that it would result in death – in murder. It shocked and distressed me so much, as it should have. I was expecting it to be upsetting and then I was expecting a really interesting story about a hate crime assault. This story about a hate crime murder has been so overwhelming and I mean that in a good way.
Nina and Seb are attacked (pic from Express)
To start with, the social distancing in this story actually improved it. We were not brutalised by the violence we may have seen in non-Covid times. In fact, it was more emotional to see those poor kids on the ground, shadows towering over them and the attack left to our horrified imaginations.
And assuming that they would survive, wondering if they were drift apart or pull together, how they would cope with their injuries and face their attackers in court meant that Seb’s tragic death was all the more upsetting. I suppose the clue was that he and Nina were so deliriously happy before the attack and busy planning their future. No couple in soap are ever allowed to be that happy. It surely means one of them is about to be killed off.
I can’t confess to have been a massive Seb fan myself. I mean, he was alright. He must have been desperately in love with every single girl he ever met, including Nina. And let’s not forget Faye, Alina, Emma… But his death, especially in such a terrible way did make me shed a tear. Watching his mother fall apart has been awful, especially when she doesn’t know where to direct her anger. And seeing Nina so very shaken and blaming herself when she was the victim.
Seb is murdered (pic from Daily Star)
It’s also important and interesting that she and Seb really did nothing to provoke this attack. They weren’t mouthy or argumentative. They were just there. And they were running away when they were attacked. They saw the danger of the situation and they left. They didn’t want any conflict. Corey has always been an awful character, from the first moment he turned up and shared that video of Asha. What on earth she was thinking getting back with him, I have no idea but at least she can see the truth about him now.
I cannot find a single thing to criticise about this storyline. It has been written, directed and portrayed so perfectly. Everyone involved should be so proud of themselves. It has been utterly excruciating to watch but that’s the point of it. It shouldn’t be easy.
One moment that really stands out to me was when Roy put Evelyn in her place, telling her that it’s people that highlight other people’s differences that cause these kinds of attacks. Roy’s whole response to this and in fact his entire relationship with Nina is such a beautiful thing. When Hayley died, we lost something so special in their relationship, this constant reminder of love beyond measure. Coronation Street have replaced that love not with a romantic relationship but in the most ingenious way with Roy’s love for his niece. She doesn’t fit society’s ‘rules’ and she doesn’t try to. Roy sees past her ‘differences’ unblinkingly and without question. And that has never been more evident than his devotion to her now.
Let’s just take a moment to remember Roy and Hayley – may she rest in peace (pic from Daily Star)
So, well done, Corrie. You have impressed me and devastated me in equal measure and I look forward to justice being done (although I am sure it will not be straightforward).
I don’t know about you but when Casualty returned to our screens after what felt like a long break, I was really thrilled. They hit us with one of the most incredible episodes they have ever made, tackling the Covid-19 pandemic head on with heartfelt sincerity and refusing the shy away from what our NHS heroes have been dealing with for the past year. It was a real contrast to Doctors who, despite that one amazing episode last year, have barely acknowledged the pandemic when they, as a GP based soap, could be highlighting so much of the fallout of Coronavirus.
Casualty created an incredible episode, focusing on the Covid-19 pandemic
However, since then, all Casualty seem to have filled us with is plot holes and implausibility. At the beginning of every episode, we are reminded that there is flexibility with the use of face masks. But it isn’t just face masks. They need to say that there’s flexibility with Covid Rules and Regulations – such as visiting loved ones in hospitals. Apparently anyone can wander round Holby City Hospital whereas you’re not allowed to attend hospital with your Nan in real life, no matter how vulnerable she is!
Jan is caught up in her son’s crimes…
As for actual stories, they totally built up Connie’s ‘new love interest’, claiming that it was going to be the last person we would expect. Jacob was literally the first person anyone would expect. And then they’ve split up anyway and Connie has left. Let’s pause for a moment to grieve for Amanda Mealing no longer on our screens.
And what on earth is going on with Jan? She is the most moral character on the show and has always been there to keep everyone in line and now she’s slipping drugs into the prison. Really?! Also, every time her wife appears on screen, who she has apparently been married to forever and everyone knows her; I can’t help but wonder where she – the police officer – was when Jan’s son was locked up for attempted murder. Just a mild musing.
Faith and Dylan were caught up in an ambulance crash…
And speaking of the paramedic team, Faith should 100% be dead now. I know there are difficulties with filming and social distancing and everything but the ambulance crash was so unrealistic. There is no way on earth Lev could have saved her. No way! He practically flew up out of the vehicle with Faith in his arms, a cape round his shoulders, his pants over the trousers and a big S on his chest – or maybe an L! Also, as one last aside, if he was so busy on those dating sites, how did Marty never notice him? He spent more time on those sites than at work. I detect a quick rewrite of a backstory that doesn’t completely make sense…
I have watched Casualty since I was a small child and I do hope that this is a blip. The show is capable of such amazing things. Just looking at it’s triumphant return episode alone, proves that, let alone all those series gone by. I look forward to episodes of that quality in future.
So, I have decided to be the bigger person and put my feelings about Doctors ignoring Covid-19 aside and just enjoy the episodes for what they are. I do accept that filming a medical drama in a socially distanced fashion would be very difficult. So with that in mind, this week, the show has been back to its usual standard.
Emma teases Zara about Harper… (photo credit: WhatsOnTV)
For starters, Harper has gone! Hooray! No more stupid Harper storyline! But first we got to enjoy some brilliant Zara and Emma scenes, with Emma teasing Zara about her new obsession and finally, Daniel (and Joe) had had enough and they and Zara staged a ‘Viking funeral’ for the thing. It is gone!
Daniel forces Zara to say goodbye to Harper… (photo credit: WhatsOnTV)
Al and Lily’s relationship continued, with her buying him some tickets to a beer festival. She told Deborah they were seeing each other. Jimmi overhearing them was hilarious. Al confided in his friend, explaining it was all very casual. But I absolutely love this pairing. They are so well suited and it’s nice to see Al happy.
Al and Lily’s relationship is blossoming… (photo credit: WhatsOnTV)
Sid had to let Deborah down gently, although I immediately became concerned that she overheard that Daniel and Zara talking about Ruhma having ‘custody’ of Tanya. If the relevant authorities find out about it, Ruhma will lose her job for good. Deborah wants to stay. I have no idea why she wants to stay in a job where nobody likes her. But could she be that ruthless?
Shak and his mates suffer the effects of dodgy tequila… (photo credit: WhatsOnTV)
While Ruhma was still away and suspended (so, do we assume the amazing NHS episode is outside of the Doctors timeline and didn’t really happen as part of any of the characters’ storylines then?), Shak decided to have a party. Bear and Sid felt like the old fogies amongst the young students and while Bear almost pulled a disgruntled neighbour, Sid was concerned about a student he had treated for an STI, pulling a girl who had no idea. Things came to a halt when most of the party started vomiting dodgy tequila that STI guy had brought. Grownups, Sid and Bear were left to clear up but Ruhma immediately worked it out when she got home and found a trashed painting behind the sofa.
Uh oh… (photo credit: WhatsOnTV)
However, that was the least of her problems, as the day after her return, she caught Tanya leaving with the baby, wanting to go and live with her sister and receive support from her mother. She didn’t feel able to talk to Ruhma about wanting to leave and start again. Ruhma found it hard to let go but it was all pretty good timing as just as I suspected, Deborah did leave an anonymous tip about Tanya staying with her. Ruhma and Shak managed to persuade her otherwise but things are not looking good for her case. And unfortunately, it has put innocent Zara in the firing line as Ruhma concluded that she was the only one who could have informed on her…
Ruhma is devastated to say goodbye to Tanya and the baby… (photo credit: WhatsOnTV)
(Monday 15th June – Wednesday 26th August 2020)Â
So, it’s been a huge few months on Coronation Street, with some of their biggest stories coming into focus. We passed through VE day with it’s infamous type of Corrie sing-song (‘We’ll Meet Again’) through the 27th July when we flashforward to all the characters having apparently lived through months of lockdown (and Mary singing opera out the window) and they began to emerge back into socially distanced civilisation. It’s actually pretty cool to watch them learning to live in a new, socially distanced world, the way the rest of us are, from navigating their way round the shop, keeping two metres apart to Jenny serving an empty pub, constantly on the phone to Rita, who never appears as none of the older cast are currently allowed on set. There was also special reference to Aggie, who works as a nurse. Abi lent the family a car when their broke down, we saw rainbows in windows and sadly, Aggie was forced to isolate in a hotel when there was an outbreak on her ward.
So, to the storylines…
One story kind of flared and then fizzled; I think the lockdown may have prompted a rewrite. But during the flare, it was fantastically done and showed Alison King at her best. Two creeps surfaced in the pub and attempted to blackmail Carla for things she had done (and didn’t remember) just to get by when she was on the streets and suffering her mental breakdown. Essentially, they abused her and were now abusing her again. But rather than give in to their demands, she told the pub the truth about what had happened, thus taking away their power. They were then removed from the pub. Later, that bloke, Scott assaulted them and I presume he was meant to have more of a role in the show but when they resumed filming and referencing Covid-19 and the lockdown, Jenny informed Geoff that Scott had left and the B&B was empty. So, who knows if and when he’ll return? Now Johnny has returned and it’s been mentioned that Scott is renting somewhere round the corner so who knows…?
Without Yasmeen to protect him, Geoff really hasn’t been able to conceal his ugly behaviour and by the end of these few months, even Tim, who has always stood up for him, is starting to see his true colours. And Faye, who has also always stood up for him, has now caught him lying to the police and being very cruel to Sally. Sally, meanwhile, has absolutely seen through Geoff. She has visited Yasmeen in prison and understood her story. She has teamed up with Alya and handed over the wedding money Geoff gave them in order to help her buy Geoff out of Speed Daal.
Yasmeen is struggling… (photo credit: Digital Spy)
In prison, Yasmeen was still torn over her feelings for her husband and the pain he had caused her until she spoke to him on the phone and the way he spoke to her finally decided things once and for all. This was helped along by the arrival of Elaine Jones, Geoff’s first wife and Tim’s mother – formerly known as Philippa, who Geoff claimed had died. With a lot of persuasion from Alya, Elaine agreed to testify for Yasmeen (as did Sally) but Tim refused to accept that she was his mother and after a confrontation with Geoff, tragic Elaine vanished. Did he kill her?!
Geoff is beginning to lose control… (photo credit: Digital Spy)
Sadly (in another rewrite, I think), the trial was postponed as the stress got too much, Yasmeen ended up in hospital with a heart attack. This story has been utterly gripping. I could watch entire episodes just of this. It has been pitched so perfectly. I hope Corrie get award after award for it. It’s been absolutely brilliant.
Things got intense for Gary when Bernie discovered Rick’s watch in the woods. With Adam obsessed with proving that Gary killed Rick, when she heard the inscription on the watch, Sarah bought it, prompting Gary to desperately try and buy it back. A socially distanced argument broke out, with Sarah running down the Street, calling the police. When she was about to walk in front of car, Gary pushed her out the way and fell in front of it, all without actually touching her. I know a lot of people criticised the stunt but actually, I thought they shot it pretty well, considering the limits on how they could do it.
Things are intense between Gary and Sarah… (photo credit: Digital Spy)
Anyway, Gary was hailed a hero. He told Sarah he loved her. She stopped wanting to call the police on him and instead, got rid of the watch, successfully prompting the breakdown of her marriage to Adam, who was furious that not only was she protecting a murderer but she had also willingly become an accessory. Of course, he has no idea that she’s an old hand at this, being that she, David and Kylie bumped off Callum. But Gary knows that and he understood. Adam probably wouldn’t. Even though he’s shadier than a tree.
Anyway, while Sarah and Adam’s marriage was left in tatters, Gary and Maria went ahead and get hitched (in accordance with social distancing rules), despite Gary having just declared his love for Sarah. Oh, what tangled webs these people weave.
In a very bold and very sad story, Leanne and Steve got the worst possible news about Oliver – he does have the life limiting condition they suspected. I honestly never thought they would go so far as to kill a child. How absolutely devastating. But it is providing Jane Danson in particular with the opportunity to act her socks off! She is absolutely amazing at portraying the sheer heartbreak at the prospect of losing her son. It has been such a rollercoaster of emotion as the whole family come to terms with that has happened, each of them heartbroken in different ways.
Toyah and Imran decide against fostering as Toyah felt it would be inappropriate at the present time (a storyline that seemed to come from nowhere anyway) but upon hearing about it, Leanne insisted that her sister’s dreams should not be put on hold because of her pain. Unfortunately, she let them down with a reference when she had to support Steve.
Simon moved in with Peter when he heard Leanne telling Steve that when Oliver dies, she will have no children left, implying that she doesn’t think of him as her son. She didn’t even remember saying it and desperately tries to make it right but it’s not enough.
When Toyah persuaded Leanne to talk to a professional, Leanne found the strength and hope to make every moment of Oliver’s life count. Unfortunately, her confidence was knocked when she bumped into someone from her antenatal group whose child was doing really well and she was also pregnant again.
Shona returned to the Street and moved in with Roy, maintaining contact with David, which seemed to be going well, apart from that time she tried to kiss her support worker, Aaron. She also made friends with Gemma, who of course has history with her from their old estate. Flashforward to post-lockdown and we aren’t seeing Shona anymore but apparently David has been visiting her window every day during in order to maintain contact, as have the kids.
Shona and David begin spending time together again… (Photo credit: Digital Spy)
Daniel accidentally spent the evening chatting up escort, Vicky and despite being offended at first, he ended up spending the night with her. Then he kept going back. However, he hasn’t been sleeping with her. He’s been getting her to wear Sinead’s cardigan and perfume and holding him – for money. And the poor bloke has been pouring his heart out to her. Post-lockdown though, she kept telling him that she was busy and couldn’t see him. He did attempt to see someone else but it just wasn’t the same. It looks to me like there are reluctant feelings there – on both sides. This is turning into quite the sad storyline.
Seb was furious with his mother when she avoided saying goodbye to the twins before the emigrated to Australia. Abi is trying to do her best for them by letting them go and start a new life. She feels like it’s the least she can do for them after all the mistakes she has made. However, she eventually agreed to go with Seb to see them. Unfortunately, right before she was due to leave, she had an accident in the garage, preventing her from saying goodbye and leaving Seb thinking she had flaked on him and the twins. This left her in a downward spiral as she stole morphine from the hospital, attempting to numb her pain. Thankfully, Peter spotted it (he rescued her from the accident in the first place) and threw the morphine away. She was not happy! However, he did persuade her to agree to go to meeting with him.
An accident preventing Abi from saying goodbye to her kids, sets of a terrible chain of events… (photo credit: Digital Spy)
Gemma was contacted on her blog by Vanessa, one of the women who was horrible to her in the mother and baby group, her life having completely fallen apart. Despite Bernie attempting to warn her away, Gemma went ahead and befriended her, not wanting her to be alone. She also very sweetly arranged a surprise birthday for her twin brother, Paul, which she couldn’t attend herself due to social distancing. She gave him a signed photo of PJ and Duncan. Cue a fantastic twin dance to ‘Let’s Get ready to Rumble’, much to the bemusement of Summer, who thought PJ and Duncan looked a lot like Ant and Dec… Kids!
Paul and Gemma do their best PJ and Duncan! (photo credit: Digital Spy)
Sean, Mary and Billy were concerned when Todd contacted them, asking them to deposit money at a drop off point. They agreed but then a random girl showed up and took the cash, claiming that she found Todd’s phone and took a chance. So, was it a scam all along? Well, we know Todd is due to return (with a different actor) so, who knows what trouble he will bring and what this beginning storyline means?! Also, what will it mean for Billy and Paul? I do hope they don’t break them up. I really like them as a couple and I am not a Todd fan at all!
Coronation Street airs on ITV1 @ 7:30pm, Mondays, Wednesday & Fridays
On Friday, Doctors absolutely excelled themselves with a ground breaking episode, all filmed remotely from the actors’ homes. It was a forty five minute episode to round off for their summer break. (I actually don’t know how I am going to cope this summer without it – it’s been the only stable soap!) But wow, they went out in style! I just don’t know how many ways I can compliment this show and this episode. It was absolutely amazing.
It was so well crafted, perfectly paced and had a fantastic blend of humour and drama. One minute, I was howling over Valerie’s dance moves (Sarah Moyle has the best comic timing), to actually weeping at the thought of losing one of our beloved characters to Coivd-19. We had the fantastic story of Jimmi counselling an intensive care Doctor, the hilarity of Emma and Zara and I enjoyed having a look at all their backgrounds, as I have been doing for the past few months during every piece of news!
The Doctors Cast Came Together to Film a Special Isolation Episode (photo credit: WhatsOnTV)
The episode covered several weeks of lockdown and it did genuinely cover everything that we have all been dealing with every day. It was relatable. It was creative. It was the first time a soap has every attempted such a thing. And if it doesn’t get Best Single Episode at the British Soap Awards, it will be an absolute travesty!
Emmerdale began their series of Lockdown episodes this week, starting with a particularly brilliant two-hander, starring James Hooten and Karen Blick as Sam and Lydia Dingle, living in lockdown together as a newly married couple with Lydia’s potential Huntington’s diagnosis hanging over them.
The episode covers twenty five days living alone in the house and all the familiar issues we have all endured, making the characters and the episode so relatable, such as Sam spotting Brenda ‘panic walking’ despite never usually going walking in ‘normal life’, the stress of supermarkets and click and collects (including silly substitutions), fretting about other family members, Sam being furloughed, a long discussion about everything they miss, the Clap For Carers and journaling about the situation.
I think everyone would have expected this to be the ‘happy’ episode, being that Sam and Lydia are one of the most solid couples in soap. However, it was filled with the right amount of tension. I think many homes up and down the country and indeed all over the world have endured a lot of this kind of Covid-19 fuelled anxiety, particularly if one partner is more vulnerable than the other.
Sam was so worried about Lydia going out that he found himself unwittingly trying to control the situation (and Lydia) by trying to do everything for her. He was horrified any time she tried to go for a walk, to which she responded that when she had, she licked everyone she saw! I think a lot of people will be able to relate to the communication between them. Sam isn’t trying to be unkind. He is trying to care for Lydia because he is so scared of her becoming unwell or even dying. And Lydia is frustrated by him trying to stifle her; she wants to cling onto her independence.
Sam is desperate to look after his wife… (photo credit: Digital Spy)
But the love between them is clear. There are some fantastic moments. When Sam mentioned wanting to start his own business, she was so encouraging. Perhaps a little too encouraging for dinner time! Ahem. And the episode has the most stand out moment when Lydia gives a truly fantastic speech about people who are enduring so much worse than they are. And those who are in a much better position, for that matter. It covers so many emotions and thoughts and feelings and genuinely makes you stop and take stock of what is going on. The writer of this episode (and Karen Blick for her delivery) have to be praised for this.
Lydia wants to remain independent… (photo credit: Digital Spy)
Then it was at the end of the episode when Lydia found an old version of Samson’s best man speech that both she and Sam were reduced to tears. To know just how much the young man loves both his father and his step-mother was enough to move anyone. Sam begged Lydia to take the test.
Sam and Lydia are moved by Samson’s speech… (photo credit: Digital Spy)
Emmerdale has resumed filming and is showing special isolation episodes
The Soap Dish 