Emmerdale fans will remember John Barton’s dramatic exit following a romantic reunion with his wife Moira
John was killed off just as he’d reconciled with wife Moira (Image: ITV)
Emmerdale icon James Thornton has a very famous wife who sitcom fans will instantly recognise.
It’s been 17 years since James Thornton arrived in the Dales as dashing John Barton, and alongside his wife, Moira (Natalie J Robb), he became the new owner of Butlers Farm.
The farmer took over the agricultural business from the iconic Sugden family, kick-starting a new dynasty on the ITV soap and a long-standing feud between the two families.
Before his arrival, series producer Gavin Blyth described James’ character, John, as “a very charismatic and modern farmer”.
However, despite the Bartons initially appearing as the perfect, hardworking family unit, cracks began to show in John and Moira’s marriage.
John’s kiss with Eve Jenson (Suzanne Shaw) and Moira’s subsequent affair with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) tested their relationship. Despite struggling to forgive Moira for her infidelity, John eventually realised he couldn’t live without her.
When the couple reconciled in February 2012, their happiness was short-lived when a harrowing incident saw John and Moira’s car crash following a skid on ice, leading to a tragic plunge off a ravine. John died in the incident, leaving Moira heartbroken.
Speaking to Digital Spy in 2012 about his dramatic Emmerdale exit, James thought the storyline was “brilliant” and said: “As I learned more, I discovered that the scale of John’s departure was going to be huge, and that the amount of money they were spending was massive.
“So I was really, really pleased. As an actor, you always want to do something that’s going to grab the audience’s attention.”
Famous wife
James married Welsh actress Joanna Page, famous for her role as Stacey in the BBC hit Gavin & Stacey, in December 2003, four years after they both starred in the two-part BBC drama David Copperfield – he was Ham Peggotty, and she was Dora Spenlow.
The couple share four children – Eva, Kit, Noah, and the youngest, Boe, who was born in 2021.
It was having children that, Joanna says, completely changed their relationship. She told Woman magazine: “It completely changes you. You’re really close and a unit, then you have kids, and it kind of completely splits you because they’re now the focus.
“We know that romance is going to be on the back burner for now and life is exhausting and hectic, but in 15 years’ time it’s just going to be and him and then we’re going to get to go travelling around the world.”
Road accident
In February 2010, James was hit by a motorist in London and received medical treatment for leg injuries. Emmerdale producers rewrote scenes involving his character. At the time, an Emmerdale source told the Daily Star the entire cast was shocked.
James now works as a voice artist and has narrated several documentaries, including BBC series This Farming Life. He has narrated and appeared in the documentary Benefits By the Sea: Jaywick (2015–2016), narrated the Channel 5 series The Motorway, and has been the voice of Talk TV.
He also narrates ad campaigns for high-profile brands like Ford, Amazon, Shell, and BP.
A former Emmerdale actress is apparently returning to the ITV soap for a mystery new storyline.
A former Emmerdale actress is said to be making a comeback (Image: ITV)
Former Emmerdale actress Ali Mylon is making a comeback – years after her previous stint. The actress’ management team have let slip that the actress is filming with the ITV soap very soon.
She was on the soap briefly back in 2017 as a hotel guest who had a row with Eric Pollard. Her character was furious when she accused Eric of spying on her while she was getting dressed in her hotel room.
Now, it’s been revealed Ali is heading back to the show. It’s not known if she will play the same character or a new one. Her management posted on Facebook and Instagram: “NEWS Non stop client @alimylon is to make a return @emmerdale. She begins filming this month.
“Ali recently appeared @callthemidwife.official Her credits include @coronationstreet, Just Act Normal (The Forge Entertainment), We Are Not Alone (Big Talk Productions), and Peaky Blinders (Tiger Aspect).”
Her other credits include stints in Coronation Street, Peaky Blinders and Call the Midwife.
Meanwhile, spoilers for next week on the ITV soap reveal Serena Sugden’s [Casey Al-Shaqsy] taken aback by DS Thea Ramsden’s [Chelsea Edge] plan. In the police interview room, Ramsden relishes in the emotional pain she’s inflicting on a villager. A flashback soon reveals there is more going on.
An arrival in the village brings accusations with devastating consequences. Elsewhere, Sarah Sugden [Katie Hill] and Charity Dingle [Emma Atkins] keep up their lie about Dr. Todd’s murder, but Sarah spirals as she feels guilty about her crime.
As the day of Dr. Todd’s [Caroline Harker] funeral arrives, Sarah’s guilt spikes, especially when Ds Ramsden arrives to speak with Charity about some anomalies in her statement about Dr. Todd’s death.
As Charity is escorted to the police station, Sarah is wracked with guilt. At the station, Charity panics when her account of fighting off Todd is questioned.
Sarah decides it’s time to confess, and Serena fears this will lead to them both being locked up. Also next week, Vinny Dingle [ Bradley Johnson ] tells Kev Townsend [Chris Coghill] he’s decided to postpone proposing to Lewis Barton [Bradley Riches].
Vinny is soon worried when he’s left thinking Kev may have overheard his private conversation with Gabby Thomas [ Rosie Bentham ]. Kev swears secrecy, leading to Vinny opening up to him.
But when Kev reacts angrily about Vinny’s confession, Vinny thinks he’s made a big mistake in speaking to Kev. Finally, something is clearly weighing heavily on Gabby’s mind.
Aaron Thiara, who plays Ravi Gulati on EastEnders, has reportedly quit the long-running BBC soap after four years on the show so that he can focus on new projects
Aaron Thiara has reportedly quit EastEnders after four years as Ravi Gulati(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
Aaron Thiara has reportedly quit EastEnders. The actor, 33, has starred as Ravi Gulati on the long-running BBC soap since 2022 and has been at the centre of several dramatic storylines during that time.
Now, insiders have claimed that Aaron, who appeared in various short films and a string of Shakespeare plays before joining EastEnders, is leaving the programme for pastures new.
A source claimed: “Aaron has been at the centre of the some of the soaps biggest storylines since his arrival as bad-boy Ravi back in 2022. He’s an incredibly popular member of the cast and the fans love him.
Speaking to The Sun, the source went on to claim: “He’s decided to focus on new projects, but will stay on set until the end of the year to see out some juicy storylines his character has in store.”
Since he arrived in Walford three years ago, Ravi has discovered that his biological son of Nish Panesar and that he was the product of an affair. He then went on to kill Ranveer Gulati, the man he thought was his father, in an act of self-defence and was once in a love triangle with Denise Fox and Jack Branning.
The character is also known for his relationship with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy), with whom he has a son, Nugget and a daughter, Avani.
Just over a year ago, Ravi partnered with Nicola Mitchell to set up a drugs empire but six months later, she spiked his drink as an act of revenge and he ended up putting his son into a coma.
Much of 2026 has revolved around Ravi’s mental health and PTSD, and, ahead of the storyline, Aaron pleaded with fans to “see the person” and “not the villain”. Some fans had been struggling to be sympathetic towards the character following his actions towards Harry.
Aaron said that he hopes fans can look past Ravi’s history amid his upcoming storyline, which EastEnders worked with mental health charity Samaritans on.
He said: “In these moments, I hope the audience can simply see a human being in crisis. Some may hold his history against him, but I hope people will see, not the villain, not the history, but the person underneath it all.”
Aaron won Villain of the Year at the now-defunct British Soap Awards in 2023 and was also nominated for Serial Drama Performance at the National Television Awards around the same time. When he joined the programme a year earlier, he spoke of how thrilled he was to get the chance to be part of such a television staple.
He said: “My heart is filled with immense gratitude to be joining such an iconic show, working alongside a stellar cast and a remarkable production team. It’s a very proud moment for me and my family. This is a wondrous opportunity to approach as an actor, and I can’t wait for people to meet Ravi on screen and witness his roller-coaster of a journey!”
EastEnders actress Kellie Bright has quit the BBC soap after 13 years, saying ‘now is the right time for me to say goodbye’ and teasing an ‘exciting’ exit storyline
EastEnders‘ Kellie Bright has quit the BBC soap. The actress, who played Linda Carter for 13 years, has said that she made the “tough decision” to leave over a year ago.
Posting the news to Instagram, EastEnders bosses wrote: “After 13 years, Kellie Bright is saying goodbye to EastEnders and her iconic role of Linda Carter.
“Kellie Bright burst onto our screens in 2013 as the loveable matriarch of the Carter family, and landlady of The Queen Vic, and has been at the heart of some of the show’s most explosive and iconic storylines since her character’s inception.
“From Linda’s journey with alcoholism, her integral role in The Six flashforward which saw her character responsible for Keanu’s Christmas Day murder, and Linda’s famed relationship with husband Mick Carter, Kellie has firmly cemented Linda as an EastEnders icon who is loved by the viewers and EastEnders company alike for her dedication to family, friendships and pink flamingos.”
They teased that her exit would be dramatic, saying: “Kellie and Linda’s exit is still a while away on screen, but with a rich history like Linda Carter’s, it would be impossible for her to leave quietly…”
Kellie, 50, first joined the show in 2013, as the new landlady of the Queen Vic when her husband Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) took over from the Mitchell family.
When she is set to leave the soap hasn’t been revealed yet, but she will be around until at least 1 January 2027, as Linda already appeared in the flashforward to that date earlier this year.
Sharing her decision to leave, Kellie said: “EastEnders has been my home for thirteen years and I have absolutely loved being part of the show, but I have decided that it is now the right time for me to say goodbye. I made the tough decision over a year ago, and after discussing this with Kate Oates and Ben Wadey, they asked me to stay on to be part of an exciting storyline they had planned, and I happily agreed to extend my stay. I will miss my friends and colleagues hugely, but I am looking forward to my next chapter and spending more time with my wonderful boys.”
Executive producer Ben Wadey added: ““Kellie has been at the beating heart of EastEnders for the past 13 years, and her characterisation of the fiercely lovable, protective, and brilliant Linda Carter has made her a favourite amongst the viewers and cemented her as a classic EastEnders icon.
Kellie has been involved in some of the show’s most explosive and iconic storylines, and everyone at EastEnders will miss Kellie and Linda dearly. When Kellie told us of her decision last year to leave, we already had big plans for Linda, so we were delighted that Kellie agreed to stay on to see them through. We’ve still got a long way to go before we say goodbye.”
The Sun quoted a source who said that Kellie felt it was time to look at opportunities elsewhere. The source also said that the “door is being left open” for Linda to return one day. As such, it is unlikely that she will be killed off – unlike Michelle Ryan’s Zoe Slater.
Zoe is thought to be set to die in a upcoming storyline after Michelle decided to quit earlier this year. A spokesperson said to the Mirror at the time: “We can confirm Zoe Slater will be departing EastEnders later this year. We wish Michelle Ryan all the best for the future. However, we never comment on future storylines as we don’t want to spoil it for the viewers.”
Coronation Street’s Betsy Swain has taken centre stage this week as the ITV soap tackles the silent dangers of non-fatal strangulation in a powerful stroke awareness storyline
Coronation Street’s Betsy Swain has taken centre stage this week as the ITV soap tackles the silent dangers of non-fatal strangulation(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street’s Betsy Swain is currently part of a hard-hitting storyline.
The hit ITV soap is tackling the silent dangers of non-fatal strangulation in a powerful stroke awareness storyline. Only recently, Ryan Connor discovered an unconscious Betsy, where she was rushed to hospital.
Doctors confirmed that she had suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot which was the result of neck artery damage from a temporary loss of circulation.
Once stabilised having suffered a second stroke, an embarrassed and vulnerable Betsy eventually managed to reveal that her boyfriend Dylan Wilson strangled her during consensual sex, despite both believing the pressure applied was minimal.
In the coming months, viewers will witness Betsy’s challenging recovery journeys as she transitions from hospital to home, navigating significant life changes. With Betsy taking centre stage, soap watchers are keen to learn more about actress Sydney Martin’s life from her real age to her normal job before Corrie fame…
Real age
Sydney shot to fame when she joined the ITV soap as Betsy, daughter of fan favourite DS Lisa Swain, played by Vicky Myers.
In the soap, Betsy’s age is 18 with the character having been born in September 2007, meaning she will turn 19 later this year. However, in real life, actress Sydney is in fact 24.
Back in October, Sydney celebrated her birthday, sharing a post on her Instagram revealing she was 24. Reacting to Sydney’s real age, soap fans were left floored at the time.
On a Coronation StreetFacebook fan page, one person said: “Happy 24th birthday to Sydney Martin who plays Betsy Swain!“
Someone else declared: “Never knew she was 24!” A third chimed in and quipped: “I need a moment! She’s 24 What?!” Echoing their thoughts, another person penned: “Def looks younger doesn’t she.”
Normal job before Corrie fame
Before landing her Coronation Street role, Sydney was working at supermarket Tesco and immediately handed her notice in after getting the life-changing call.
Previously talking to The Sun, Sydney recalled how she was watching the film Pitch Perfect 3 with flatmates in Manchester when she got the call to say she had won the role of Betsy.
The actress told the publication: “I just ran to the corner of the flat to answer the phone. I said, ‘It’s going to be a no, so keep watching the film’, and then my agent said, ‘Go hand in your notice’.
“I was doing six days at Tesco, so it’s quite the career change. My flatmate picked me up and we just cried. We didn’t finish Pitch Perfect. I could not have asked for a better first opportunity.
“My parents are my biggest fans. They are over the moon. I had my first picture in a magazine recently and they bought ten copies.”
Sydney admitted that she had previously auditioned for two smaller roles before landing Betsy and it was a two-month process before getting the job.
Coronation Street continues on weekdays at 8:30pm on ITV and ITVX.
From being homeless to becoming one of Emmerdale’s most adored stars, one cast member has an incredible backstory
Emmerdale legend’s epic rise from being homeless to ‘earning thousands’ on ITV soap
An Emmerdale icon has an off-screen story even more remarkable than some of the soap’s biggest storylines.
Over the years, viewers have been introduced to several stars who have joined the long-running programme. And while plenty have left, several have remained in the Dales, including Bob Hope actor Tony Audenshaw.
Tony shot to fame playing Bob Hope on the ITV soap back in 2000. Since then, he’s become a firm favourite and has been involved in a ton of memorable soap moments.
And in Wednesday’s episode (July 15) episode, the Woolpack Batman was seen spilling the beans to newcomer Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) about her newfound family.
However, for actor Tony, life hasn’t always been plain sailing as he has endured tough times trying to make ends meet while chasing his dream of acting.
Tony’s real-life homeless experience
In 2019, Tony opened up about being homeless back in the day, before having his big break in the TV world. The actor revealed he could not afford to stay in a BnB when he worked in Thorpe Park back in the 1980s, so was forced to sleep in his car in order to make ends meet.
“There were occasions where I didn’t have enough for a B&B, so I just parked up and tried to get some kip. It wasn’t easy, but you do what you have to do,” he said on Loose Women.
“I used to work at Thorpe Park, the theme park, I used to be the Thorpe Park rangers and do the voices. Up North things are much cheaper. I came down here in the 80s, and it was £70 for a BNB.
“If I was down for five nights I would sleep in the car, because I didn’t have much money coming in. I’d never do it two nights on the trot because you couldn’t really function well. It was Monday in a B&B, Tuesday in the car – the things you saw in those car parks, torches in the window.”
Tony’s reported soap earnings
Bob’s perseverance paid off as after an early stint in Brookside in the mid-90s, he was first seen on Emmerdale in 1996 in a minor role before landing the part of Bob Hope four years later.
Since then, he has clocked up more than 2,500 episodes, making him one of the soap’s longest-serving cast members.
Due to his status on the show, it’s believed Tony. could be earning thousands. Cast members earn between £400 and £2,000 per episode, which translates to annual salaries ranging from roughly £12,000 for newer cast members to over £200,000 for top, long-standing stars, like Tony.
Tony’s world record
Away from the Yorkshire set, Tony is renowned for his love of running; a hobby that has taken him all around the world, from London to Amsterdam and New York.
In 2010, he entered the London Marathon in a giant baby outfit — and crossed the line in just 3 hours and 13 minutes. The remarkable time earned him a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a baby, but the record has since been broken.
Running was also a hobby he shared with his late wife Ruth, who died from cancer in April 2017, when she was 43 years old, after a 16-month battle with the disease. Tony and Ruth had been married since 1996 and had two children together, a son George and a daughter Emily.
Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX
Away from Coronation Street, Dylan Wilson actor Liam McCheyne has a well-known sibling
Inside Coronation Street Dylan star’s life including famous sibling who appeared on soap(Image: ITV)
Dylan Wilson has been a staple on Coronation Street for years – but what do we know about actor Liam McCheyne?
Liam plays Dylan Wilson, the son of Sean Tully (Anthony Cotton) and Violet Wilson (Jenny Platt). He first arrived on the cobbles in 2011 and later returned in 2022.
In Wednesday’s episode (July 15) Betsy is found unconscious and rushed to hospital, with doctors confirming that she has suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot. So, with more drama to come on the cobbles we’re taking a look inside Dylan actor Liam’s life, including his relationship with his soap co-star brother.
Liam on working with his brother on Corrie
The character of Dylan was originally played by both Liam and his twin brother Connor. And while Liam has continued his acting career, Connor seems to have hung up his acting shoes in favour of sport.
Talking about him and his brother landing the role of Dylan on Corrie, Liam previously said: “We were three years old and it was a total fluke way to get it.
“My neighbour across the road was on work experience for a local agency and she asked my mum if we would want to go and do an audition for her. She said even if we didn’t get it, it would help her with her work experience.
“My mum, dad and even nursery teachers all thought we would be too shy to do it. When we got here, and were in the casting, as soon as the cameras were on, we were like totally different children with our confidence and were laughing away.”
Liam and twin brother’s close relationship
Liam is still very close to Connor and regularly shares photos of them enjoying time together. Earlier this year, Liam shared a special update with his brother as in January, the pair took to their Instagram to share a post celebrating their 19th birthday.
Alongside photos of the twins over the years, Liam wrote in his caption: “Happy birthday to you best mate and right hand man @connormccheyne1 Here’s to the best memories throughout chapter 19!” Meanwhile, Connor penned: “Happy birthday to this one. @liammccheyne here’s to a top 2026.”
Liam’s Corrie return ‘was hard to take for Connor’
Meanwhile in 2024, Liam revealed that fans often stop his twin brother thinking it’s him. He said: “The funnier story is when people think Connor, my twin brother, is Dylan.
The actor added: “He’ll get stopped in Manchester on his way to college and won’t have enough time to say it’s not him before someone has a camera asking for a picture.”
Liam also previously revealed that when Dylan returned to the soap in 2020, both he and his twin brother were up for the role – and it was a hard decision for Corrie producers.
“They couldn’t decide here at Corrie who would be cast, so they sent it to an external casting agency in London. They literally went off my CV, based on the fact that I’d just come off Last Tango,” he said.
“That was hard to take for Connor, because he was very good. But we’ve both agreed in the past, and we’ve said publicly in the press, that it’s led to another opportunity for him. Acting wasn’t his thing in the end and it’s opened another door for him.”
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
Emmerdale star Shebz Miah arrived in the village in 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about the actor.
Kammy (Image: ITV)
Shebz Miah’s real age recently left Emmerdale fans surprised, as they thought the actor was much younger.
In March 2025, actor Shebz arrived in the village as Kammy Hadiq and caused a stir by stealing a quad bike from Moira Dingle’s (Natalie J Robb) land, with Ross Barton (Mike Parr) being blamed for the theft.
This incident introduced Kammy as a bad boy, and he soon caught Sarah Sugden’s (Katie Hill) attention when she found him struggling to start the stolen vehicle by the roadside.
Kammy was soon caught up in a love triangle with Sarah and Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) as both men tried to win her over. As fans know, Sarah and Jacob rekindled their romance, and have since gotten married and are surrogate parents to baby Leyla.
Meanwhile, Kammy caught the affection of close pal Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson), whom he had to gently let down, but revealed his true caring and loyal nature following Vinny’s violent attack.
In a devastating twist, Kammy recently confessed to being homeless, a revelation that left viewers in tears. He was living in a barn and explained that his family estrangement was directly linked to the difficult path his life had taken after tragedy struck in his family years ago.
“My dad died. Unexpected,” he told Belle. “I took it really bad, I didn’t look after my mum how I should have done”. Struggling to cope with his grief, Kammy started mixing with the wrong crowd and became involved in stealing cars.
This led Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) to welcome the mechanic into the family as his romance with Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) blossomed.
Taking to Instagram earlier this year, Shebz, from Bradford in West Yorkshire, shared snippets for his time on the ITV soap so far and wrote: “One year bringing Kammy to life. Grateful for the journey, the incredible people behind the scenes, and everyone who’s welcomed the character into their homes…We’re only just getting started… “
Before his stint in the Dales, eagle-eyed fans might recognise Shebz from his cameo in a 2024 episode of Casualty, where he portrayed Noor Din, and from popping up in Doctors in 2023 as Reece Shaw.
How old is Shebz Miah?
Shebz recently celebrated his 29th birthday, which left fans ‘floored’ as they assumed he was much younger. One fan wrote on Facebook: “Happy 29th birthday to Shebz, who plays Kammy”, as another replied: “29!!! I’m shocked.”
A third chimed in: “I thought he was about 20!!”, as another echoed the sentiment: “Happy birthday, I thought he was only 20 years old, he doesn’t look 29.”
“I didn’t think he was 29, he doesn’t look it. Happy birthday,” exclaimed one person as another simply asked, “29?”
Soap star Shabz tends to keep his private life away from the spotlight and has yet to confirm a romance off-screen.
Turkish actress Ece Irtem, 35, died from ethyl alcohol poisoning after her 35th birthday partyCredit: NewsflashExperts concluded the exceptionally high alcohol level mixing with prescribed antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication killed the starCredit: Newsflash
She died at her home in Istanbul, Turkey, after collapsing in front of her devastated mother.
Initial findings suggested Ece had died of a heart attack, but The Institute of Forensic Medicine ruled that the star died from alcohol poisoning after an extensive investigation.
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395 milligrams of alcohol per decilitre (mg/dl) of blood was found in her system, nearly eight times Turkey’s legal drink-driving limit.
This blood alcohol level is deemed medically critical and can be fatal.
Experts concluded the exceptionally high blood alcohol level mixing with prescribed antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication caused the actress’ death.
The findings put to bed widespread rumours that Ece had died from an illness contracted from a monkey bite.
She had been bitten by a monkey on May 27, during a trip to Thailand, Ece’s lawyer Uğur Gökkoyun confirmed.
Macaques in Thailand can carry infectious diseases including rabies and herpes.
Ece died at her home in Istanbul, Turkey, after collapsing in front of her devastated motherCredit: NewsflashShe had been bitten by a monkey on a recent trip to Thailand, but the bite was not fatalCredit: Newsflash
But Uğur explained that she had taken a 21-day course of preventative medication before safely stopping it after 11 days.
And the autopsy found no evidence suggesting that the monkey bite was at all linked to her death.
Ece had posted on social media just a day before her death thanking fans for their sweet birthday wishes.
Heartbreaking tributes have poured in for the young actress, saying she was full of love and happiness.
Caglar Kuru, her friend from university, wrote: “I cannot find the words. She was a person whose heart was full of love, energy and happiness.
“Living through this pain is truly very sad.”
Ece studied at Yasar University’s Opera and Vocal Studies Department before going on to train as an actress.
The soap star kicked off her television career in 2014 before going on to appear in series including Runaway Brides, That’s My Life and New Bride.
She also starred in shows including Payitaht Abdulhamid and Mr Wrong.
Ece was buried at Yenikoy Cemetery in Kusadasi, on Turkey’s Aegean coast.
But the funeral sparked a furious row after several people were spotted filming and taking photos of the coffin.
Footage of the moment went viral on social media and the fans were slammed for their disrespect towards the grieving family.
Emmerdale fans have been left furious after Dr Caitlin Todd was killed off at the end of Wednesday night’s episode, meaning that Charity Dingle will now never get justice for the abuse she faced
Dr Todd has been murdered on Emmerdale – and some fans have made it quite clear they’ve had enough of these types of storylines (Image: ITV)
Emmerdale fans have been left furious after Dr Caitlin Todd was killed off at the end of Wednesday night’s episode. The medic, played by Caroline Harkin, had relentlessly bullied Sarah Sugden’s partner Jacob when she was in charge of him at the hospital, and things have only got worse since she retired.
Last year, Charity tried become a surrogate for her granddaughter Sarah only to find out that she was naturally pregnant by Ross Barton. Still, she kept this all a secret and Sarah believed that all had gone to plan with the surrogacy. Todd found out the truth and used it to blackmail Charity into handing over money. This all culminated in harrowing scenes where she sexually assaulted a drunken Charity.
Earlier this week, Charity, who confessed all about to Mack, found the courage to go to the police but Mack, having had enough of the whole lie, stormed to the hospital to confront Todd. At the very end of Wednesday night’s episode, Charity vowed to get justice but then, Mack was seen with Todd as he said: “Would we call it winning if you stopped breathing? If you ever come near Charity again, I will bury you!”
A random flashforward, complete with the sound effects of a camera shutter to imply something had very suddenly become a crime scene investigation, showed Todd in the future lying dead, with blood coming out of her head. Todd is now the fourth person in the small Yorkshire village to be murdered this year – after John Sugden, Ray Walters and Celia Daniels.
This all seems to confirm that, despite her evil ways, Doctor Todd will never face justice for the way she abused Charity and fans were not impressed. Taking to X, one fan raged: “I just had a feeling that #Emmerdale was gonna kill Dr Todd off and here we are!
“Charity deserves justice , unfortunately now it’s not gonna happen And now this storyline has turned into a whodunit! I have no words. Soaps needs to do better instead off killing off the villain! This storyline is so important to raise awareness for and in my opinion they have gone and ruined it for a cheap plot!”
Another said: “It angers me that both Charity and Jacob will never get justice for what Dr. Todd did to them. Her abuse of both should have been dealt with not this cheap cop out.”
It all comes after fellow ITV soap Coronation Street made the decision to kill off domestic abuser Theo Silverton, and viewers will know that Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) was revealed as the killer when the whole story began as a plot to raise awareness on an issue rahter than a whodunnit.
Another said: “can soaps stop unaliving the abusers please! todd and charity deserved to get justice. #emmerdale #corrie.” Another said: “two brilliant actors & two brilliant villains. two storylines that brought attention to important topics, only for them to end unrealistically & for the sake of drama. im disappointed both soaps chose this, the characters deserved justice & so did the audience
One particular irate fan blasted the those in charge of the soaps, which have favoured an onslaught of constant crime stories above all else in recent years.
They wrote: “The fact [the soap bosses] are all stuck in this endless loop of stupid ridiculous outlandish who dunnit stories and killing abusers, health stories that aren’t even researched properly and toxic men. Also stupid pairings that are past their sell by date. Not to mention the never ending introduction of villains to these tiny places – just stop.”
Another wrote: “I don’t mind the copper stories I find some interesting, when they get it right but my gripe is the constant cycle of villains and murders! I would rather watch an episode of them all at the rovers for some sort of party with funny scenes not this abysmal year upon year of violence.”
During her stint on the soap as Carly, Gemma was involved in some big storylines – from the heartbreaking revelation that her baby boy, Billy, passed away from sudden infant death to her turbulent romance with Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock).
After two years though, Gemma left the soap in 2017 – and she has remained booked and busy ever since, appearing on Strictly in 2017 and her own reality show with partner Gorka Márquez, Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind the Lens.
And during a recent episode of her podcast, Lost in Translation, that she co-hosts with Gorka, Gemma was quizzed on whether she would ever head back into the world of soaps.
Asking Gemma a question from a viewer, Gorka said: “Would Gemma go back to acting in soaps or acting in general?”
Gemma then replied: “I would. I wouldn’t be able to do soaps again. Hollyoaks kindly asked me back a few times and I love Hollyoaks.” She explained: “The thing with soaps, I love them, but you have to be on call for 24/7 unless you specifically book time off.
“You could have a random Thursday off in the schedule but they’ll ring and say ‘we’re planning to do exterior scenes but it’s chucking it down and we’ve changed it. We’re interior now, you’re in’.”
Gemma, who is a mum to daughter named Mia born in 2019 and a son named Thiago (born in July 2023 – went on: “With kids and juggling that, it would be too stressful and I wouldn’t want to.”
Nonetheless, Gemma added “However, if it was like a one-off drama, whereby they said ‘you start the 10th of May you finish the 10th of June’, 100% because there’s a start and end and I would love it.”
Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX
The Inside Soap Awards are back and they have announced a major change to this years’ event to mark the 30th anniversary
The Inside Soap Awards are back!(Image: PA)
The Inside Soap Awards are back – and are making the move up North for the first time ever.
This year’s event will take place in Manchester and will be the only soap awards ceremony held this year.
Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks will all go head to head whilst Australian soap Home and Away has also been nominated as well as dramas like Casualty and Waterloo Road.
Up for nomination this year is the epic Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover episode – Corriedale – as well as Nigel’s sad death in EastEnders, amongst other dramatic and heartbreaking scenes.
“The Inside Soap Awards are still going strong after 30 years, and we’re proud to be championing all the wonderful work the soaps produce day in, day out. Our readers are just as passionate and loyal now as they were back in 1996, with over 90,000 of them voting each year – and the Inside Soap Awards remain the only accolades of their kind to be voted for entirely by the true experts, the soap fans themselves,” Inside Soap magazine editor Sarah Ellis said.
To mark the awards’ 30th anniversary, there will be their very own Hall of Fame and the first inductee will be announced during the ceremony. She added: “The soap star who receives this prestigious accolade will be someone who’s been closely associated with the Inside Soap Awards since they began in 1996.
“In addition, fans will also be able to nominate their Soap Superstar of 2026, a person they feel has gone above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to providing entertainment.”
Voting opens midday on Tuesday 30 June, and the winners will be revealed in Manchester in September.
The full list of nominations are as follows:
Best Actress
Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster, Coronation Street )
Vicky Myers (Lisa Connor-Swain, Coronation Street )
Hollyoaks star Haiesha Mistry, who played Yasmine Maalik on the Channel 4 show from 2017 until 2024, has landed a completely different kind of job two years after quitting the soap
20:31, 28 Jun 2026Updated 20:31, 28 Jun 2026
Hollyoaks star Haiesha Mistry has landed a new job away from the TV industry(Image: Lime Pictures)
Hollyoaks star Haiesha Mistry has landed a “normal job” two years after quitting the soap. The actress, 32, played Yasmine Maalik on the Channel 4 show from 2017 until 2024 and was part of several major storylines, even winning the British Soap Award for Best Single Episode in 2018 when her character was involved in a group self-harm plot.
But now, Haiesha has taken to social media to reveal that she has now found employment in a secondary school, although she did not go into too much detail about her new role.
Alongside a mirror selfie taken during the heatwave, she wrote on Instagram: “Spent the last 2 days working in a high school during the hottest days of the year.”
As part of her departure storyline, Yasmine decided to accept a new job in Canada, leaving the village and her husband Tom Cunningham behind after months of drama. Yazz had been talking to someone online unaware it was Tom pretending to be ‘Gordon’. He was gutted when he realised she had no idea it was him, and the pair clashed.
Tom then cheated on Yazz with his ex and her best pal Peri Lomax, while Yazz also kissed another character. But the biggest betrayal came when she was offered a huge job in Canada and Tom sabotaged it, or at least tried to.
Not wanting to lose her, Tom emailed the potential employer and pretended to be Yazz. He declined the job opportunity and did not tell his wife what he had done.
Yazz found out via the employer though, and confronted Tom during the vow renewal where she announced she wanted a divorce. She then confirmed to her loved ones that she planned to take the job and leave for Canada.
In sad scenes, the character said her goodbyes to her mother Misbah and her friends and family. She then had a final goodbye with Tom as they made amends, with Yazz getting into a taxi and starting her new life away from the village.
Hollyoaks marked Haiesha’s on-screen acting debut and whilst she took a break from the soap in 2021 to shoot the short film Mug, she has not appeared in any other television projects since she left completely.
When her exit scenes aired, Haiesha reflected on her time on the programme with an emotional Instagram post.
She said: “That’s a wrap. 2017-2024 7 years of Yazz Maalik/Yazz Cunningham complete! Yazz you have been my pride and joy for the last 7 years. You’ve taught me so, so much. I will never forget your sass! Especially in the last 2 episodes!
“Unmatched at every level! To the iconic beehive, all the creative hairstyles or the outfits that screamed sass, especially that ‘big bird’ yellow fluffy jacket! “Our make-up and costume ladies will know, the way I would go, ‘OH HERE SHE IS, YAZZ IS HERE’, you brought so much life and served looks every damn time!
“I’ve had so many incredible storylines over the years. Whether it’s the car crash stunt, school explosion, the tunnel of terror, the self-harm storyline, Yazz’s deafness, the historical rape or the ectopic pregnancy storyline to name a few. “Being on the show has taught me how important it is to tell stories and represent, especially that BROWN GIRL REPRESENTATION!
“To the Hollyoaks fans, the best there is. Thank you for loving and hating on Yazz. When I got those reactions, I knew I was doing my job right. It’s been a pleasure to keep you entertained. “Being part of the Hollyoaks family is something I will cherish forever but as the saying goes, all good things have to come to an end. Peace out Yazz.”
Coronation Street legend Kevin Webster got into a huge showdown with nephew Carl on Tuesday night’s episode of the world’s longest-running TV soap and a shot was fired
Kevin Webster got involved in a shocking gun showdown on Tuesday night’s episode of Coronation Street
Kevin Webster got involved in a shocking gun showdown on Tuesday night’s episode of Coronation Street. The mechanic has been played by Michael Le Vell since 1983 and has been central to many of the soap’s biggest storylines, many of them involving his ex-wife Sally (Sally Dynevor), and their daughters,Rosie (Helen Flanagan) and Sophie (Brooke Vincent).
On top of all that, Carl was recently injured when working on a car on the garage when Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) let the vehicle collapse down on him, and, to keep himself in the clear, lied to the police about his whereabouts that night, thereby landing innocent Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) in prison over the murder of Theo Silverton.
Things came to a head in the latest episode of the world’s longest-running TV soap when Kevin and Carl came face-to-face in the garage as Ronnie Bailey, along with Tyrone, watched on in horror. Having obtained a gun from dodgy car dealer Fiona Morley (Sara Poyzer), it was lying on the floor between them – just after Kevin had tried to hit him with a wrench.
Carl told Kevin: ” Either we fix this… ..or you pick up that gun,” to which his brother-turned-nephew did, believing that it was fake and a violent tussle followed when Carl told him to pull the trigger. A gunshot was heard and it transpired that Kevin had pulled the trigger.
Tyrone got a hold of Kevin to make him see sense and, when he realised Carl had dodged the bullet, he said: “I’m sorry, Carl.” Later on, Carl called round to number 13 where he told Kevin: “Been a bit of a day, eh? Should never have agreed to do that job for Fiona. I don’t know what I was thinking, pulling that out on you. We’re a right pair, aren’t we, eh?
“So, is this us now? Putting everything behind us?” Kevin sighed as he said: “We’re never gonna be best mates, but yeah. We both love Debbie and if you’re serious about doing the right thing by her then we’ll move forward.
“Just one thing. Why did you do it? Abi, I mean. Like, I know I’ve gotta get past it, and it’s doing me no good dwelling on the past but I need to know. Please.” Carl said: “Because she was there, I was selfish, self-destructive. Jealous. Kev, whatever the reason, doing that to you, to both of you, it was wrong and I regret it. I regret it all. I don’t wanna be that person again and I don’t think I’m gonna be.” It was then that the warring relatives seemingly called a truce as they shook hands.
By the end of the episode, Ronnie and Debbie had found out about the whole thing and he claimed he had returned the gun, but now it was nowhere to be seen as Fiona hadn’t received it. Lamenting in the living room, Debbie said to Ronnie and Carl: “So, not only have we got God knows who coming after us, but there’s someone out there with a loaded gun!
“Right, first thing tomorrow, I want you both out there, and I want you to find it, because if you don’t, it won’t be Fiona you’ll have to worry about, it’ll be me! Now, get out of my sight… the pair of you,” and showed them the door. What none of them know, though, is Jodie Ramsey, the mysterious long-lost sister of Shona, had found the gun and taken it for herself.
Reacting to the tense episode, one fan wrote on X: “Carl bringing a gun to an argument.. yes only soft b******* do that!! #Corrie,” whilst another said: “So what’s Jodie planning on doing with the gun then?” Is she gonna use it on David if he doesn’t sleep with her?”
A third wrote: “Aw Carl and Kevin making up. Hope Carl sorts himself out for Debbie,” and a fourth said: “A near miss for Carl and Kevin. Oh s*** the gun has gone off!”
Coronation Streetairs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream from 7am onITVX.
An EastEnders star is set for the exit less than a year after bursting onto the Albert Square cobbles, but they look to be heading out with a gripping story line
EastEnders are ready to say goodbye to a star(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
An EastEnders star is set to say goodbye to Walford following a shocking story line. After signing as a high-profile star on the BBC soap last year, Ronni Ancona is set to bow out of her role in dramatic fashion.
The comedian and impressionist set foot in Albert Square as Linda Carter’s old school friend Bea Pollard. She was first seen on screen in January, but now, less than a year later, her time is said to be up.
After being outed as a villain and a thief, Ronni’s character is ready to bow out in another shocking twist. A source said that the character shone but is now ready to leave.
Speaking to The Sun, the insider said: “She came in for a six month stint but there was talk of it being extended if everyone agreed. Sadly, that won’t be happening and Ronni will be leaving.”
A spokeswoman for EastEnders said: “As we previously announced, Ronni Ancona joined EastEnders for a short stint, which was then extended, for a very dramatic storyline which will unfold over the next few weeks”
Last month things came to blows for Bea. She had had been telling people how besotted she was with Ian Beale, unaware that just days before, he had passionately kissed Elaine after he won the local councillor elections.
While Bea had believed their love was blossoming, Ian clearly didn’t have the same thoughts – and made his feelings very clear.
After the local newspaper branded the duo Mr and Mrs Beale, he was fuming and thought that Bea may have been behind it, as she was a huge driving force in his campaigning.
Raging, Ian Billy and Honey’s to confront Bea. He fumed that she had been “overenthusiastic”, but she didn’t take the signals and explained she was excited for their future, attending fancy dinners and events as the partner of a local politician.
Bea later confirmed that, along with the libellous video she shared of Elaine, she had also purchased more social media followers for Ian in a bid to make him look “more popular”.
She told Ian: “”I do have feelings for you, Ian,” before adding that she didn’t want to jinx anything. But Ian rebuffed her offering and fired back: “I don’t have feelings for you.”
He then told her she lived in “cloud cuckoo land”, adding she was a “deluded, needy fantasist, trying to live her life through other people.”
Bea saw red and instantly marched Ian out of the flat. Grabbing him in an arm lock she then threw him on the street. But as time went on, Ian headed home to pack away his election campaign materials, including posters. But as he was doing so, he noticed something confusing – invoices made out to Susan Mitchell, Honey’s real name.
