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EastEnders News & Gossip Round Up

Former EastEnders actress, Hannah Waterman, has revealed that she and her ex-husband Ricky Groves – who played Gary Hobbs on the show – do still speak, despite press rumours to the contrary.

In an interview for New magazine, Hannah said, "We do talk to each other, and we do have a bit of decorum for each other.

“It's the best way to be.

“We're not tearing each other's eyes out and we are being grown up about it.

"I saw him yesterday, in fact. It's really sad, as you don't get married to then split up. But, eight months on, and I'm in a better place than I was."

Hannah also took the opportunity to reiterate that the couple’s split was nothing to do with Hannah’s weight loss.

Will Stacey Slater die in the Queen Vic fire??

On Thursday, we’ll see that the much awaited Queen Vic fire takes a hold, trapping Stacey and baby Lily in the upstairs flat…

It all begins when Stacey goes to the Vic to confess to Peggy that she murdered Archie. She also confesses the same to Ryan, but meanwhile, in the bar, Phil tells Peggy that he knows she loves the pub more than she loves him…

“Go on, deny it!” he yells, and when Peggy hesitates, he drops the match onto the accelerant he’s already doused the place with.

Stacey runs upstairs to get Lily, but by the time she has, the stairs are full of smoke and the flames spreading out of control.

Ryan meanwhile has a ladder which he climbs up to the flat’s window to take Lily from Stacey.

UK Soaps News & Gossip Round Up

We’ll start our look at what’s going on in the top UK soaps with EastEnders actress Melissa Suffield…

Melissa, who plays Lucy Beale, has of course been very publicly axed from the show following accusations from the show’s bosses that she wasn’t conducting herself in a manner befitting an EastEnders cast member…

And during an interview with Reveal magazine, Melissa – who will be replaced by another actress in the role of Lucy – explained that she felt her dismissal from the show was unfair.

She said, "It's not like I was going out, punching photographers and being sick in a gutter.

“I'm only doing what every other girl of 17 does. "It's not an excuse, but out of all the things Lucy has done, the only one I've done is drink underage.

Don’t miss THE event of EastEnders’ year next week!

The much hyped and anticipated Queen Vic fire is set to light up our screens next week…

It all begins when Peggy tries to keep Phil locked up in the pub to stop him taking any more drugs.

But Phil being Phil, he doesn’t take too kindly to being told what to do, and deprived of booze and drugs, so in a bid to escape – and exact revenge on Peggy – he starts the fire in the living area of the Vic…

Peggy had thought that Phil was bluffing and wouldn’t set the put alight, but she thought very wrong!

The fire scenes are broadcast on Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC1, and in addition this week, Sam gives birth, but just as Peggy thinks she’s going to get to play granny again, Sam makes the shock announcement that she’s putting the baby up for adoption.

EastEnders News & Gossip Round Up

‘Enders star Gillian Wright – who plays Jean Slater – has revealed that she thinks her character shares a “unique” relationship with her daughter Stacey.

Stacey, who’s played by Lacey Turner, is making her exit from the show later this year, as is Gillian, and Gillian told Inside Soap that she’s preparing to say her goodbyes to the show.

But on the subject of Jean and Stacey’s relationship, Gillian said, "[Jean’s] relationship with Stacey is unique.

“Not just because they both live with bipolar disorder, either.

"There's a clot of comedy and they really care for each other. It's all a bit strange at times, but there's a huge amount of love as well."

UK Soaps News & Gossip Round Up

EastEnders star Lacey Turner, who of course plays Stacey Branning, has been telling What’s On TV magazine that Stacey will never forgive her friend Becca for betraying Bradley…

Stacey is apparently about to find out that Becca ratted out her husband when Becca confesses to Stacey’s mum, Jean.

Lacey said, "It's actually quite chilling, Jean's scared when Becca tells Jean that Stacey is hers now."

Lacey added that in upcoming episodes, Becca will convince Stacey that she doesn’t need her medication.

She said, "She encourages Stacey to believe that without the medication, she'll be able to feel proper emotions again and will appreciate the joys of being with Lily more.

EastEnders News & Gossip

EastEnders actor, Nitin Ganatra, has revealed that he’d love it if his character Masood got to snog Jane (Laurie Brett) again!

Speaking to Inside Soap, Nitin said, "I'd give anything for Masood to have another snog with Jane.

"Laurie Brett is a really hot kisser - she has lips like a bouncy castle!

"I'd like him to pucker up with more women in general, actually. I wonder what would happen if you put Masood and Roxy together?

“I think he has a secret fetish for blonde women!"

In other show news, the recently axed Melissa Suffield – who plays Lucy Beale – has landed a role in a play entitled, Olly’s Prison.

UK Soaps News & Gossip Round Up

In EastEnders, we have of course recently seen Phil Mitchell becoming addicted to crack cocaine. He was introduced to the drug by Rainie – Tanya Branning’s sister – who’s played by Tanya Franks…

The show has come in for a lot of criticism for airing the shocking drugs scenes before the watershed, but Tanya has defended the decision to depict the storyline.

Speaking to The Sun, she said, "I wasn't surprised that people complained because it's pushed a boundary.

“But in my opinion, the good that comes from storylines like this far outweighs whatever concerns people may have.

"It's been very well handled and as true and real as it could be before the watershed.

“They've been very brave with it and I give full credit to EastEnders for that.

EastEnders: News & Gossip – Kat Slater’s pregnant!

When Kat Slater – Jesse Wallace – returns to Albert Square later this year, she’ll be pregnant!

She and husband Alfie Moon – Shane Richie – are set to make a comeback to Walford in order to run the Queen Vic after it’s rebuilt following the much talked about fire.

We last saw the couple five years ago when they left on Christmas Day.

Jesse has been spotted on set with “a noticeable baby bump”, but the show’s bosses refuse to comment on whether Alfie is the baby’s father, prompting some speculation that maybe Alfie’s cousin – who’s due to arrive on the Square too – could be somewhat more involved with the couple than just being a cousin!

UK Soaps News & Gossip Round Up

Our first piece of news comes from EastEnders, and it’s been announced that Dancing On Ice runner-up, Stefan Booth, has been cast as Tanya Branning’s fiancé, Greg.

The Daily Mirror reports that we’ll first see Stefan as Greg next month when he appears as part of the team helping to rebuild the Vic after a massive fire destroys the iconic pub.

And it seems that Greg’s arrival on the Square is going to anger Max who’s still hoping that he and Tanya can reunite.

A show insider told the paper, "Max has his fair share of women, but he still has a soft spot for Tanya despite all they have been through.

“Don't be too surprised if he makes mincemeat out of Greg."

UK Soaps News & Gossip Round Up

We’ll begin our look at what’s happening in soapland with a trip to Weatherfield, where it’s being reported that both Dev’s Corner Shop and Rita and Norris’s Kabin will be demolished in the much talked about tram crash later this year.

And it seems that Nick Tilsley’s new bar, The Joinery, will also be demolished when the tram crashes onto the Street after derailing as it goes across the viaduct.

A show insider told the Sunday Mirror, "It’ll be total carnage, and the scenes will make incredible viewing.

“The producers want to make it the most dramatic episode Coronation Street has ever shown, and they’re pulling out all the stops.

“The Kabin and the Corner Shop will both be destroyed, along with the bar.

UK Soaps News & Gossip Round Up

Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson is reportedly having the set of the show searched for “bugging devices.”

It seems that someone at Corrie is leaking news of upcoming scripts, and Collinson wants to ensure that it stops in the run up to the show’s 50th anniversary storylines being filmed.

According to the News of the World, he’s even hired a specialist firm to try to find out who’s leaking information to the press. Measures taken so far include “on the spot checks” and the scripts being kept in a locked room.

Collinson said of the new security, "I'm determined to discover who is leaking scripts.

“We're deploying unprecedented security measures to clamp down on these breaches."

EastEnders Spoilers! Rob Kazinsky to bring Sean Slater back at Xmas 2010!

It’s being reported today that former EastEnders star Rob Kazinsky will make a Walford comeback this year to reprise the role of Sean Slater.

The People reports that Sean’s reappearance on the Square will coincide with his on-screen sister Stacey (Lacey Turner) leaving.

The paper adds that his Christmas return storyline is an “explosive” one.

A show insider told the paper, “Sean’s comeback is going to be massive.

“It’s going to really shake things up in Walford. Fans are not going to be disappointed.”

We last saw Sean in January 2009 when he dramatically left the Square after trying to kill himself and Roxy Mitchell who had betrayed him when she had an affair with Jack.

UK Soaps News & Gossip Round Up

Former EastEnders star, Tamzin Outhwaite – who plays Mel Owen – has revealed that only “Phil Mitchell or Ian Beale” could facilitate Mel’s return to the Square.

This, says Tamzin, is because they are the only characters left in Walford with whom Mel had a close relationship.

Speaking to the PA about the possibility of her returning to the show, Tamzin explained, "I don't know how Mel would return because there's no one there for her to return to.

“She doesn't really know anyone apart from Ian Beale and Phil Mitchell. So unless she was coming back to see one of them...”

And when asked if it was likely she might make a comeback, Tamzin said, "I've never officially been asked. I wouldn't see it as a bad thing but, at the moment, it's not something that I'm looking into."

UK Soaps News & Gossip Round Up

Over in Emmerdale, Andy Devine – who played the recently deceased Shadrach Dingle – has revealed that the end of his character made him feel like he’d been let out of “prison.”

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Andy said, "I suppose it’s a bit like coming out of prison…

“It takes a couple of weeks for the bubble to burst.

"I thought ‘if I'm not careful, I’m going to be like the others who die on the show’.

“I haven't been silly with my money. I've been thrifty, I suppose I thought I'll put this away for old age, then I realised hang on, this is my old age!"

Andy also revealed that he’d been happy with Shadrach’s exit storyline, but he added that he hadn’t enjoyed filming it. Viewers of course saw Shadrach tumbling into the river after collapsing during a drinking binge.