Celebrating 1000 issues of Inside Soap

(999 issues ago...)

Launching in September 1992, Inside Soap rode the then-huge popularity of the Aussie soaps – and even included a poster of Summer Bay heart-throb Nick Parrish. Here are the big stories that the very first Inside Soap chose to shout about…

1 “Sharon thinks she can change Grant, like she thought she could change her dad, Dirty Den – but a leopard can’t change its spots! ” said Ross Kemp from Eastenders. Inside Soap predicted that Grant and Sharon’s marriage would hit the rocks, but we were coy about revealing the big shock of the month – as Shazza slept with Phil for the very first time!

2 ‘Rebekah gets raunchy! ’ gasped our feature, as Home and Away star Rebekah Elmaloglou (Sophie Simpson) flashed her knees. Wonderfully, 999 issues later, Rebekah is still getting raunchy in the pages of Inside Soap. Check out p28!

3 These were the boys of Beverly Hills 90210.“I hate being called a **** ing teen idol ,” cursed Luke Perry. The language! He’s now 52, and hopefully chilled out a bit.

4 Home and Away’s Frank was catnip to our readers back in 1992. What a hunk! 5 Steve Mcdonald’s ideal girl, according to 18-year-old Simon Gregson, was Patsy Kensit. “Steve should be surrounded by a bevvy of blondes! ”

6 Real-life Brookside couple Rachel Lindsay and Danny Mccall (Sammy Rogers and Owen Daniels) took us to their favourite restaurant in Liverpool: Casa Italia. Rachel and Danny had a messy split a few years later. Casa Italia is still going strong.

7 Yes, Neighbours’ Stefan Dennis (Paul) did indeed offer solutions to readers’ personal problems! He told Pete from Staines: “If your girlfriend is annoying you now, what’s she going to be like in five years? Think about it.” Bit harsh. 8 Rachel Blakely and Scott Michaelson were Neighbours’ new pin-ups, Gaby and Brad Willis. Scott’s ‘surfer dude’ hair sent UK sales of Sun-in hair lightener spray through the roof. 46 lnsidesoap

9 Neighbours’ Anne Haddy was keen to keep playing Helen Daniels despite serious health problems.

“Her medical notes have a filing

cabinet to themselves,” we revealed. Anne worked for five more years, and sadly passed away in 1999.

10 Corrie’s Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts) ‘got his own back’ on co-star Ken Morley (Reg Holdsworth) by moving the sign for the ladies’ to Ken’s dressing room door. He was probably thrilled!