Inside Gossip: all the latest soap news headlines
The Square returns with secrets, sex and Slaters…
The cast and crew of Eastenders is finally back filming on the lot again – and the big news is that both Kat and Stacey are coming home to huge drama, when the show returns to BBC1 this autumn. Stars Jessie Wallace and Lacey Turner, who play the Slater cousins respectively, were among several actors spotted reporting for duty as Elstree Studios opened its gates for the first time since pressing pause in March. Lacey looks to be back from maternity leave after welcoming her first child Dusty, while we’re hopeful that Jessie is to don Kat’s leopard print again after a suspension that bosses imposed on the actress earlier this year over her on-set behaviour. So, what do the story gods of Walford have in store for two of its biggest stars? “Kat dumped her menagerie of children on partner Kush and left town after receiving an urgent phone call,” recalls our Albert Square insider. “But will he continue to stand by her when she returns home? “Meanwhile, the smart money is on Stacey rocking up to find former husband Martin flirting up a storm with her best mate, Ruby! What will she make of that? And does that free up Stace to jump back into bed with old flame Max?”
SEX ON THE SQUARE!
Star Jake Wood, who plays the Branning love rat, appears to have the answer to that very question. When probed on Good Morning Britain by presenter Piers Morgan, as to how Eastenders will be tackling sex scenes while adhering to government guidelines, Jake seemed confident that the Square’s raunchier stories can still be achieved. “The crew is looking at ways to film it so people appear to be kissing,” he revealed. “It’s quite extraordinary. We’ve seen some of the ways things are filmed, and you are not going to notice the difference. Almost every shot has CGI [computer generated imagery] in it.”
READY TO ROLL!
As other stories resume, Dotty and Ian’s feud looks set to pick up where it left off. Meanwhile, actress Letitia Dean – who plays Sharon – has forewarned us that the Vic’s new owner is set to be “devastated” when she eventually finds out about Ian’s role in her son Dennis’ death. Plus, Max Bowden predicts his
character Ben will be feeling “worse for wear” when he comes out of lockdown. Elsewhere, Gray’s mask looks set to slip for the first time in front of mother-in-law Karen – and Shona Mcgarty is thrilled to be picking up where she left off with Whitney. “I’m so happy to be back in my Whitney gear,” she beams. “A typical day here at Eastenders is very different now, but I’m sure as time goes on we’ll all get more used to it. I’m so happy to be back!”