Sam’s strain

He snaps at Lydia when she leaves the house. Why is he so anxious?

Hidden agenda: What’s up, Sam? ith Samson stuck on a school trip to France, Belle confined to the upstairs flat, and

Mandy and Vinny spending lockdown in the beauty salon, Lydia and Sam have Wishing

Well all to themselves.

It should be a golden opportunity for the newlyweds to spend some ‘quality time’ together. But instead of puckering up, they’re falling out.

All’s fine at first, and Lydia being Lydia, she finds lots of reasons to smile.

‘Lydia has some really nice speeches in the episode, where she talks about the positivity she has found in being in lockdown – such as the community spirit, looking

WSpliced: The couple’s pre-lockdown nuptials out for other people, and the emotion of clapping for the NHS at 8pm on a Thursday,’ reveals Karen Blick, who plays the kind-hearted cleaner.

But there’s a dark cloud hanging over Sam. He’s oddly reluctant to have his wife leave the house – even for a socially distanced stroll. Something is clearly bothering him.

Lydia becomes increasingly annoyed with her husband’s frosty attitude, and when she later gets fed up of eating sausage and mash for dinner every night, she takes it upon herself to do a ‘click and collect’ shop. Sam’s furious when he finds out his missus has been outside, and he viciously snaps at her; totally out of character.

‘He’s got this one, overriding objective to keep Lydia safe,’ explains James Hooton, who plays Sam. ‘He is absolutely focused on protecting her.

‘She wouldn’t necessarily agree with what he’s doing, but he thinks he’s being very gallant.’

The couple go to bed on bad terms, but it later becomes apparent why

Sam is being so overprotective.

‘His concerns come to a bit of a head,’ adds James.

What’s worrying Zak’s lad?

And will he and Lyds be able to find a way forward?

SAM’S GOT THIS OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE TO KEEP LYDIA

SAFE