Table of contents for #290 in Soap World

It’s been a great year for the Aussie soaps and dramas, with a slew of new shows as well as our old favourites. Read our look back on the most memorable onscreen moments for shows including Home and Away , Neighbours , Winners & Losers and A Place to Call Home . The US daytime soaps never disappoint with a high dose of on-again, off-again romances, including the upcoming marriage break-up of Steffy and Wyatt on The Bold and the Beautiful ... looks like it’s a case of lover swap as Steffy reunites with Liam while Wyatt casts his eye on Ivy. Lots of other great news to entertain you in this issue plus our regular Win…

One very large obstacle lies in the path of Brooke and Bill’s upcoming marriage and that’s RJ’s opposition to his mother’s love for Bill. He’s hell-bent on manoeuvring his parents into a lasting reconciliation, believing that Ridge is the only man that Brooke will truly love. Succeeding in making Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) delay the wedding while she considers his feelings, RJ (Anthony Turpel) implores Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) to step in and stop his mother from making what he sees as a huge mistake. Chastened by RJ’s rebuke for “letting her go” to Bill (Don Diamont), Ridge confesses to his son that he’s never loved another woman like he loves Brooke and seriously takes his son’s advice to do whatever he can to win her back. However, Eric’s (John McCook)…

Luca promises that he’d never desert her and to prove it, he dazzles her with an engagement ring. Trust has become the most important aspect of Summer and Luca’s relationship, particularly since Summer began doubting her boyfriend’s sincerity at Newman Enterprises. All of the signs are indicating that Luca is deliberately sabotaging Summer’s Aunt Victoria as company CEO and, even worse, he’s been using Summer to do it. Despite confronting Luca (Miles Gaston Villanueva) with her misgivings, Summer (Hunter King) is easily won over by her lover’s defence of his actions. He implores her to believe that doing and saying what is best for her is his only motive for helping her manage the oil spill crisis in Newfoundland, Canada, in Victoria’s (Amelia Heinle) absence. After the oil riggers turn…

Once the cameras are packed up and the studios shut down for the holidays at this time of year, the stars do just what the rest of us do — or want to do — go on holiday somewhere special. For some, that means exotic, fabulous far-flung locations, while others opt for something closer to home. Some head straight for the beach, while others pack up their winter woollies and it’s all about the snow. And then there are the other places where they can just get away from it all. Or in the case of OPRAH WINFREY, one of her many homes around the world will do just perfectly! The queen of TV talk has a bevy of beautiful homes across the US in her real estate portfolio, including…

The Moustache’s memoirs The Young and the Restless star ERIC BRAEDEN (Victor) will release his long-awaited autobiography, I’ll Be Damned , in February. Chronicling all aspects of the actor’s life, including his Hollywood career and home life, it was the German-born star’s childhood experiences that proved most gut-wrenching to write about, he says. “It was an emotional ride,” Braeden reflects. “One inevitably lives life on a daily basis and sometimes you don’t take time to reflect, and when you do look back upon certain periods in your life [you] discover deeply buried emotions. The most interesting and sometimes upsetting was childhood and youth, growing up in the most cataclysmic war of all time. The first years in America were interesting but tough times.” Wink at…

HOME AND AWAY There were shocks aplenty in Summer Bay this year with storylines kicking off with the investigation into who killed Charlotte King (ERIKA HEYNATZ). But the murderer wasn’t revealed until mid-year. It turned out to be Josh (JACKSON GALLAGHER) who was supposed to be blind at the time though his brother Andy (TAI HARA) took the rap at first. Josh later confessed and was sentenced to a long stint in jail but on the way out of the courtroom he and Andy made a daring escape and are now on the run. Two lives were lost when a caravan exploded during a party. Oscar (JAKE SPEER) died at the scene while Hannah (CASSIE HOWARTH) passed away later due to a bleed on the brain. There were also horrific…

Scott Smart Winners & Losers LE BONS BAY, NEW ZEALAND — A beautiful beach, sea kayaking, and no one’s ever around. It’s perfect. Sara Wiseman A Place to Call Home The east coast of the ‘Mandel. (COROMANDEL PENINSULA, NZ). Best collection of beaches in the entire world. Or Central Otago, NZ, for majestic vistas and beautifully engineered, open roads for riding motorbikes. Alicia Gardiner Offspring The remote beaches of FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND. Matt Wilson Neighbours Snowboarding trip in JAPAN. Beautiful people, beautiful landscape. Hugo Johnstone - Burt The Wrong Girl SEAL ROCKS is my absolute favourite place to go. I go camping at TREACHERY CAMPSITE. It’s the best. The beach is a 10-minute walk and you’re surrounded by nature. Unbeatable. Andrew Morley Neighbours There’s places I still want to explore…

Donna (Jennifer Gareis) hasn’t been in town since February 2015 but in her absence, her big sister Brooke’s life has been upended all over again. Aware of the turmoil surrounding Brooke and Bill’s upcoming wedding and RJ’s opposition , Donna fully supports s story. passion they share is overwhelming and having Bill in her life has freed Brooke from the craziness that always comes with being entangled with Ridge, Donna believes. Grateful for the support from Donna, Bill insists that his love for Brooke is real and Donna agrees, especially after learning that he’s willing to sacrifice his cherished shares in Forrester Creations to his archenemy, just for her. Joining Brooke to prepare for the wedding, Donna toasts Brooke and Bill’s happiness and tries to keep Ridge away from her…

A debilitating recurrence of the symptoms she’s suffering due to the failure of Simon Neville’s anti-coma medication has changed Hilary Hamilton’s outlook on life. Painfully aware that she’s relapsing and could soon die, Hilary has ended her marriage to Devon, unwilling to let him watch her die. Instead, Hilary (Mishael Morgan) viciously rejects Devon’s (Bryton James) sympathy and apology for accusing her of sleeping with Jack (Peter Bergman) before he learned she was ill and she warns him not to cheat her in the divorce settlement. Hurting Hilary is the last thing on Devon’s mind as he worries that the medication is responsible for her bad behaviour. He can’t deny that he’s still in love with her and is devastated when Hilary suffers another bad collapse. Contrary to Simon’s (Michael…

WEEKDAYS AT 4.30PM ON TEN DEC 5-9 * Resigned to giving up on her marriage, STEFFY informs LIAM that she’s left WYATT permanently and is moving on. Regretting not listening to Liam’s warnings about QUINN, Steffy falls into his arms and they kiss passionately, finally reunited. Initially wanting to respect Wyatt and not sleep with Liam until she’s divorced, Steffy soon gives in and she and Liam make love. * Unhappy about MAYA and RICK’s request for NICOLE to act as surrogate mother for their second baby, ZENDE feels Nicole is being pressured but fears she’s thinking of giving LIZZIE a sibling. Despite her boyfriend’s opposition, Nicole seriously considers the idea when RICK tells her he and Maya would be eternally grateful to her. * Outraged that his father isn’t…

Steffy displays her ring finger tattooed with the wedding band and tells Liam that the tattoo artist is removing it. Steffy’s mother-in-law from hell, Quinn, has finally driven her out of Wyatt’s life and their marriage is over. Steffy has reunited with Liam and despite accepting that Wyatt was as much of a victim of his mother’s treachery as she was, she can no longer think about what could have been between them. She’s escaped from Quinn and happily cuddles up to Liam, knowing that she’s safe in his arms. All she wants now is a divorce. Liam (Scott Clifton) couldn’t be more thrilled. Steffy’s (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) return to him has been a long time coming and he’s anxious to make love with her. Despite the feeling that she’d…

Away from the cameras, the two veteran stars of the rival soaps have nothing but high praise for each other. In the kingdom of Aussie soaps, only one King reigns — and that’s Summer Bay’s Ray Meagher. But when it comes to the queen, there are actually two female monarchs who share the crown — Home and Away’s Lynne McGranger and Neighbours star Jackie Woodburne. The two veterans have been ruling the roost on their respective shows for over two decades — and show no sign of abdicating. Lynne first joined Home and Away as Irene Roberts in 1992, while Jackie first appeared as Susan Kennedy on Neighbours in 1994. But this is where the matter of who is entitled to hold the record as the First Lady of…

Ridge has no intention of letting Quinn sink her dirty claws into Eric. ‘I’m going to get rid of you,’ he spits. Many women — Brooke, Sheila, Donna and others — have tried to emulate Stephanie Forrester and attain the same power that she commanded, inside and outside of her family, but none have succeeded. Until now. The woman who has finally assumed the long-sought-after mantle is the often-treacherous but supposedly reformed Quinn Fuller. Inflated by Eric’s love and devotion, their recent wedding and Eric’s gift of his power of attorney, Quinn finally has the power and prestige in life that she’s always craved. She’s not about to let an oppositional Ridge rip it out from under her. And that’s exactly what he wants to do to his new stepmother.…

At long last, life is looking good for Katie Logan Spencer. She’s put the pain of her divorce from Bill behind her and she’s winning the war against her fragile mental health and alcoholism. Maintaining a peaceful relationship with Bill for their sake of their son Will, Katie even comes to accept that he’s marrying Brooke. Once again on good terms with Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), Katie (Heather Tom) finally feels confident enough to move forward with her life. Surprising Eric (John McCook) with a visit, Katie sympathises with his stroke recovery and chats with him about family affairs. Careful not to upset him, Katie accepts his edict that she’s always welcome in his home as long as she’s respectful of Quinn (Rena Sofer) and their marriage. Secretly despising Quinn…

Adam doesn’t buy Chloe’s change in attitude and wants Chloe to visit him in jail so he can assess her agenda. Despite the recent chaos at the courthouse — when Adam’s murder trial was interrupted by Victor’s shooting and Ian’s escape from captivity with Nikki and Phyllis as hostages — Adam’s fate still appears sealed. All the evidence regarding the poisoning of Constance Bingham is stacked against Adam and he knows he’s going to jail unless Victor’s mysterious female accomplice can be found and forced to testify that Victor is framing him. The forged diary pages that Adam knows Victor has will add to the woman’s testimony. With no sign of either the woman or the diary pages, Adam (Justin Hartley) resorts to begging for his father’s mercy and soon…

WEEKDAYS AT 12.45PM ON ARENA DEC 5-9 * Agonising over telling JACK the truth about her affair with BILLY, a guilt-ridden PHYLLIS stews over Billy’s theory that Jack will never forgive his brother for stealing his wife. Overwhelmed, Phyllis fantasises about Jack’s angry reaction to the news and refrains from revealing the secret. Reconvening with Billy, Phyllis has sex with him when he promises to tell Jack because she can’t. Jack almost catches them when he arrives with advice to aid his brother’s “lacklustre” love life and unwittingly pushes Billy further into Phyllis’s arms. Emerging from hiding, a torn Phyllis is thrown by Billy’s ultimatum that their future lies in her hands. Considering his words, Phyllis relies on old habits, lying to Jack to escape his plans for a romantic…

Blushing bride-to-be Mercedes McQueen is blissfully anticipating her upcoming wedding, unaware that her groom Joe Roscoe is the target of Joanne Cardsley’s affections. One way or another, Joanne wants to win Joe’s love, if only to salve her grief over her mother’s recent death. As Mercedes plots to prove to her sceptical mother that she can make a success of her imminent marriage, Joanne accepts James’s help to seduce Joe. Despite Joanne’s initial plan failing, James stumbles onto evidence of the drug deal that Mercedes recently did to help Diego, thrilling Joanne with the discovery. Acting on the news, Joanne has Mercedes arrested for intent to supply drugs just as she and Joe are meeting with the priest who will marry them. It’s the worst possible situation for Mercedes who…

WIN RED DOG:TRUE BLUE PACK Thanks to Roadshow Films, 12 lucky Soap World readers will win a Red Dog: True Blue merchandise pack, valued at $97.65 each. That’s a total prize value of $1171.80! The pack includes the Red Dog plush, tea towel, tattoo, Frisbee, tote bag and T-shirt. Red Dog: True Blue tells the heart-warming story of 11-year-old Mick (LEVI MILLER), who is shipped off to his grandfather’s (BRYAN BROWN) cattle station in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia. As Mick prepares himself for a life of dull hardship, he instead finds a whole new world of myth, adventure and an unlikely friendship with a scrappy, one-of-a-kind dog that will change his life forever. In cinemas Boxing Day. WIN CHRISTMAS DVD PACK Thanks to Defiant Screen Entertainment, 15…