Table of contents for 13 Apr 2020 in TV Soap

Handsome and successful, Brady Black has never been short of female attention, and although he’s currently single, he has no idea that one Salem woman is hellbent on changing that. Since his ex-lover, Nicole, returned to Salem, Brady has been worried about her very strange behaviour, completely unaware that she is not Nicole at all. She’s really his other crazy ex, Kristen, who is roaming around in disguise as Nicole, and is still completely obsessed with him. When ‘Nicole’ (Arianne Zucker) is sacked from her job at DiMera Enterprises, Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) is on the verge of flipping out, until she seizes on an opportunity to use Brady’s (Eric Martsolf) sympathies to her advantage. Wearing her Nicole disguise, Kristen allows Brady to comfort ‘Nicole’ over the turn of events before…

Father/son relations between Victor and Adam are worsening by the day as Victor continues to ostracise Adam from the Newman family. After Adam is almost run down and killed, he finally snaps, believing that Victor was the culprit, even though he failed to see that Billy was responsible. Storming into the Newman Ranch, Adam explodes at his father for trying to kill him and using his mother’s memory to do it. Outraged at Adam’s accusation, Victor rants that he’s ashamed of his son. Adam says he hates him! Drowning his sorrows at Society, Adam (Mark Grossman) confides his problems to a sympathetic Phyllis (Michelle Stafford), who hates Victor (Eric Braeden) as much as he does. Phyllis suggests that Adam takes his revenge on Victor sooner rather than later, and as…

Harlow’s impulsive decision to sneak off with Hendrix and attend Elly’s birthday celebrations on Pierce’s private island have backfired on her terribly. Despite experiencing the euphoria of sleeping with Hendrix for the first time during the island getaway, Harlow’s happiness turned to horror when a maddened Finn went on a rampage and imprisoned her in a mineshaft. Suffering from serious injuries, she was eventually rescued but ended up in a coma in hospital, fighting to recover. Finally regaining consciousness, Harlow’s (Jemma Donovan) torment has only increased with the tragic news that her mother, Prue, was killed along with Gary during the fateful events on the island. Even as she is released from hospital, she is still devastated by grief and soon proves emotionally overwhelmed as she retreats from those around…

Emerging bleary-eyed and hungover from his most recent drunken bender, Hugh has absolutely no memory of declaring his love for Penny during his booze-fuelled blackout. However, Penny is painfully aware of the words she has often longed to hear from Hugh, but given he was inebriated, she doesn’t know whether he meant them or not. As she despairs in a mess of emotional confusion, her frustrated husband, Jarrod, finally takes charge and throws Hugh out of their house, having had enough of his mind games. Nevertheless, Penny (Hayley McElhinney) needs answers as to whether there’s a chance for her and Hugh (Rodger Corser), and following an enlightening chat with Meryl (Tina Bursill), a now clearer-headed Penny ultimately chooses to commit to Jarrod (Dustin Clare) and their marriage. Hugh is too…

Recovering from her near-death experience on the island with Finn, who left her to die in an old mineshaft, Bea is finally released from hospital, but struggles with her mental demons as memories of the now-deceased Finn lurk ominously at the Kennedy house. Aware of her sister’s angst, Elly nervously decides she can’t withhold secrets from Bea, and tentatively tells her that she was having complicated romantic feelings for Finn for weeks before he died. Distressed at the revelation, Bea rages that Elly should be ashamed of herself, because she knew about Finn’s obsession with her, which obviously pushed him over the edge of insanity and caused his latest deadly rampage!…

Partially deaf for most of his life after suffering from meningitis as a baby, Ben has learned to cope over the years thanks to several surgeries and other aids that improved his hearing. Since suffering a head injury while fighting with Keanu and falling from a boat into the Thames River, Ben has had advanced hearing difficulties. Unable to cope with the thought of going completely deaf, Ben (Max Bowden) chooses to ignore his grave situation, even though he’s been told that a delicate operation could save his hearing. Convincing himself that his hearing will recover without intervention, Ben shuts down everybody’s attempts to help him and desperately tries to carry on as normal. However, his boyfriend Callum (Tony Clay) is aware of his sensitive plight and does everything he…

Defiant in her belief that Ben is being wrongfully imprisoned for murdering his sister, Jordan, Ciara has spent several months determined to find evidence that will prove her boyfriend’s innocence. After seemingly exhausting every avenue to get him out of jail, Ciara thinks she has finally found the smoking gun. After doggedly searching the crime scene and putting together everything she knows, Ciara is speculating that the father of Jordan’s son, David, may have killed her. She’s even shared her theory with Rafe who is having the DNA samples from the scene re-examined because he needs to find David’s father so he can consent to Rafe’s adoption of the baby. While Ciara (Victoria Konefal) works to buoy Ben’s (Robert Scott Wilson) spirits as he gives up his quest for freedom,…

netflix I’M NOT OKAY WITH THIS S1 AVAILABLE Teenage girl Sydney (Sophia Lillis) is no ordinary adolescent. She may be attending high school and coping with the trials and tribulations that entails, as well as coping with the complexities of her family, but she’s also navigating her budding sexuality with her friend, Dina (Sofia Bryant). On top of all that, Sydney also harbours mysterious superpowers that are just beginning to awaken. As she risks being overwhelmed by what’s happening in her life, Sydney realises she must rise to the challenge to become the young woman she’s also been meant to be. netflix KINGDOM S1–2 AVAILABLE A few years after the Japanese invasions of Korea, Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) is embroiled in a coup and political conspiracy as the…

Despite the recent discovery of a special serum manufactured by Dr Rolf that could help the people he brought back from the dead to recover the memories they lost during the procedure, Jack has been resisting taking the medication. His wife, Eve, protested that he would leave her and return to Jennifer if he were to remember his past. Nevertheless, Jack (Matthew Ashford) remains in two minds about his decision as he continues being pressured by Jennifer (Melissa Reeves) to reclaim his old life. So far, Jennifer has had no luck in convincing Jack that he was once a caring, loving and honourable man and nothing like the horrible man he’s become since he lost his memory and hooked up with Eve (Kassie DePaiva). She is fast losing patience with…

Recently, current and past cast members of The Young and the Restless along with CBS executives, production staff, writers, directors and other invited guests – including TV Soap – were on the Y&R set to pay tribute to Eric Braeden, who is celebrating 40 years as Victor Newman! Braeden joined the top-rated soap in 1980, and it aired for the first time on February 8th of that year! Doug Davidson (Paul Williams) emceed the set-side celebration, during which several people in Braeden’s life stepped up to the podium to share some never-revealed-before stories about the moustached mogul! “I’m asked regularly what the difference is between Eric Braeden and Victor, the character he plays on Y&R,” said Peter Bergman, who plays Victor’s rival, Jack. “My answer is simple: ‘Victor Newman never…

After enduring 12 months of hell as Ben battled severe depression, which put immense strain on his marriage to Maggie, the couple are now enjoying a more settled, peaceful life as Ben makes great strides in putting his struggles behind him. However, their happiness is about to be unceremoniously interrupted in the weeks and months ahead when Ben’s rarely mentioned and long-estranged brother, Marco, re-enters their lives without warning. Since arriving in Summer Bay, the Astoni family, and Ben (Rohan Nichol), in particular, have remained very coy about Ben’s family history. It’s always been clear that Ben doesn’t want to discuss his family and any mention of Marco is shut down somewhat forcefully. However, it is known that the siblings share a tumultuous past, stemming from an ugly incident that…

After suffering a heart attack, Meryl is hospitalised and takes advantage of her infirmity to pressure Hugh into trying to repair their fractured family. Can he? The new manager of the Pretty Titty, Hayley (Chloe Bayliss) jeopardises her marriage when Ajax (Matt Castley) overreacts and demands a divorce, which prompts him to contemplate a new future for himself. Yearning for life beyond Whyhope, Matt and Charlie embark on an adventure around the world to find themselves, enjoy the best beers in the world and enable Charlie to write another book! Rod (Patrick Wilson) revels in the success of his new girlie bar, but when the Pretty Titty robs Charlie (Nicole da Silva) and Matt’s (Ryan Johnson) brewery of valuable customers, they fight fire with fire, hiring topless male waiters to…

A virtual prisoner in her own home after being subjected to months of her husband, Geoff’s, vicious mental manipulations in his cruel bid to control her every move, word and thought, Yasmeen is now stricken with terror every time she sees or hears him. In recent weeks, Geoff’s abuse has intensified, culminating in his recent slaughtering of Yasmeen’s pet chicken before roasting the bird and forcing his wife to eat it! Exerting more control over Yasmeen (Shelley King), Geoff (Ian Bartholomew) decides that they are selling their house and business, and emigrating to Cyprus in a clear bid to separate her from their family and friends before anyone becomes suspicious. Yasmeen’s granddaughter, Alya (Sair Khan), who’s never liked or trusted Geoff, is immediately unnerved by the news, and begs her…

Wives’ revenge In New York City, former best friends, Ari, Bree and Hazel are leading separate lives until their marriages fall apart, leaving them bereft and broken. Unexpectedly, they find themselves reuniting and finding strength in their newfound sisterhood as they plan to take revenge on the men who almost wrecked their lives. First Wives’ Highlights Devastated by her marriage breakup, Hazel finds strength with her old friends, Ari and Bree, but her attempt to reclaim her life is daunted when her husband, Derek, causes her financial problems, prompting her to take drastic measures to survive. Unfortunately, her actions could cost her the friendship she’s found with Ari and Bree. Ari’s decision to get involved with Hazel’s marital problems intensifies the dark cloud hanging over her own marriage to David.…

stan PARKS AND RECREATION ALL EPS AVAILABLE Wrangling bureaucrats and red tape in local government circles proves to be a constant challenge for Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department in Pawnee, Indiana. It’s a job made more difficult by anti-government libertarian Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) and city planner Mark Brendanawicz (Paul Schneider), the man Leslie secretly loves! She also has to contend with budget cuts among a million other hiccups, which eventually motivates her to campaign for a seat on city council. Elected, Leslie hopes she can make a difference in her new position of power but soon discovers she has even more opposition to her efforts than she had as a meagre council employee! stan THE LAST OG S3 AVAILABLE APRIL 8…

must see THE NEW MUTANTS STARRING Maisie Williams • RELEASED April 9 Set in an isolated hospital, this original horror thriller is about a group of young mutants who are being held for psychiatric monitoring. When strange occurrences begin to take place, both their new mutant abilities and their friendships will be tested as they battle to try and make it out alive. Anya Taylor-Joy (Split), Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things) and Maisie Williams (Game of Throne) star in the first film adaptation of the X-Men spin-off comic-book series. THE SECRET GARDEN STARRING Colin Firth, Dixie Egerickx and Julie Walters RELEASED April 9 This is the story of Mary Lennox (Dixie), a prickly and unloved 10-year-old girl, born in India to wealthy British parents. When they suddenly die, she is sent back…

Disturbed by his debilitating nightmares regarding the death of his daughter Delia years ago, Billy has spent the past few weeks obsessing over thoughts of getting revenge on her killer, Adam. His mental state rapidly deteriorates, and Billy’s strange behaviour worsens as he begins stalking Adam’s every move. Breaking into the apartment where Adam (Mark Grossman) lives, Billy (Jason Thompson) rifles through Adam’s drawers and steals the heirloom handkerchief that belonged to his late mother, Hope. At the same time, Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson) discusses Billy’s bizarre behaviour with Kevin (Greg Rikaart) who worries his wife when he reports that Billy’s obsessive nature is worsening and he now thinks he’s getting messages from Delia’s ghost. Determined to help Billy overcome the trauma of their daughter’s tragic death, Chloe visits him and…

How do you handle the stress of being on television and in the media every day – feeling like you might be scrutinised about how you look? I have been lucky in that in my life, I have developed a strong sense of self and do not equate my outer looks with my own self-worth. Being a woman of strength, compassion, and leaving this world a better place than I left it... that is what is of value to me. How did you get the role of “Hope” Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful? As an actress, you get to audition for many roles, and I was lucky enough to audition for The Bold and the Beautiful. After many callbacks and chemistry reads with Scott Clifton and Katherine Kelly…

Family has always been the most important thing to Sheila and, over the years, she’s gone above and beyond, even embarrassing herself and sometimes breaking the law, to protect her loved ones. Unfortunately, she’s now been senselessly robbed of her cherished son, Gary, after he was killed in an explosive showdown with Finn. Nothing anybody says or does can ease her anguish at her self-perceived failure to save him when he needed her most. “Nothing Paul says to comfort her can ease Sheila’s pain” Devastated to receive the shocking news that Gary is dead, Sheila (Colette Mann) lapses into a grief-induced, almost catatonic state, unable to process that she’ll never see her son again. Shutting out the world around her, Sheila lurches towards breaking point and dissolves into tears as…

Critics are raving about ABC TV’s new drama Stateless, which is screening now. Even better, the intense refugee drama – co-created by Cate Blanchett – has just been picked up by Netflix, which means it will be seen around the world later this year. It features the interlocking stories of strangers caught in the wheels of our immigration system: a former airline hostess (Yvonne Strahovski from The Handmaid’s Tale) who has escaped a strange cult; an Afghan man seeking a better life for his family (Fayssal Bazzi, The Commons); a bureaucrat facing a scandal (Asher Keddie, Offspring); and a detention-centre guard (Jai Courtney). Bazzi talks to TV Soap about his powerful new role, how he got into character for the part, sharing the screen with a star-studded cast and more.…

Beautiful one day, perfect the next sums up many holiday spots in Queensland and Magnetic Island, off the coast of Townsville, is no exception. It’s home to about 2500 people, who love the fact that they live in paradise but wouldn’t mind keeping it a secret all the same. Top-secret trip Recently, a few locals were privy to a secret visit from pop whizkid Billie Eilish. In Townsville for a music festival, Billie took the day off and headed to the island with her family. They arrived by private helicopter and local tour guide Jay Wyatt met them at the helipad. “We were sworn to secrecy, but I had a great day ferrying them around,” says Jay. “First up, we headed to the marina to board Pilgrim for a lunchtime…

Clearly suffering from PTSD since Claire tried to burn her alive at the Horton Cabin, Haley endures a horrifying nightmare in which she’s in bed with Tripp when Claire suddenly bursts into the bedroom and stands over the bed dousing them in lighter fluid before flicking the lighter to set them on fire! Jolting awake, Haley’s screams of terror bring Tripp running to her side, and as he comforts her in his embrace, she becomes hysterical while explaining what she envisioned. Suggesting she has post-traumatic stress, Tripp urges her to see a doctor but a trembling Haley refuses, and forbids him from telling her boyfriend JJ. All she wants is to get Claire out of her head but that proves difficult when she imagines Claire taunting her!…

Hazel (Jill Scott) A singing superstar, Hazel’s life is turned upside down when her husband cheats on her and dumps her in public. Buoyed by her friends, she seeks to find a new purpose by releasing the new music she’s produced without help from anyone else. Ari (Ryan Michelle Bathe) Stepping in as Hazel’s divorce lawyer, Ari makes waves with her husband when she finds out he shares important links to Hazel’s spouse. As their arguments worsen, she admits how unhappy she’s been during her marriage, even on her wedding day! Bree (Michelle Buteau) After trying to save her marriage, Bree gives up and files for divorce, only to accept she still loves her husband. She goes to win him back, only to find a new potentially insurmountable problem. Derek…

ROSWELL NEW MEXICO S1–2 AVAILABLE Returning to her hometown of Roswell, biomedical scientist Liz Ortecho (Jeanine Mason) reunites with her family and closest friends, only for her life to be shattered when she is shot dead! Luckily, Roswell’s Deputy Sheriff, Max Evans (Nathan Parsons), who is also her old high school crush, uses his healing abilities to resurrect her! Recovering, she discovers that Max is really an alien who has been hiding his true identity for his entire life. As they reconnect, Liz resolves to keep his secret too, until a violent attack unleashes a greater alien presence on Earth, jeopardising Max’s cover. Meanwhile, Liz also reconnects with her estranged mother, whose return leads to a life-changing reunion for her and her father. THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA S1 AVAILABLE An…