Table of contents for No. 317 in Soap World

Water. We bathe in it, we drink it, we water our plants and wash our clothes with it. Water is an essential part of life and we can’t survive without it for more than a few days. Are you getting your 2 litres a day? THE BENEFITS: • Improved digestion: A common of constipation is dehydration. When your body is dehydrated it will absorb water from your stools, making them hard and difficult to pass. • Maintains healthy blood pressure: Picture a cake batter - when you don’t add enough water, it’s very thick and hard to stir. When you’re dehydrated, your blood becomes thick and your heart has to pump harder to move it around, resulting in increased blood pressure. • Flushes out kidneys: Drinking at least 2 litres of water a…

Cruelly reminded of his sinister past life in Sydney, Leo’s now scrambling to deal with the consequences as he commits to breaking up with Terese to romance the diabolical Delaney Renshaw, the love-starved daughter of the underworld kingpin he helped send to prison years ago. However, Terese isn’t about to accept her lover’s desertion lying down – unaware her actions will unleash a nightmare… Speculating that Delaney (Ella Newton) must be the keeper of dangerous secrets, and carefully quizzing her, Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou) decides to surreptitiously dig through her personal belongings. Caught in the act by the outraged victim, Terese is temporarily thwarted – until Paul’s (Stefan Dennis) reaction triggers new fears. Unaware that Delaney’s blackmailing Paul over murdering the Renshaws’ operative Mannix last year, Terese steps up to prove…

What’s better than hanging out on the sofa with a soap star? When there’s two soap stars – in this case, the lovely Courtney (B&B’s sassy Sally) and her fella, General Hospital hunk Chad Duell! She invited Soap World into her home where this perky pair of lovebirds are happy to chill with their dogs, get out their guitars for a jam and even take on a jigsaw puzzle!…

“Maya returns from Paris with bombshell news... she’s home alone!” For the past several months, Maya and Rick have been living in Paris and running the offices of Forrester International, seemingly living the dream lifestyle of a young couple with their daughter Lizzie. However, appearances can be deceptive. Strangely on edge when she returns to LA, Maya (Karla Mosely) is obviously in a bad mood and being openly wary of Zoe (Kiara Barnes). She’s never trusted the hit Brit from the day she met her, given her blatant and ambitious bids to force her way onto the FC catwalk but, more worryingly, into Maya’s cousin Xander’s (Adain Bradley) bed when she plainly knew he was romantically interested in Emma (Nia Sioux). Now she’s back in town, Maya is even more…

Rana and Kate should be happily planning their wedding but instead it’s all baby plans, and it’s getting a little obsessive! Now that they’ve decided to pursue IVF, Rana’s misgivings are only increasing as the thought of a stranger fathering the baby upsets her. Taken aback, Kate ambushes Rana with thoughts of pursuing adoption instead but, getting angrier, Rana dismisses it, forcing Kate onto a drunken bender. Easing the tension, Robert, the partner of Kate’s cousin Michelle, is a source of comfort but he’s stunned when Kate asks him to father her baby! Thinking she’s crazy, Robert barely gives it a second thought. However, given he’s spending his spare trying to convince Michelle to have a baby of their own, and she’s resisting the idea, Robert changes his mind and…

* Slapping on a brave face in the wake of the revelation that her husband Johnny had been sleeping with Liz, Jenny surprised many when she forgave him his indiscretion and told him she wanted the marriage to work. Dealing with Liz, however, was more complicated and despite Jenny’s best efforts to warn her to keep her eyes, lips and short leopard-print skirts away from her man, it proved problematic as Liz refused to leave her job as barmaid at the Rovers, Jenny and Johnny’s pub! Seething quietly, Jenny kept a beady eye on the trollop, promising herself she’d step in if Liz even put one stilettoed-toe out of place! Unable to help herself, Liz (Beverly Callard) exchanged a warm smile with Johnny (Richard Hawley) across the bar – and…

HOME AND AWAY LEAH’S NEW (OLD) LOVER Ten years ago, eccentric DETECTIVE ROBERT ROBERTSON (Socratis Otto) blew into Summer Bay to tell tall tales and look at the world a little differently while investigating the murders of CHARLIE BUCKTON’s father GRANT BLEDCOE and later PENN GRAHAM. In the process, he casually dated LEAH (Ada Nicodemou), who resisted him because of her feelings for ELIJAH, but that didn’t stop Robert from asking her to move to the city with him when he scarpered in 2011. She refused, but now 10 years later, Robert returns. In scenes shot recently on Sydney’s Palm Beach, he appears to be sharing quite a connection with ROBBO (Jake Ryan)... but will Robert be making eyes at Leah all over again? EMMERDALE VILLAGE VILLAIN WREAKS HAVOC! The…

Once bitten, twice shy is the old adage Gary Canning should’ve heeded after taking on a dodgy job from his old criminal cohort Kev McNally. Especially when he was caught with stolen goods that had actually been nicked from his girlfriend Amy’s construction site at Robinson Heights! He earned her fury for his betrayal -- and the wrath of his mother Sheila, who once again despaired at her son’s failure to stay on the right side of the law. Old habits certainly die hard for the likes of the perpetually vulnerable Gary (Damian Richardson) when Kev (Troy Davis) hits him up to play delivery guy on another iffy job. Steadfastly refusing to be burned again, Gary rejects the hot cash payment but is finally forced to dabble in the dark…

Dying wishes are sacrosanct vows that must be honoured as far as former priest Eric Brady is concerned! So when Nicole frantically begged him to care for orphan Holly just moments before she perished in the warehouse fire, Eric promised that he’d do it, refusing to allow the baby girl he’d just saved from certain death to grow up parentless. Now, several months after the all-consuming grief and despair over Nicole’s loss has eased, focus has moved on to Holly’s welfare. As far as Eric (Greg Vaughan) is concerned, a few formal strokes of the pen and then he’ll be rubberstamped legally as Holly’s dad and then Nicole can rest in peace. Fortunately for him, brand new friend Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey), who also happens to be Holly’s biological aunt…

* The Woolpack’s packed with thirsty village patrons but with the lock on the cellar door busted, there’s no choice but to leave the door ajar in order to keep up the booze supplies. However, this broken lock is the least of a drunken Vanessa’s worries! She stumbles into the cellar to confront Charity for being denied more alcohol after Daz rejects her attentions. Hushing Vanessa’s moaning, Charity gives her whisky – but after taking a swig herself, she surprises both of them when she passionately kisses Vanessa! The women are soon making love, however in the aftermath of their steamy one-night-stand, their reactions couldn’t be more different! Charity brushes aside what’s happened, completely unfazed by it... but Vanessa suddenly wonders if she’s gay. She’s had lesbian experiences in the…

Despite her obsessive devotion to Jesus and the hope that religious salvation can help her atone for murdering her husband James, Emma has dreaded the fateful moment when her abject wickedness is finally outed. Now that day of reckoning is upon her at last! Having terrorised a poorly, dementia-stricken Ashley to forget seeing what she did months ago, Emma (Gillian Kearney) is now running scared as Ashley’s daughter Gabby (Rosie Bentham) finally uncovers her evil ways. With the teenager tormenting Emma with voices from beyond the grave, she’s on the verge of a breakdown – and brutally attacks Gabby, who’s exposed her devilry to Emma’s youngest son Finn (Joe Gill). Disgusted at his mother’s actions, Finn forces the gory details out of her, insisting she must pay for shoving his…

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS MUST SEE STARRING Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie RELEASED January 17 History buffs with relish this retelling of the turbulent life of Mary Stuart (Saoirse), based on the book Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart by Dr John Guy. Queen of France at 16, by18 Mary is widowed, defying pressure to remarry and instead returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. Mary has a rival claim to the throne of Elizabeth I (Margot), who rules as England’s Queen. Contrary to earlier accounts, and based on Dr John Guy’s research, we see Mary as a capable politician and leader who wanted an alliance with her cousin Elizabeth. Mary fights to govern her unruly kingdom at a time…

Amid all the mess the Abbot family’s in, what with Dina’s Alzheimer’s deterioration, Billy financially screwing Jabot and Ashley packing her bags and fleeing with the patents that control many of its goods, patriarch Jack has been seriously looking for something, or someone, to ease his headaches. Enter the beautiful Kerry Jones (Alice Hunter), whom Jabot’s new boss Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) hired to fill the creative void left by Ashley in the company’s labs. She’s already been impressing with her knowledge and flair for cosmetics production, but now she’s caught Jack’s (Peter Bergman) increasingly lonely eye. Invited to join the Abbotts’ Thanksgiving celebration, Kerry warmed the cockles of Jack’s broken heart with casual laughter and carefree conversation. The fact that she’s gorgeous doesn’t hurt, either! He was so taken by…

Resistance proves futile when it comes to Debbie’s constant rejection of sexy young businessman Tom Waterhouse. Despite her desperation to buy Jacob’s Fold cottage for her and her kids, Debbie won’t take Tom’s money to finance it, and that leaves her bidding against a ruthless Chrissie for it come auction day. However, both are left stunned when a third bidder crushes their hopes, stealing the house out from under them! Approached by the buyer soon after, Debbie is thrown when the woman tells her that Tom’s bought the house for her! Woah! Gobsmacked, Debbie insists she doesn’t want his charity – but Tom won’t take no for an answer and ramps up his pursuit of the fledgling businesswoman. Setting aside the brazen efforts of Debbie’s mother Charity to con even…

The once grand manor home of Home Farm Estates is now housing a den of evil thieves! The ruthless Robert’s impregnation of heiress Rebecca obsessively motivates him to steal control of the family property out from under Rebecca’s ailing father Lawrence. Having hated him since the days when Robert was married to Lawrence’s elder daughter Chrissie, Robert is now unleashing a dastardly bid to drug a drunken Lawrence into insanity – while posing as the gay man’s new lover! So far, Robert’s (Ryan Hawley) machinations are on track, having convinced Lawrence (John Bowe) he’s in love with him and persuaded him to let him take charge of business matters. After successfully getting a dazed Lawrence into bed and manipulating him into thinking they’ve had sex, Robert panics when Lawrence’s grandson…

By all reports, PRINCE HARRY and new wife MEGHAN MARKLE had a wonderful time on their recent “babymoon” tour of New Zealand. And it’s no surprise: its charming towns, glittering lakes, ancient forests, magnificent vineyards and friendly locals mean NZ has great deal to offer. Everyone from A-list celebrities such as CHARLIZE THERON, JOHNNY DEPP, TAYLOR SWIFT, JASON STATHAM, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and LADY GAGA to the cast of The Lord of the Rings blockbusters also happily give our near neighbour a big thumbs-up. In particular, the buzz is all about the South Island right now. Whether you explore it by foot or by car, by tram or hot-air balloon, by boat, kayak or on skis, there’s a delight waiting around every corner. If you book now, you might just…

HAILEE STEINFELD Hey, hey, Hailee! Those boots are made for walking and that’s just what the star does at the Berlin prem of Bumblebee. The sexy lace-ups are Brian Atwood, the dress is Balmain and her bling is by Effy! Very buzzy. EMILY BLUNT Emily’s such a sweetheart – that’s how she became the nanny in Mary Poppins Returns. In NYC to spruik it, Em’s looking amazing in a Carolina Herrera dress and Josie Natori tank top. SIGRID THORNTON Keeping it simple in cream works a treat for the Aussie screen legend at the AACTAs luncheon in Sydney. It’s a crisp, demure look, impeccable from top to toe and with the barest of accessories. JULIA ROBERTS No wonder this pretty woman’s wearing shades in the Big Apple in mid-winter –…