It’s been a busy week in Soapland, with Emmerdale previewing the next developments in Tom and Belle’s storyline and EastEnders announcing the arrival of a new character.

Elsewhere, cast from all of the big shows celebrated at the Inside Soap Awards on Monday evening – but not before sharing plenty of gossip with Digital Spy on the red carpet.

Did you miss any big news this week? Don’t worry, as we’re on hand with our regular Sunday round-up of the biggest stories.

1. Tom’s mission to destroy evidence goes wrong in Emmerdale
tom king, emmerdale

Emmerdale kept fans on the edge of their seats this week as Tom’s comeuppance seemed to finally be on the horizon. The villain’s missing tablet computer contains cast-iron proof that he spied on Belle with hidden cameras, so he’s on a mission to get it back before the police can find it.

Spoilers for next week’s episodes have revealed that Tom does indeed get the tablet back (boo!) and immediately sets to work on smashing it up, thinking that he’s alone at the King house.

Tom fails to notice Jimmy’s young son Carl watching him from afar as he destroys the evidence. Could this count against him in the long-run, though? Might Carl confide in Nicola, who already seems to be having doubts about Tom? We already know that a rift is on the way for Jimmy and Nicola in the coming weeks as they start to clash over Tom…

2. Coronation Street star teases Rowan’s return
emrhys cooper, inside soap awards 2024

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Coronation Street star Emrhys Cooper spoke to Digital Spy at the Inside Soap Awards this week, addressing his upcoming return to the show for the first time.

Ruthless cult leader Rowan has been keeping a low profile since being arrested and charged with blackmail and fraud, but Emrhys has been filming some new scenes recently.

He told us: “[Rowan] hasn’t quite finished his naughty business yet. There might be a little bit more of a twist yet to see, so keep watching and you’ll soon see.”

3. EastEnders announces a new Mitchell
laura doddington as nicola mitchell, eastenders

EastEnders announced the casting of Teddy Mitchell’s ex-wife Nicola earlier this week.

The role will be played by Laura Doddington, who’s previously appeared in Doctors, Holby City and The Midwich Cuckoos.

Nicola turns up in Walford uninvited later this autumn – much to the shock of Teddy, who’s trying to start afresh with his family.

Laura said this week: “Nicola is a complex woman who comes in like the Tasmanian Devil!

“She’s strong and completely unapologetic about who she is. I’ve been so lucky to have my Mitchell boys, Roland, Elijah and Lewis, as they’ve taken me under their wing and we feel like a family already. I’m loving every second so far.”

4. Coronation Street star discusses Evelyn’s exit
maureen lipman, inside soap awards 2024

Coronation Street star Dame Maureen Lipman also caught up with Digital Spy at the Inside Soap Awards this week, giving us an opportunity to ask about her upcoming break from the show.

Following the news that she’ll be taking a sabbatical towards the end of the year, Dame Maureen promised that the door will be left open for her return.

She told us: “The idea is that I don’t get killed off, battered or thrown into Manchester Ship Canal. But I just step back – something happens to me and I go off, but always with the option that I can come back.

“Because you don’t want to lose… I don’t want to lose Evelyn! You know that song, ‘I Know Him So Well’?”

5. Emmerdale star teases Mary’s future
louise jameson at the inside soap awards 2024

We haven’t seen much of Mary Goskirk in Emmerdale recently, but that looks likely to change towards the end of the year as a new family-based storyline begins.

Chatting to Digital Spy at the awards, Louise Jameson – who plays Mary – explained: “Apparently our November is going to be rammed. I know there’s going to be a family story.

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“It’ll be very intense. It’ll probably go over the whole year. But I can’t tell you any more than that, I’m afraid!”

6. Emmerdale’s Mandy could go out for revenge
lisa riley, inside soap awards 2024

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The Dingles now know exactly what Tom is capable of in Emmerdale, but his vicious attack on Vinny remains a secret.

We brought this up on the red carpet when chatting to fan favourite Lisa Riley, who plays Vinny’s mum Mandy.

Clearly keen to tell us more but desperate not to give a spoiler away, Lisa teased: “That will probably get revealed in the future! Mandy’s cricket bat is very much in her life. Whether or not she hits him is a different story, we’ll have to wait and see.”

7. Hollyoaks lines up emotional scenes for Ste
kieron richardson, inside soap awards 2024

Hollyoaks’ James Nightingale is gone but not forgotten, as upcoming episodes will see his husband Ste Hay become convinced that he’s still alive.

Kieron Richardson, who plays Ste, shared the gossip with Digital Spy at the awards.

He explained: “We get to a point where Ste has kind of got psychosis. He can’t accept what’s happened and he thinks that James is still alive.”

However, hinting that somebody could be manipulating Ste’s confusion, Kieron added: “Somebody’s got something to do with it…”

8. Neighbours return for Shane Ramsay
peter o’brien as shane ramsay, neighbours

Following his return for the “final ever” episodes of Neighbours in 2022, Shane Ramsay is now heading back to Ramsay Street for a guest role in the Amazon Freevee era too.

Show bosses confirmed this week that Shane is paying a visit to Erinsborough, as part of plans to bring in his son Max as a longer-term character.

Ben Jackson has landed the role of Max, while Peter O’Brien is once again playing Shane.

9. Emmerdale exit teased for Leyla
leyla cavanagh, emmerdale

Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi is expected to leave the soap in the coming months after 16 years in the role of Leyla Harding.

Although currently unconfirmed by the ITV soap, reports have tipped Leyla to be killed off in a shocking final storyline.