Clare McGlinn hated stardom 12:28pm Tuesday 12th October 2004
Uprooting Suranne Jones says she is quitting Coronation Street for fear of staying on forever. "I've been here four and a half years, and it's getting to the point where I feel like I've taken root," says Suranne, who plays Karen McDonald.

Factory tales 12:41pm Monday 26th July 2004
ALTHOUGH the turnover of episodes on our leading soaps is phenomenal these days, soap bosses don't like to be reminded that they are presiding over glorified sweatshops. So slap on the wrist for James Alexandrou Martin Fowler in EastEnders who had the temerity to say: "Coming to work is like clocking on at a factory."

Jacket in, Lee 12:40pm Monday 26th July 2004
ALL soap stars seem to take a souvenir away with them from the show that made them famous and Lee Boardman, alias baddie Jez Quigley, is no exception.

Cold meals 12:40pm Monday 26th July 2004
ADAM Woodyatt had no complaints when his character Ian Beale was assigned to the Albert Square fish and chip shop. "I used to hate working in The Meal Machine," says Adam, referring to one of his character's former business ventures. "The building used to be too cold in winter, too hot in summer and it was too small to fit a camera crew in."

Nice not nasty 12:39pm Monday 26th July 2004 WENDI Peters alias motormouth Cilla White says she finds it hard to believe that the young actor who plays her son Chesney, in Coronation Street, isn't affected by some of her character's invective."Little Sam (Aston) says it doesn't matter but I reckon some of the things I have to say in character must hurt him," says Wendi.

Making herself at home 12:38pm Monday 26th July 2004
WENDY Richard reckons she has spent more time in her character's home in Albert Square than she has in her own gaff. And that, says the actress who plays Pauline Fowler, makes her a touch on the proprietorial side.

Sweet music 12:37pm Monday 26th July 2004 RUMOUR has it that smooth-talking Ciaran McCarthy (Keith Duffy) and "Toxic" Tracy Barlow will be making sweet music before too long. And is that the patter of more tiny feet I hear, emanating from the cobbles of Weatherfield?

Thanks pal 12:36pm Monday 26th July 2004
ONE imagines the cast of EastEnders wasn't exactly jumping with joy when Alex Ferns, alias wife-bashing Trevor, said the show was sub-standard. Perhaps that's why Alex keeps in touch with only one former colleague and even she is currently on leave from Stenders. Ironically, it's the person he had to beat up, on such a frighteningly regular basis, Kacey Ainsworth, aka Little Mo. "Kacey was my mate when we were together in the show and we've stayed that way since I left," says Alex.

Betty's back 10:25am Monday 19th July 2004
EXPECT Betty - alias Paula Tilbrook - to be back in Emmerdale this side of Christmas, after her extended visit to Cathy Tate in Australia.

The real deal 10:24am Monday 19th July 2004
JAMES ALEXANDROU, who plays Martin Fowler in the show SAID: "After Martin got married to Sonia, I had people stopping me in the street and congratulating me on my nuptials."

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