Serial Scoop Now #14: Jo Weil in New York City

Jo Weil in New York City.

The latest episode of Serial Scoop Now (1.14) features a visit with internationally acclaimed actor and entertainer Jo Weil, best known for his long-running portrayal of Oliver Sabel on German soap opera Verbotene Liebe, which went off the air earlier this summer. Weil's "Olli" had magnetic chemistry with Christian Mann, played by Thore Schölermann, earning them both fans around the world. Weil is currently appearing on another German serial, Alles was zählt, playing the role of Nick Danne.

During our chat, Weil talks about his soap roles, seeing "Hand of God" on Broadway (starring Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons), creating new music, and more. We also discuss his dream of appearing on American soap The Bold and the Beautiful, and he shares a "secret" about how he likes to learn his lines.

Watch the episode below:

'EastEnders' Summer Trailer Includes Gay Kiss

Ben and Paul share a kiss on EastEnders this summer.

British soap opera EastEnders has released a summer trailer packed full of drama, including a surprise gay kiss.

Jonny Labey joins the cast as Paul Coker, Les and Pam's grandson, and shakes thing up immediately. Paul sets his sights on Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid). Ben is in denial about his sexuality and can be seen pushed up against a wall in the trailer, being kissed by Paul.

Check out the trailer below for a sneak peek at what's ahead this summer:

'EastEnders' Premiered 30 Years Ago Today

Reg Cox met his demise in the first episode of EastEnders.

British soap opera EastEnders premiered on February 19, 1985, telling stories about the denizens of Albert Square in London's East End borough of Walford. Exactly 30 years and over 5,000 episodes later the show is still going strong.

An ensemble cast of 25 launched the BBC One show, and some of the characters they played - Ian Beale, Arthur Fowler, Den and Angie, Dot Cotton - went on to become national icons.

The first episode started with the murder of Reg Cox, who lived in the top flat of 23 Albert Square. Den Watts, Arthur Fowler, and Ali Osman discovered Reg unconscious in his flat. While the rest of "the Square" -- led by busybodies Ethel Skinner and Lou Beale -- was mired in gossip about Reg's condition and argued over comparative neighborliness, Pauline and Arthur Fowler -- middle-aged and on the dole with two teens to support -- fretted about telling family matriarch Lou that they had a third child on the way.

"Peter Beale" Trends on Twitter After Ben Hardy Shows Off His Abs on 'EastEnders'

Ben Hardy's shirtless Peter Beale had fans talking on Monday. Photo Credit: BBC/Jack Bames

Fans of British soap opera EastEnders have been discussing who killed Lucy Beale on Twitter for months. On Monday night, a new subject was the minds of many when Peter Beale's abs had everyone talking.

After Peter, played by Ben Hardy, whipped his shirt off in an attempt to charm Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), it took just minutes for "Peter Beale" to start trending on Twitter.

Sadly, Hardy announced recently that he would be quitting EastEnders later this year.

It has been widely speculated his exit could have something to do with the Lucy Beale storyline his character is currently embroiled in.

Anne Kirkbride Dead at 60

Anne Kirkbride

Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre Barlow for more than 40 years on the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street, has died. She was 60.

"There are no words to describe the sense of grief we feel at Anne's passing," executive producer Kieran Roberts said in the post. "We know only too acutely how much Anne meant to the millions of people who watched her create the legendary character of Deirdre Barlow."

Kirkbride first showed up on Coronation Street, the world's longest-running active television soap opera, in 1972 as a teenager with a handful of lines. Within a few years, she had entered into a short-lived marriage with one character and then a romance and marriage with another, Ken Barlow (William Roache, who'd been on the show since its inception in 1960).

'Coronation Street' Announces Four Winners For Its Original Voices Writer Diversity Program

Stephenson Ardern-Sodje, Ella Carmen Greenhill, Louisa Hayford and Shazia Rashid

British broadcaster ITV launched an Original Voices initiative in 2012 on its long-running soap opera Emmerdale in an effort to tap into and connect with diverse local writing talent. The aim of the initiative was to "find interesting writers from Black, Asian or other Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds living in Yorkshire or the North East" to join the show. This fall ITV announced it was rolling out Original Voices to its flagship drama Coronation Street, with submissions open to North West based writers from BAME backgrounds. Four winners have now been selected, and each of the writers will be joining Corrie in the New Year for a 10 week paid internship, which could lead to a place on the writing team.

Applications were accepted from any North West based, BAME writers interested in writing on the show, regardless of previous experience in television. Entrants were asked to send in a sample script of their work (stage, TV, film, radio or any medium that displayed their skills in dramatic writing). Industry professionals were engaged as readers, to assess and respond to each script. Every writer who entered was given a personal script report in order to provide clear feedback.

'EastEnders' and BBC Children in Need Team up for Calendar, Grease-Enders Medley

The EastEnders 2015 calendar is on sale now.

The cast and crew of EastEnders and BBC Children in Need have got together to create a sexy calendar showing the characters as they have never been seen before. This collectable item will bring the residents of Albert Square into your homes to add a touch of the East End to 2015. Order here.

EastEnders also joined forces for a special BBC Children in Need dance performance to classic Grease hits. Watch the Grease-Enders below:

'Downton Abbey' Renewed for Sixth Season

ITV and Carnival Films announced this morning that Downton Abbey will return for a sixth season. The show's fifth season premiered in the UK on September 21, and will debut January 4 in the US on PBS.

Downton Abbey tells intimately interlaced stories centered on an English country estate—a deliciously entertaining formula that has made it the highest-rated drama in PBS history.

Season 5 features returning stars Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Robert James-Collier, Penelope Wilton, Phyllis Logan, Lily James, Brendan Coyle, Lesley Nicol, Sophie McShera, Samantha Bond, Ed Speleers, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy, David Robb, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Daisy Lewis, Douglas Reith, Jeremy Swift, and Andrew Scarborough.

The ensemble is joined by guest stars Harriet Walter (Atonement), reprising her role as Lady Shackleton, and Peter Egan (Death at a Funeral), who returns as Lord Flintshire, together with completely new characters played by Richard E. Grant (Girls), Anna Chancellor (The Hour), and Rade Sherbedgia (24).

Note: Downton Abbey
RELATED:
* 'Downton Abbey' Season 5 Trailer Released! Premieres September 21 on ITV, January 4 on PBS
* George Clooney to Appear In an ITV 'Downton Abbey' Christmas Sketch

Tom Graham Leaving British Radio Soap Opera 'The Archers' After 17 Years

The role of Tom Archer in long-running BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers is going to be recast. Tom Graham, who has played the part for 17 years, revealed on Twitter: "My reign as sausage king of Ambridge has come to an end and I am being deposed."

The character has not featured on the show for several months after emigrating to Canada but is expected to return.

A BBC spokesman said: "Characters are frequently recast in The Archers. We never comment on future storylines."

Clocks Fall Back With the End of Daylight Saving Time: Reminder from Former 'EastEnders' Star Rob Kazinsky

Actor Robert Kazinsky played Sean Slater in British soap opera EastEnders from 2006-2009. He later guest-starred in ABC primetime serial Brothers & Sisters, and appeared in several episodes of HBO's True Blood. Back in 2009, he made a sexy video for Radox reminding people to turn their clocks back at the end of Daylight Savings Times. Watch it below:

'EastEnders' Praised for LGBT Domestic Violence Storyline

EastEnders Tosh hits Tina.

Tuesday night's episode of the British soap opera EastEnders featured another clash between Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) and Fiona 'Tosh' Mackintosh (Rebecca Scroggs), which saw the latter punch her girlfriend after being slapped. The storyline is earning praise for its realistic portrayal of domestic violence.

"As an organization we were thrilled to be asked to advise on the Tosh and Tina storyline, and saw it as a great opportunity to get the subject of LGBT domestic violence into the public domain," Jo Harvey Barringer, managing director of Broken Rainbow UK, told the official EastEnders website.

"We were very conscious that the storyline needed to portray the very real experiences our service users tell us about. Although there are a number of similarities to women experiencing abuse in heterosexual relationships - the ways they can all experience psychological, sexual, physical and financial violence and abuse - the one main issue that differs is the lack of support services available to LGBT survivors or perpetrators."

Watch 'Neighbours vs Zombies' Part 2: Toadie Reunites with Stingray

Australian soap opera Neighbours has released the second episode of the soap's Halloween-inspired web series Neighbours vs. Zombies.

Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) face-to-face with his cousin Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas), who died in 2007.

Watch Neighbours vs. Zombies Part 2 below:

Watch 'Neighbours vs Zombies' Part 1: Zombies Invade Ramsay Street

Australian soap opera Neighbours has released the first episode of the soap's Halloween-inspired web series Neighbours vs. Zombies.

Ramsay Street joker Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas), Harold Bishop's son David (Kevin Harrington) and bad boy Robbo Slade (Aaron Jakubenko) are all seen back from the dead in the first installment of the mini-series.

The story begins when Mason Turner (Taylor Glockner) returns home to Erinsborough for a visit and is shocked to come face-to-face with Robbo.

Although Mason struggles to make his sister Amber (Jenna Rosenow) believe what he saw, he later meets Hope Gottlieb (Louna Maroun) and is surprised to hear that Robbo isn't the only face from the past who has made a shocking return from the dead.

Toadie and Sonya Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney and Eve Morey) also feature in the first episode and receive a spooky surprise of their own while at home.

Watch Neighbours vs. Zombis Part 1 below:

'Neighbours vs Zombies' Trailer Released: Ramsay Street Under Attack Starting October 27

Australian soap opera Neighbours has released an official trailer for Neighbours vs. Zombies, the show's five-part zombie web series launching Monday, October 27, just in time for Halloween.

Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas), Drew Kirk (Dan Paris), David Bishop (Kevin Harrington) and Robbo Slade (Aaron Jakubenko) are among the characters who will be rising from the dead in the online spinoff series.

In addition to a sneak peek at the webisodes, the trailer also showcases a reworked version of the Neighbours theme song with lyrics such as: "Neighbours, everybody eats their neighbours." Watch it below:

'EastEnders' Halloween Trailer: Can Dot Really See Nick?

Dot is sure she has seen Nick's ghost.

A promo for the upcoming Halloween episodes on British soap opera EastEnders asks the question, "Do You Believe In Ghosts?" Two Albert Square regulars are left unsettled after some spooky encounters.

Warning: Spoilers ahead...

Unaware that her son's death was a ruse, Dot (June Brown) becomes convinced that she has seen Nick's (John Altman) ghost after catching sight of Nick through the window.

Meanwhile, Lauren(Jacqueline Jossa) pursues a masked figure who has been watching her from across the street. As Lauren pulls off the person’s weeping angel disguise to expose their identity, who will she find looking back at her?

Watch the promo below:

Alvin Stardust Dead at 75

Veteran pop singer Alvin Stardust has died, aged 72.

The "My Coo Ca Choo" hitmaker, born Bernard William Jewry, passed away at home surrounded by his wife Julia and family on Thursday, his manager tells Sky News.

He had recently been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

Inside Soap Awards 2014 Winner's List: 'EastEnders' Named Best Soap

Sam Strike, Maddy Hill, Danny Dyer, Kellie Bright and Danny-Boy Hatchard.

EastEnders was named Best Soap at The Inside Soap Awards 2014 ceremony held at DSTRKT in London on Wednesday, October 1. The winners were voted on for entirely by the soap fans of Britain, including Danny Mac being named Sexiest Male for the fourth year in a row.

Below is a complete list of winners:

Best Soap - EastEnders

Best Actor - Danny Dyer (Mick Carter, EastEnders)

'EastEnders' Recasting Character From The Past

A well-known character is about to be recast on British soap opera EastEnders.

EastEnders executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins told the Sunday People that a famous Walford resident from the past will soon be making a return, but with a new actor in the role.

The identity of the character is not yet being revealed, so viewer speculation will begin in full force.

"I love EastEnders and I want it back at number one" Treadwell-Collins told the newspaper. "Great characters and great stories will do it. We're edging back - and there's lots more to come."

Which character from the past would you like to see return to EastEnders? And who should play the role?

South African Soap 'Generations' Returns on December 1, Minus the 16 Fired Cast Members

South African soap opera Generations will go off air next week after its current batch of episodes conclude, the SABC said on Sunday.

The series will resume on December 1, said the broadcaster's spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago.

The current set of episodes feature 16 actors who last month were booted from the show after going on strike over a wage dispute.

On Friday, the fired actors approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to seek reinstatement.

The City Press reported on Sunday that the new version of the series would be sans the fired actors. The newspaper reported that series producer Mfundi Vundla had apparently sent out an SMS declaring "new show is Top Secret!!".

Local drama Skeem Saam is set to replace Generations in its weekday 8 p.m. time slot in the interim.

Skeem Saam is described on the SABC 1 website as being "a blend of stories about the journey to manhood" with the "underlying premise" that "real men are made, not born."

RELATED:
* Fired 'Generations' Actors Seek CCMA Help; SABC Shelving The South African Soap in October
* 'Generations' Cast Fired After Striking For More Pay: Future of Popular South African Soap Opera Uncertain

Elaine Lee Dead at 75

Elaine Lee, the 1970s-era sex symbol and star of the iconic soap opera Number 96, died on Friday. She was 75.

Though she was best known for her role as the flamboyant fashion designer Vera Collins in Number 96, Lee's stage, film and television career spanned four decades.

Her other credits included A Country Practice, Glenview High, and the critically acclaimed miniseries Anzacs.

More recently she was seen in another high school drama, Heartbreak High, the medical drama All Saints and Seven's long-running soap Home and Away.

She also appeared regularly on the stage and, for a time, starred in a one-woman show, "Turn on the Heat," which was loosely based on the last two hours of Marilyn Monroe's life.