Soap World #275

We have a jam-packed issue celebrating 50 years of Days Of Our Lives , featuring our favourite storylines, couples and memories from the Salem super soap. Take a walk down memory lane with Bo, Hope, John, Marlena, Tom, Alice and other beloved characters who have graced our screens. Currently on air, B&B’s Ridge and Caroline’s quickie wedding could be over before the honeymoon ends when secrets are revealed… Can their already fragile marriage survive the web of deceit? Locally, a fire threatens to wipe out some of Ramsay Street’s finest, while on A Place To Call Home, an abduction and mental breakdown keeps us in suspense. Lots of gossip and storyline updates, plus great prizes to win. Enjoy!…

Big Names to Exit Days Three of Days of our Lives’ biggest stars are to leave the soap in the coming months. Following months of rumours it has now been confirmed that SHAWN CHRISTIAN is leaving his role as Dr Daniel Jonas after eight years in Salem. While story details surrounding his exit haven’t been confirmed, speculation is rife that Daniel will be killed off in a plot twist that is said to be unrelated to the current Necktie Serial Killer storyline. Christian, who has already filmed his final scenes, will still be seen in Salem for several months due to the show’s advanced production schedule. Meanwhile, KASSIE DEPAIVA is also said to be exiting the soap just over 12 months after she joined the show…

Ridge and Caroline’s blissful coexistence as lovers has now been permanently undermined by Ridge’s refusal to have a baby with her, leaving Caroline with no choice but to seek comfort with a sympathetic Thomas. While Caroline (Linsey Godfrey) has grudgingly accepted Ridge’s (Thorsten Kaye) decision, she remains saddened by the idea of never being a mother. So she is left reeling when Ridge appears to change his mind, telling her he wants her to have a baby. But Caroline’s excitement is shattered when Ridge insists that the father of her baby can’t be him, and as a result he’s breaking up with her, so she can fulfil her dream with someone else. Distraught, Caroline takes refuge in a hotel suite and soon has Thomas (Pierson Fode) by her side as…

ASK ANY DAYS FAN ABOUT MUCH-LOVED PAIR Tom AND Alice Horton, AND YOU’LL UNDERSTAND WHY THIS SOAP HAS ENDURED FOR FIVE DECADES Salem, USA, is synonymous with the Horton family. As natives of the Midwestern metropolis, the family’s roots stretch back generations, and Horton father figure, Tom (Macdonald Carey), was born there in 1910. Raised by a physician in general practice whose family had helped to establish the University Hospital, Tom followed in his father’s footsteps and became a doctor before marrying his high school sweetheart, Alice Grayson (Frances Reid), in 1930. Together, they raised five children, twins Addie & Tom Jr, Mickey, Bill and Marie along with a tribe of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. While their family’s problems often proved overwhelming, the couple’s own tribulations were often daunting,…

Julie Olson was Salem’s first bad girl, when the rebellious teenager was caught stealing in late 1965, but that was nothing compared to her scandalous engagement and planned elopement with David Martin (Clive Clerk), her best friend Susan Hunter’s (Denise Alexander) boyfriend in 1966. Although Susan eventually married David, Julie’s subsequent pregnancy destroyed the friendship. As the years progressed, Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes 1968-present) suffered through two loveless marriages to Scott Banning (Robert Carraway et al), her baby boy’s adoptive father, and Bob Anderson (Mark Tapscott), the owner of Anderson Manufacturing. Her broken engagement to her lawyer, Don Craig (Jed Allan), was also symbolic of her misguided desire for power and prestige, while trying to regain custody of her son David. In 1970, Julie’s world changed forever when she met…

Dr Bill Horton & Dr Laura Spencer (THEN-SUSAN FLANNERY) Although Bill and Laura’s romance preceded Doug and Julie’s passion, it was no less important or dramatic. Despite enduring obstacles like Bill’s health crisis, that lead to Laura marrying his brother Mickey (John Clarke), and the eight-year -long saga of baby Mike’s true paternity, Bill and Laura were finally able to marry in a quiet ceremony in the Horton living room on Christmas Eve. Although many obstacles were to arise, one proved insurmountable. Laura’s family endured a history of mental illness, and in 1980, she showed signs of schizophrenia before attempting suicide. A devastated Bill left Salem and committed her to Lakewood Sanitarium. They would divorce years later, but are still close. Dr Marlena Evans & Roman Brady (DEIDRE HALL) &…