Actor John Partridge joins Inside Soap’s Laura-Jayne Tyler for a candid chat about his new play The Code, his trailblazing role as Christian in EastEnders, and unforgettable reality TV moments from Celebrity Big Brother. From Hollywood’s closeted history to the challenges LGBTQ+ actors still face today, John speaks with honesty, humour and passion. He also looks back on EastEnders’ iconic Chryed love story, shares heartfelt memories of his fans, and relives THAT chaotic Celebrity Big Brother moment involving Angie Bowie and David Gest. Whether you’re a soap fan, theatre lover, or reality TV nostalgist, this is an interview not to miss. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more Soap Scoop interviews and soap news! 🎭 Book tickets for The Code now: southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/the-code/   📌 Full Video Chapters 00:00 – Intro: Welcoming John Partridge 00:49 – The Code: A play about fame and secrecy in Hollywood 02:26 – Playing Billy Haynes: Hollywood’s first openly gay actor 04:00 – Love, loss, and authenticity: Billy & Jimmy’s story 05:10 – Power, sexuality, and survival in old Hollywood 06:42 – The ongoing challenges for openly gay actors today 07:40 – John’s EastEnders casting and being outed in the press 11:19 – Should gay roles go to gay actors? John’s evolving view 13:16 – Reflecting on Christian & Syed’s groundbreaking EastEnders storyline 16:20 – Pride and backlash: telling gay stories in primetime 18:05 – Fans, Chryed legacy, and enduring soap supercouples 19:28 – Soap characters and carrying them for life 21:30 – Judging on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical show 23:41 – Fame, reality TV, and the cost of chasing stardom 26:34 – Where are the stories for older LGBTQ+ characters? 27:06 – Celebrity Big Brother chaos: “David is dead!” 30:58 – The brutal reality of life in the Big Brother house 32:00 – David Gest’s kindness and unseen moments 33:23 – Saving Scotty T’s life in the house 34:46 – Why CBB was John’s toughest professional experience 35:20 – Memories with Inside Soap and a touching photo shoot with his mum 36:15 – Closing thoughts on The Code and the power of soap 39:55 – Why you need to Google “David is dead” if you haven’t seen it 40:38 – Emmerdale drama: Mack’s bunker reveal and Caleb’s blackmail 41:27 – Mack & Aaron reunited: the “Marron” bromance 43:04 – Villain worship, Caleb, and bunker theories 43:33 – Mack’s many “resurrections” and the bunker beard 44:18 – Stacey & Max: a reunion fans can’t miss 45:25 – Soap Christmas chaos vs. real Christmas boredom 46:00 – Stacey’s exit plans and Max’s return 47:14 – Coronation Street live tour 48:24 – Ben Shephard surprises Patti Clare live on stage 49:00 – Dame Barbara Knox’s rare stage appearance 49:51 – Corrie tour moves nationwide – surprises each night 50:14 – How to book tickets for An Audience with Coronation Street 50:40 – Wrap-up and teaser for next week’s Soap Scoop https://www.facebook.com/insidesoap https://www.instagram.com/insidesoapmagazine https://www.tiktok.com/insidesoapmag https://www.x.com/insidesoapmag Inside Soap is Britain’s only soap magazine, bringing readers every story, every secret, every week from shows such as such as Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Casualty and Neighbours. Grab a copy of the mag on Tuesdays, and head to www.digitalspy.com/soaps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices