Chicken Soap for the Soul: Best in Coop: Chicken Soap Highlights - Pt 2

Elisabeth is on holiday! And while she takes a well-earned break, we’re bringing you another special best of compilation featuring some of our favourite moments from recent episodes. From soap opera secrets and backstage laughs to unexpected career turns and heartfelt reflections, this episode brings together a selection of standout stories and conversations with actors who’ve graced our screens - and our podcast.

Whether you’re new to the podcast or a loyal listener, it’s a perfect chance to catch up, revisit highlights, or simply enjoy the brilliance of our guests all over again.

Elisabeth will be back soon with more warm, witty, and revealing chats - and for now, enjoy the Best Bits!

New CSFTS News! You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

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For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

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Chicken Soap for the Soul: Best in Coop: Chicken Soap Highlights - Pt 1

Elisabeth is on holiday! And while she takes a well-earned break, we’re bringing you a special best of compilation featuring some of our favourite moments from recent episodes. From soap opera secrets and backstage laughs to unexpected career turns and heartfelt reflections, this episode brings together a selection of standout stories and conversations with actors who’ve graced our screens - and our podcast.

Whether you’re new to the podcast or a loyal listener, it’s a perfect chance to catch up, revisit highlights, or simply enjoy the brilliance of our guests all over again.

Elisabeth will be back soon with more warm, witty, and revealing chats - and for now, enjoy the Best Bits!

New CSFTS News! You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the podcast and Elisabeth at instagram.com/chickensoappodcast and instagram.com/elisabethdermotwalsh

For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chicken Soap for the Soul with Elisabeth Dermot Walsh and Special Guest Adrian Lewis Morgan

This week on Chicken Soap for the Soul, Elisabeth is joined by Adrian Lewis Morgan – the Welsh star best known for his iconic role as Dr Jimmi Clay in the BBC One soap Doctors, which he played from 2005 until its final episode in 2024. With over 2,180 episodes to his name, Adrian was the show's longest-serving cast member. He also appeared in Holby City as Liam Evans from 2001 to 2002.

Adrian’s roots lie in musical theatre. He trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and went on to perform in major West End productions including Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables, and Rent.

He shares how his acting journey began at the age of 10—expecting to learn knitting, not drama—and reflects on nervy college audition rooms, and the chaos of taking over the role of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at the very last minute, in a performance that ended with an on-stage hanging... and a bit of vomiting.

Elisabeth and Adrian trade behind-the-scenes stories from 20 years on Doctors (think Shakespearean sonnets and unexpected musical numbers), dive into Jimmi’s famously unlucky-in-love love life, and reveal the secret to keeping your energy up on set (spoiler: snacks).

New CSFTS News! You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the podcast and Elisabeth at instagram.com/chickensoappodcast and instagram.com/elisabethdermotwalsh

For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chicken Soap for the Soul with Elisabeth Dermot Walsh and Special Guest Sarah Lucas

This week on Chicken Soap for the Soul, Elisabeth is joined by powerhouse 1st Assistant Director Sarah Lucas, who steered the acclaimed drama Adolescence, famously filmed in one-shot episodes.

The 1st AD is the linchpin who brings order to creative chaos, making sure cast, crew, and schedules all stay on track — and, if you’ve ever wondered, they're also usually the voice on the other end of the line in any phone call scenes.

With credits including Malpractice, Boiling Point, and Enola Holmes, Sarah reflects on cutting her teeth on Doctors, and how the fast-paced world of soaps gave her a vital start in the industry.

Elisabeth and Sarah talk about what it really takes to keep a production moving, being told she wasn’t “aggressive enough” to become a 1st, turning ADHD into a superpower, and how working with respect, kindness, and trust has shaped her leadership style.

It’s an inspiring conversation about grit, growth, and putting yourself in the place you want to be.

New CSFTS News!  You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the podcast and Elisabeth at instagram.com/chickensoappodcast and instagram.com/elisabethdermotwalsh

For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chicken Soap for the Soul with Elisabeth Dermot Walsh and Special Guest Danielle Henry

This week on Chicken Soap for the Soul, Elisabeth is joined by the endlessly talented Danielle Henry - acclaimed for her roles in Doctors (she played Mandy Marquez) , Emmerdale, My Mum Tracy Beaker, The Beaker Girls, and a recent appearance in The Good Ship Murder.

Danielle opens up about grappling with imposter syndrome, being terrified when first meeting Elisabeth and how much she learned from the ‘school of Doctors’.

Elisabeth and Danielle also discuss the joy of working on finding the connection with a character and why embracing fear can be transformative. 

New CSFTS News! You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the podcast and Elisabeth at instagram.com/chickensoappodcast and instagram.com/elisabethdermotwalsh

For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chicken Soap for the Soul with Elisabeth Dermot Walsh and Special Guest Daniel Millar

This week on Chicken Soap for the Soul, Elisabeth is joined by the charming and multilingual Daniel Millar - actor, incidental Johnny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch assailant, and a man who's been mistaken more than once for at least two other actors with near-identical names.

Daniel has appeared in a dozen Shakespeare productions, trod the boards at the RSC, and regularly pops up on our screens - including on EastEnders, Holby City, and Doctors, where he somehow managed to play four completely different characters.

In this episode, Daniel shares his journey from studying languages to falling in love with theatre, the nerve-wracking (and character-building) experience of filming a 14-hour day for a single line of dialogue, and how persistence - including hand-written letters - got him his first part. He and Elisabeth also talk about the differences between acting on stage and on screen, and the lessons only experience can teach.

Daniel stars in the sparkling revival of Somerset Maugham’s witty and subversive comedy, The Constant Wife. It’s on at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 19 June to 2 August 2025. Tickets and more information available at rsc.org.uk.

New CSFTS News!  You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the podcast and Elisabeth at instagram.com/chickensoappodcast and instagram.com/elisabethdermotwalsh

For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode of Chicken Soap For The Soul is all about tenacity — the grit, growth, and perseverance it takes to carve out a career in television. Elisabeth Dermot Walsh is joined by the brilliant Merlyn Rice. Merlyn’s journey from a runner, to script supervisor and even a guest star on Doctors led to her eventually assuming the director’s chair - a move she campaigned for over several years, with cast and crew rallying behind her.

With an impressive slate of directing credits under her belt including Coronation Street, The Good Ship Murder, Emmerdale and Sister Boniface, Merlyn shares what it really takes to rise through the ranks in TV. From navigating the chaos of filming on a cruise ship filled with real holidaymakers to the delicate balance of guiding performance and technical teams on set, she lifts the curtain on the brains and collaboration behind your favourite shows.

Whether you’re an aspiring director or curious about how your favourite soaps are made, tune in to hear stories from behind the scenes, the tricky moments that tested her and how Merlyn’s tenacity has shaped a standout career in television directing.

New CSFTS News!  You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the podcast and Elisabeth at instagram.com/chickensoappodcast and instagram.com/elisabethdermotwalsh

For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chicken Soap for the Soul with Elisabeth Dermot Walsh and Special Guest Stirling Gallacher

On this week’s episode of Chicken Soap for the Soul, Elisabeth is joined by the redoubtable (or in her own words, ‘clownsy actress’) Stirling Gallacher, best known to Doctors fans as the compassionate and clear-eyed Dr. George Woodson, a role she played for over 1,000 episodes. Stirling graced just about every major British soap, from EastEnders to Coronation Street and from Emmerdale to Casualty. But before all that, Stirling’s roots were in comedy, notably playing David Brent’s boss in The Office.

Elisabeth and Stirling talk about navigating motherhood with a baby on set, being told she was "too posh" to play George Woodson, the overwhelming love she received from fans for portraying Coronation Street’s first bisexual woman and the absolute impossibility of staying composed around Ricky Gervais. 

New CSFTS News! You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the podcast and Elisabeth at instagram.com/chickensoappodcast and instagram.com/elisabethdermotwalsh

For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of Chicken Soap for the Soul, Elisabeth is joined by the excellent Donnaleigh Bailey, who brought sincerity, spark, and unstoppable energy to her 681-episode run as nurse Michelle Corrigan on Doctors. Donnaleigh currently lights up screens as the delectable, no nonsense PC Jess Heywood on Coronation Street.

Elisabeth and Donnaleigh talk about the joy of teaching drama to kids, how the original Doctors cast helped her prepare her audition for drama school, and the bold letter she sent to casting insisting she simply HAD to play Michelle Corrigan. Donnaleigh also tells the story of the absolute nightmare it was to audition for Coronation Street, feeling tipsy on fake tequila shots, and the genius of the nappuccino.

New CSFTS News!  You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the podcast and Elisabeth at instagram.com/chickensoappodcast and instagram.com/elisabethdermotwalsh

For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chicken Soap for the Soul with Elisabeth Dermot Walsh and Special Guest Elizabeth Bower

On this week’s episode of Chicken Soap for the Soul, Elisabeth is joined by the brilliant Elizabeth Bower, whose unforgettable turn as Dr Melody Bell lit up over 300 episodes of Doctors. Elizabeth isn’t just brilliantly funny — she’s played a remarkable range of roles, from Spoons to Silent Witness, and from Trollied to Miss Scarlett and the Duke.

Elisabeth and Liz talk about the challenge of playing ‘straight’ after having done so much comedy, about suddenly having to learn to pole dance (and getting some abs painted on for good measure) and about the joy of voicing audiobooks and bringing them to life.

New CSFTS News! You can now join us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/chickensoappodcast/

Signup for the Chicken Soap News at chickensoapforthesoul.com

You can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the podcast and Elisabeth at instagram.com/chickensoappodcast and instagram.com/elisabethdermotwalsh

For more information on Brum Radio Podcasts follow Brum Radio on instagram.com/brumradio

Chicken Soup For the Soul is produced by Brum Radio and is recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Follow the Brum Radio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.