They speak the same language, but they do it with upward inflections, the sun is always shining, and the families are ones you actually wouldn't mind being a member of. When was the last time you could say that about one of the UK's on-screen families, eh?

Now, more than ever, in a divided world, it is the job of artists, of writers, of TV comedy and drama, not only to entrain us, but to reflect the things happening in our world, on screen. To show us not only what is familiar, but also wildly different.

In the latest episode of 'Into It', we're still recovering from the shock news Lee Ryan is joining the cast of 'EastEnders'. With the news splitting fans right down the middle, we ask whether stunt casting is ever a good idea in soapland. We're also getting our teeth into Katy Perry's new brand of 'purposeful pop', as well as putting our money where our (big) mouths are, as we predict who will triumph at next week's Brit Awards.

On Monday (February 13), I couldn't believe what I was watching. A show that has portrayed mental health incredibly over the years and been rightly praised for Lee's storyline at various points, ripped up everything and set it on fire.

More heavyweight than the Soap Awards and less stuffy than the BAFTAs, the National Television Awards is always an entertaining night (if not always for the right reasons - I'm looking at you, Judy Finnigan).

Even the most ardent of fans will admit 2016 wasn't exactly a vintage year for 'Easties', with both 'Emmerdale' and 'Coronation Street' outshining it in terms of ratings and quality of stories. But while next week's actioned-packed episodes will give the show a boost in the short term, there's some much larger problems that need fixing if it is to regain its rightful crown as the nation's favourite soap.

Emmerdale's special episode was ground-breaking. As the episode kicked off, we immediately saw Ashley switching from one place to another as he left hospital. One minute in pyjamas, the next in his day clothes. This captured his own reality and exasperating memory problems and confusion - even viewers on Twitter questioned Emmerdale's continuity - but it was all completely intentional.

While there are a number of charities working to educate young people, no set place on the curriculum means education on consent is often patchy, at best. For many, this storyline could be one of the first times the topic is properly introduced, and it's fantastic that Hollyoaks are shining a light on it with their episode.

I watched Friday's episode. I didn't know the back stories of the characters. But yet I did. I knew how those women felt. I never got my day in court, I was one of the 1 in 15 who did report the rape but I was one of the many that the CPS decided not to prosecute over.

Although we've seen an increase in soap couples that stray from the traditional cis-hetero narrative taking a prominent place in the four main British soaps, parenthood for these characters remains a topic that's yet to be explored fully. I want to know why this is, particularly given how many gay couples we've now seen get together, often played by gay and trans actors who are actually parents themselves.

In the two years they've been on screen, Mick, Linda, Lee, Nancy and Johnny (and not forgetting little Ollie) have weathered rather a few storms, but have always managed to come out of it stronger and more together than ever.

Fresh from the show's recent success at the British Soap Awards, I had a chat with Lisa George, aka Beth Sutherland, about why the series is still going strong after 55 years.

We've seen Britain's most famous landlady battle cancer, negotiate her family's many feuds and cover up their crimes. She's taken - and dished out - a number of slaps, and watched her beloved pub burn to the ground, all while seeming far mightier than her 4'11" stance suggests she should be.

With 20 million people watching, it felt like everyone was talking about the wedding of Scott and Charlene and my family and I were no exception. The wedding was a prestigious affair in my household with all of us glued to the screens in silence as Charlene walked down the aisle in that giant lacy dress looking like a knitted doll you'd find on top of a toilet roll.

Lassiters, the hotel complex that has seen so many explosions and fires it's a wonder that anyone stays there. It can't rate too highly on Trip Advisor?

So of course I understand why a script writer may leap to the conclusion that this is an ideal storyline to cover a fake pregnancy, however for those of us who have lost a child through miscarriage it's a slap in the face!