Coronation Street - Season 16 (1974)

Alf reassures Annie that the Gazette won't be touching the Harveys' divorce. Mavis wants Jerry to make a move for her and asks him if he thinks she should go to Grange-over-Sands. He thinks she wants to go. Maggie and Alf are witnesses when Annie meets Arthur Harvey. She tells him that unless he goes back to Nellie she'll never speak to him again. Jerry tells Mavis he was married - she is shocked. Nellie takes Arthur back when he promises her he's finished with Annie. Mavis decides to go to Grange. Nellie apologises to Annie. Alan sends Lucille a telegram: he's ...

Rita is fed up at the Kabin on her own; no one has answered her advertisement for an assistant. Alan returns without Elsie. Rita takes on sixteen-year-old Christopher Cullen but isn't sure she's doing the right thing. Alan tells Lucille they're settling in Newcastle. He plans to sell the Canal Garage and give up the tenancy of No. 11. Hilda considers giving up charring to become Rita's assistant to prove her worth to Trevor. Albert suggests the Barlows take out the tenancy on No. 11. Chris makes Rita feel very uncomfortable. Albert makes Janet see that renting No. 11 ...

Hilda applies to be Rita's assistant. Stan advises her to go easy on the makeup as Rita will see her as competition. Lucille wants to leave the Betting Shop and asks Rita to take her on. Rita agrees to hire her without an interview. When Hilda protests, Len insists they both have trials, sure that Hilda will fail however she proves her worth with her initial customers and gains Len's approval when she generously laces Len's tea with whisky. Douglas Wormold wants £7 a week for No.11. The Barlows take it. Wormold buys the Howards' furniture so that he can let the house ...

The Barlows install themselves at No. 11. Janet doesn't like Elsie's taste in decor or furniture. Douglas Wormold is the frontman for the London development buying up properties although the plans haven't yet been approved. Len favour the development as he owns three properties in the area. Maggie tells Alf she plans to enlarge the shop - knocking into the storeroom and making it self-service. Alf worries about Maggie's plans because the shop could be demolished but, as the development is confidential, he can only caution her due to the expense. Billy returns as Alan ...

Betty tells Bet about Billy's £2,000. They wonder why he hasn't told anyone. The Barlows plan to entertain Ken's colleague, George Hawthorn and wife. Hilda puts herself forward as an assistant for Maggie when she expands the shop. Alan has a cash offer from Douglas Wormold for the Canal Garage. Len advises Billy to go after the garage to get a bigger profit from Wormold himself. He does so and buys it. Maggie pays £45 for the shop plans. Annie worries about where Billy got the money from and wonders why Wormold wants to buy a garage. The Barlows give Elsie's painting ...

Janet invites her friends round for a meal. Annie questions Billy who reveals he sold a man a second-hand Alfa Romeo for £1,100 and passed it off as new when the buyer insisted on a new car for the cheap and unreasonable price. Maggie tells Betty that she's shelved the expansion plans. Douglas Wormold alarms Rita by turning up at The Kabin. Ena returns from St. Anne's. Billy agrees to do Deirdre's bike up if she'll do his typing. Wormold offers Len £5,000 for The Kabin - £1,000 more than it's worth - and wonders how he'll vote in the forthcoming committee meeting. Alf...

Rita realises Len is desperate to sell the Kabin and wonders why. Ken takes Philip Barrett to the Rovers and learns that he wants children Jill is against them. Jill doesn't envy Janet having to raise someone else's kids. Janet admits she isn't looking forward to having the twins down and likes Jill's suggestion of sending them to boarding school although she knows Ken won't like it. Annie sees something pass between Len and Douglas Wormold and wonders if Len is taking backhanders. Wormold tells Rita he wants the Kabin for redevelopment and Len knows all about it. He ...

Alf thinks Len let the cat out of the bag. Ken turns down a dinner invite from the Barretts without asking Janet as he doesn't like Jill Barrett. Rita feels bad for landing Len in hot water tells the residents to ask Douglas Wormold when they try to get more from her. Ken suggests Annie contacts the brewery to see if they know anything. Annie realises that Betty is upset with something. An indifferent Len tells his critics that the wheels are turning and there's damn all they can do about it. The managing director of Newton and Ridley assures Annie that there are no ...

Emily counts on Alf to bring Len to the meeting. Janet is pleased about the redevelopment as they can move to a better house. Ken is nervous about the twins moving back as they'll have grown up since they last lived with him. Len admits to Alf that he put The Kabin in Rita's name but emphasises that it wasn't because of the redevelopment. Len tells Alf he's in favour of the development and refuses to attend the meeting. He tells Rita not to go either. Janet receives the brochure from Lindens Boarding School and makes enquiries. Ken chairs the meeting, which Hilda, ...

Ken spends the night on the sofa. He rips up the brochure. Janet hides the blankets under the sofa when Albert visits. Len is not bothered by the Street action committee at all. Alf calls him hard-faced. The Bishops start the petition against Len. They're prepared to demand a full public enquiry if necessary. Billy signs the petition when the residents pressure him. Ena thinks Albert is having doubts about marrying Minnie when he puts the wedding off because of the redevelopment. Billy decides not to sell the garage to Douglas Wormold. Hilda takes hers and Stan's ...

Len and Alf await the planning meeting where the Street's fate will be decided. Jerry calls Len a sell-out. Len thinks the residents are afraid of progress. Alf is prepared to declare Len's interests before the committee if he has to. Janet stops cooking Ken's meals. Ena tries to discourage Minnie from marrying Albert. The Gazette only has a short article on the protest by the Action Group and only gives the petition a cursory mention. The residents feel no one cares. Emily is furious and throws a brick through Len's window as he's preparing to set off for the Town ...

Billy hears that Stuart Draper is after him and avoid the Rovers. He and Ken had a lousy night out as Ken got more miserable with every drink and they were nearly thrown out. Ken doesn't see any way to save his marriage unless Janet relents over the twins. Emily can't own up to throwing the brick as Ernie doesn't think the ends justify the means. Albert avoids Minnie as she keeps going on at him to name the day. She tracks him down and tells him she wants to marry at Easter. Maggie decides not to change the shop around as the redevelopment gave her a fright. Albert ...

Betty is devastated by the news of Cyril's death. Billy's dispute with Draper escalates. Emily and Ernest decide to set up the Rovers Amateur Dramatic Association.

Annie stops the party as the news is broken to Betty. Stuart Draper puts a note on the car outside the garage telling of Billy's crookedness. Billy tows the car away. Emily and Ernie start the Rovers Amateur Dramatic Association (RADA) up. Betty feels she caused Cyril's death by hurrying him to come to the party. She becomes confused. Billy tells Draper he hasn't a leg to stand on legally. Draper manically drives the car into the Rovers' door, smashing it.

Stuart Draper refuses to move the car. Annie rings the police and demands they come out to the incident. Ernie asks for suggestions at a meeting of the RADA players: Bet, Rita, Lucille, Jerry, Deirdre and Emily. Deirdre suggests "Hair" and Lucille "Oh. Calcutta!" but Ernie gets them to admit they know nothing about them. Jerry suggests "The Teahouse of the August Moon" which Ernie stage-managed previously and knows to be too ambitious. Rita thinks they could do a musical. The police arrive and get Draper to remove the car. Draper goes for Billy and they have to be ...

Maggie has gone to Mr Porter's and taken Betty home. A doctor has advised her that Betty's behaviour isn't out of the ordinary and she just needs time. Rita goes down with the flu, leaving Lucille on her own at the Kabin. Emily helps Hilda write a letter of condolence. Maggie finds it hard to cope with Betty. She's still confused and distant. Maggie decides she won't let her attend the funeral. Ray gives Hilda a letter for Stan from the town hall which was delivered to No.9 by mistake. The mourners gather at Betty's house. Billy annoys Ray by getting Deirdre to do a ...

Betty, Maggie, Alf, Len, Bet, Ernie, Emily, Sgt Bert Daniels and Mr Porter bury Cyril. Hilda is thrilled that she and Stan might be caretakers of the Community Centre. Stan says he didn't tell her in case it fell through. Gertie Robson helps Billy out at the pub whilst waiting to see the Bishops for the caretaker's job. Gertie recognises Stan from Fatties Anonymous, when she called there to pick up her sister. He buys her a drink when she tells him that they could do with more men like him and asks if he's married. Maggie wishes Len well on his engagement. Mr Porter ...

The Ogdens prepare for their interviews as caretakers at the Community Centre. Annie tells Betty she's under no pressure to return to the Rovers. Ernie thinks the committee ought to be impartial over the Ogdens but everyone else disagrees. Stan does the Bishops' windows for free to get on their good side. Annie is pleased when caretaker candidate Gertie Robson talks up Billy and the Rovers, and asks her to apply at the Rovers if she's unsuccessful at the centre. Chairman Mr Rodgers, Alf, Emily, Ernie and Vera Hopkins interview Stan. He is lucky with the questions and ...

Gertie Robson makes herself popular in the Rovers as she chats to the customers and staff. Deirdre enjoys the way Ray and Billy battle for her affections. Maggie tells Bet how hard she's finding Betty's presence at the Corner Shop. Vera and Mr Rogers takes Annie's reference at its face value and decide they want the Ogdens for Community Centre caretakers. The appalled Bishops and Alf count on Gertie being able to change their minds. Bet tries to get Betty to return to the Rovers for Maggie's sake, saying she's needed at the pub, but Betty is enjoying working at the ...

Gertie Robson starts work at the Community Centre. The Ogdens are disappointed they didn't get the job and Stan feels the Bishops have sabotaged it. Emily warns Gertie that her assistant is hard to get on with. The residents are amazed at Sand. Emily is very against it while most of the men are in favour. A depressed Hilda asks to return to the Rovers on the strength of Annie's glowing reference and is re-hired. Albert is annoyed at the Bishops for not consulting him before hiring Gertie, and decides he's not going to like her but she wins him over by buying him a ...

Lucille tells Rita she's been living with Danny Burrows for a month. Emily has her heart set on being Lady Bracknell in RADA's production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Ernie favours Annie and suggests Emily plays Gwendaline. Albert rows with Janet over her attitude towards Peter and Susan. Deirdre wins the part of Gwendaline for herself. Billy takes Danny on at the garage. Ken gets the part of Algernon. Janet tells Ken to take the day off tomorrow and bring the twins home.

Ken goes to Glasgow to fetch Peter and Susan. Albert is pleased when Janet tells him as he was resigned to sending them their birthday presents by post. Edith Tatlock can't see Janet as a stepmother. With Ken, Annie and Bet unavailable, rehearsals for The Importance of Being Earnest go ahead with a skeleton crew. Ernie makes Emily the prompter. Rita is cast as Miss Prism. Ernie doesn't like Rita's send up of Miss Prism and she walks out, branding the whole thing a farce. To get through the rehearsal, the actors have to play multiple roles. A peeved Len plays Bet's ...

Albert and Janet prepare for Peter and Susan's homecoming. Ken returns from Glasgow with Edith Tatlock but without the twins; he needs Edith to make Albert believe that it was Peter and Susan's decision not to live with him. Lucille doesn't care that people are starting to talk about her and Danny Burrows. Ernie desperately tries to find a Miss Prism as Rita is refusing to come back. Billy is annoyed when Danny fixes Len up with a new van when Len brings his vehicle in for repairs at the garage. Ernie finds rehearsals hard as there are several no-shows and the actors ...

Annie and Alf's year in office finishes and they bow out as the last Mayor and Mayoress of the Weatherfield County Borough Council. Emily puts herself forward for Miss Prism in "The Importance of Being Earnest" but Ernie tells her she'll be too busy helping him to have a part. She thinks he doesn't have faith in her as he's taken a role himself. Mavis returns from Grange-over-Sands and takes a job as a vet's receptionist. Billy tells Bet that Danny Burrows is married and enlists her help in finding out whether he's told Lucille. Mavis shows interest in the play but is...

Lucille decides to stay with Danny Burrows. Annie lets it be known she's going to take on Gertie Robson to replace Betty. Mavis and Jerry bump into each other and make awkward small talk. Minnie tells Gertie that Ena is thinking of going to St. Anne's and sounds relieved at the prospect. Betty goes into the Rovers to get change for Maggie. Bet accidentally puts her foot in it by telling her it's been a morgue in the Rovers while she's been away. At Billy's urging, Lucille tells Annie she's living with Danny. Annie tells her that she's sad but she does understand and ...

Annie forces Jerry to rehearse with her after he fixes her kitchen sink. Danny doesn't see why he has to meet Annie as she isn't a blood relation. He feels his freedom is being curtailed but agrees for Lucille's sake. Betty tells Maggie she plans to stay at the shop until she can afford another house. Mavis is put in charge of props for the play. She takes the position very seriously. Rita collects her 50p from Mavis after winning their New Year bet. Minnie is off with everyone due to the strain of living with Ena. Annie and Billy entertain Lucille and Danny with ...

Annie feels sorry for Hilda when everyone takes up Gertie's theme of Stan and Mrs Regan and tells her to stand up to them. Betty's buyers drop their price by £500. Maggie is relieved as it's too low for Betty to accept. Annie doesn't approve of Danny's motorcycling. Hilda sees Stan laughing with Gertie but isn't so forgiving herself. Lucille worries that Danny won't want to marry as he had a bad experience with his first wife. Annie visits the bedsit and tells Danny they can live with her when they're married so that they can save for a decent place of their own. ...

Preparations for the play get Ernie down. Mavis lets herself be bullied by the prop benefactors into giving them tickets. Albert doesn't want to help out as he doesn't like Oscar Wilde. Lucille and Danny make up after their row over Annie. Minnie tells Alf she's not putting Ena up anymore when she returns from St. Anne's; it is up to him to find her somewhere to live. Lucille pushes Danny for his future plans and asks if he wants to get married eventually. He thinks Annie prepped her. She tells him she loves him. Alf asks Albert if he'd 'foster' Ena. He says it'll ...

Sandra Burrows turns out to be a demure woman who doesn't mind that Lucille is living with Danny. She's after maintenance money as she hasn't had anything from Danny for six weeks and was laid off from work last week. Ernie starts behaving like a tyrant and calls his cast monumentally uninteresting. Jerry moves Minnie's furniture across the road to make room for Ena's. Sandra tells Lucille that she and Danny have only been parted for six months and she'll have to wait eighteen months for a divorce; she dumped him because he didn't want children. Lucille feels sorry ...

Hilda doesn't turn up for work at the Rovers. Ernie was in the Rovers until closing time, peeved that the rehearsals went well once Emily took over. He tells Emily that he didn't mean to resign and walking out was a psychological trick meant to energise the cast. Emily remains in charge but Ernie returns to play his part of Cannon. Danny writes to Billy resigning from the garage. Rita tells him that Lucille has left Danny. An unconcerned Hilda tells Betty she had a lie in. With the dress rehearsal starting, Annie hires a costume from a theatrical costumier in London. ...

Hilda is on the verge of a breakdown. Stan asks Len if they can use the money from the smoking syndicate but Len refuses. Mrs Morris wants her sugar bowl, used as a prop in the play, back during the show. When Mavis refuses to give it to her she calls the police. Stan finds something in an advertisement to help Hilda and gets her to sign an application form. The production goes well, despite Mrs Morris snatching her sugar bowl back on stage. Mavis is shocked when she walks into the men's dressing room to be confronted by a naked Billy.

The play is reviewed in the paper. Annie is described as a competent Lady Bracknell. Bet reminds her that she leaves next week to take a summer job at a holiday camp in Morecambe. With Hilda continually turning up late, Annie feels her staff are unreliable and warns Bet that she may not keep her job open. Rita feels the strain of living with heartbroken Lucille. Gertie's nephew Gary Turner arrives for a visit. The residents are disturbed by the noise of the lorries serving the warehouse. Stan sends for an application form for a job cleaning on a Caribbean cruise liner...

The lorry noise adds to Hilda's woes. Gertie agrees to nephew Gary Turner staying with her if his parents agree. The residents persuade Hilda to take the job - cleaning on a cruise ship, the Monte Umber. Annie sympathetically invites Lucille to return to the Rovers. She doesn't want to return as she feels she is getting nowhere in life. Ken gets a meeting with the Warehouse boss regarding the traffic noise. Stan tells Hilda she's too long in the tooth to get the cruise job. Lucille returns to the Rovers. The residents discuss the problem of the lorries in the Street. ...

Hilda gets a telegram calling her on board her cruise ship cleaning job on 8th May. She is excited despite warnings from the residents about seasickness and snakes. Ken puts the residents' complaints to the warehouse's director, Lionel Portious and company boss, Sir Julius Berlin. He doesn't accept their excuse that work is being done on the loading bay at the other side of the warehouse, and insists that something is done about the lorries as the residents haven't been able to park in their own street. Portious looks into Ken's suggestion of redeploying the company's...

Hilda joins the Seamen's Union. Stan tries to find out who Hilda has asked to spy on him. Bet prepares for her working holiday at a camp in Morecambe. Gary Turner refuses to decide between football and catering until he gets his degree. Eric Turner tells talent scout Bob Maskell he'll have to tackle Gertie to get at Gary. Annie discovers Hilda got the job using a reference she gave her for the Community Centre position. Albert warns Gary about the scandal mongering should he become a footballer and tells him about David Barlow having to retire after breaking his leg. ...

Stan wants to know who his minder is while Hilda is away working on the cruise ship. He suspects Emily when she calls round first thing. Ken decides not to tell Janet about Sir Julius Berlin's job offer until he knows what he wants to do; she thinks he made a fool of himself by running when Sir Julius clicked his fingers. Bet has left for Morecambe. Stan splashes out on drink with his housekeeping money. He decides to follow Hilda's example and have exotic meals while she's away. Ken asks Wilfred Perkins' opinion on the warehouse. Perkins advises him not to rush into ...

Stan doesn't know what he's going to do for money. He's so preoccupied that he forgets his own birthday, remembering only when Emily delivers a card Hilda left with her. The warehouse's loading bay re-opens, to the residents' relief. Maggie is overworked running the shop by herself. Betty asks Alf to help her get out more. Bet sends the regulars a postcard from Morecambe. After hearing from Emily that the Gazette pays Ernie a retainer, Stan asks Annie for £2 a week while Hilda is away. She agrees as long as he works for it. Ken doesn't know what job security he would ...

Janet tells Ken about Perkins's visit. Janet wants Ken to take the warehouse job but Ken is still undecided. As Stan's agents, Lucille and Deirdre take Tommy Deakin and son-in-law Michael Ryan on at No. 13 at £7 a week each. The residents are surprised to see Tommy back in the Street after two years. Alf starts work as Maggie's assistant. Maggie is surprised when he takes the job seriously. Annie is dismissive of Alf's new position, saying he doesn't have a natural aptitude for it. Tommy and Michael pay a fortnight's rent in advance. Ken doesn't know what to do about ...

Maggie is horrified to hear that Tommy Deakin and his donkey are ensconced next door. Ken has a week to decide whether to take the job at the warehouse. Janet is annoyed by how casual he is about it. Stan discovers Tommy and Michael Ryan have paid in advance for half-board meaning he has to cook for them. Ken finds the warehouse appealing as his work will have material results. Deirdre and Lucille are amused by Alf's idea that they found the men lodgings as they fancy Michael. Janet puts it about that Ken has got a top-level job and brags about "the right wives" going...

Ray finds out that the mother's name is Alison. He tells a disapproving Jerry that he doesn't know any Alisons. Michael Ryan refuses to be tempted by Deirdre - he's keeping himself pure for his girlfriend, Mary. Stan, Tommy and Michael go to the races in a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce. Alison Wright meets Ray and tells him they met at a party when he was drunk. She tells him that he told her to look him up if she was in trouble - now she's left the father and needs his help as they're homeless. Stan, Tommy and Michael have a picnic in the country on the way back from ...

Stan spends the night in the police station - he's been charged with speeding, DUI and driving with an out-of-date licence and his fines could top £100. He has to hitchhike home on a milk float. Ken has decided not to take the job at the warehouse. Minnie looks after him and buys his shopping for him. Jerry doesn't mind Alison staying at No.9 but Ray knows he'll have to sort it out before Len gets back. Rita is surprised to hear that Ken changed his mind based on something she said to him. Ken tells her it was a chance remark about Terry Bates not being happy at his ...

Len returns to No.9 early and finds Alison Wright asleep in his bed. Ray takes the sofa and gives Len his bed to keep the peace. Minnie feeds Dolores for Stan. Rita helps Ken by cleaning No.11. Len asks Alison about herself and her history with Ray. He's convinced that Ray is Jonathan Wright's father and wants no part of it. Maggie threatens to report Stan to the Health unless he moves the donkey. Janet returns for some clothes while Ken is at work and bumps into Rita. She knows that Ken is leaving Bessie Street School as his letter of resignation came through her ...

Ken doesn't know if he wants to see Janet again. Jonathan's crying keeps the household up all night. Len is livid when he's left holding the baby while Jerry makes up a bottle for Jonathan. Stan tells Maggie he has moved Dolores. Hilda sends Stan a postcard, saying she's having a good time. Alison finds a flat she likes and waits to hear from the landlord. Ken finds Janet making lunch at No.11 and agrees to talk things over. Minnie can't keep Dolores in her yard anymore as Bobby is jealous and family comes first. Janet hopes that Ken changed his mind about the ...

Albert returns and demands Dolores' removal from his yard. Billy has put Alison up but demands that she goes before Annie returns from visiting Joan. Albert is sickened to hear the Barlows have split. Stan takes the donkey back and is reported to the Health Inspector by Maggie. He is given forty-eight hours to move the donkey by Inspector Tom Meeker. Alf tries to get Maggie interested in the modernisation again but she's not bothered. Rita takes Alison in and spoils Len's evening by babysitting Jonathan.

Rita doesn't believe Alison's story about her rich boyfriend, Harvey Shaw. With Hilda returning, Minnie agrees to take Dolores in if Stan looks after Bobby. Len makes enquiries about Harvey Shaw, pretending to be a mate. He gets Harvey's phone number and tells him he can come down any time he wants a good hiding. Albert asks Ken to move back into No. 1 but he chooses to remain at No. 11 by himself. Maggie gets worried with Alf in the shop. Harvey Shaw turns up, ready to fight Len. He thaws when Len makes it clear he just wants Alison and Jonathan out of his ...

Bet returns from the Morecambe holiday camp and finds that no one has been taken on to replace her behind the bar of the Rovers in her absence. Maggie tells Alf she doesn't want him putting money in the shop as he doesn't know anything about the business. Ron Cooke returns to Weatherfield but he's only passing through on business. Rita tells him that Maggie is still around and that Alf is after her. Albert tells Stan that Dolores is back in his yard. Stan tells Health Inspector Tom Meeker that Dolores is in Blackpool giving rides but Meeker insists on checking himself...

Rita celebrates the Kabin's first birthday. Hilda demands Dolores' removal before a summons is issued. Maggie has her hair done and is pleased to see Ron Cooke. He tells her that he's after a new job in Zaire. Hilda brings Deirdre home a sexy dress and she sets the temperature rising in the Rovers. Hilda discovers Stan has had lodgers when Michael Ryan calls for Dolores. Ron tells Maggie that he's been dry for two years - she is delighted. Hilda tells Stan he's not having any of her money to pay his fines which he estimates will be £200. Alf proposes to a shocked ...

Alf tells Betty about his proposal. She is delighted. Bet is told and spreads the news. Hilda plans to spend her money on doing up the house. Emily is surprised to be paid promptly for developing her cruise photographs. Maggie is uncomfortable when Betty offers her congratulations. Len and Ken do their best to avoid seeing Hilda's photographs. Rita realises that Maggie isn't really interested in Alf's proposal now that she has Ron Cooke in her life. Len and Ray tell Stan to get a solicitor and Ray gives him Mervyn Traynor's name. They tell him that he has little ...

Ron and Maggie are engaged. Maggie gets Ron to propose to her properly after he buys her an engagement ring but won't wear it until she's told Alf. Hilda plans to use her money to do the house up in the hope that Trevor will visit and refuses to throw it away on a smart-arse lawyer Ray recommended. Betty confesses to Bet that Annie put her in charge while she's away visiting Joan. Betty thinks Maggie is going to accept Alf's proposal when Maggie tells her she wants to see him. Deirdre makes Hilda see that Stan will fare better with his own solicitor. She agrees to ...

Two soldiers, Steve Baker and Martin Downes wander round the area looking for a barmaid called Elizabeth. Annie returns to the news of Maggie's forthcoming wedding and that Gordon Clegg is returning for it. She worries how Lucille will react to his return. Lucille feigns disinterest but Rita sees through her pretence. Gordon returns to Weatherfield from London to meet Ron Cooke. Maggie is delighted. He tells her that he hopes she'll be happy. Annie sympathises with Alf for losing out to Ron but feels he's had a lucky escape. Steve and Martin turn up at the Rovers. ...

Ernie tells Annie that he and Emily are going to Budleigh Salterton and will miss the wedding. Nobody believes Alf when he claims that he thought Ron's drinking problem was an open secret. Annie lets Bet away for an hour to buy a dress for the wedding but the barmaid takes most of the day. Maggie tells Gordon that Ron hasn't touched alcohol in two years. Gordon doesn't think it changes anything as Les had dry spells as well. The soldiers return to the Rovers to find out if Betty is Martin Downes's mother. Ron can't promise Gordon that he won't fall off the wagon but ...

Betty fusses over Maggie who is in a state of panic. As Ray and Jerry put up the tables in the Community Centre, Hilda cleans the floor and Deirdre prepares the flowers. Ron goes to collect George Farmer, his best man, from the station. Betty helps Maggie pack her household items for the trip to Zaire after the wedding. Mavis is embarrassed when changing her dress in the Corner Shop back room and Gordon walks in on her. Len kids a gullible Deirdre that George is a rich man. Maggie wonders if Gordon still has a thing for Lucille. The Hopkins family view the shop but ...

Annie goes into a hysterical panic when Winnie Gregson, the relief barmaid that Billy has employed, is late. Betty all but throws Hilda out of the Corner Shop when she comes in nosying after Maggie. Jerry delivers a present from Alf, with a message that he won't be coming to the wedding. Len remembers his own wedding almost exactly twenty-five years before. Albert complains about the state the Community Centre hall will be in after the reception. Stan tries to swipe an early drink from behind the bar but Hilda stops him. Vera and Tricia Hopkins call in to the Corner ...

Annie feels depressed at the Rovers feeling empty with the loss of Lucille. Hilda asks her if she can borrow a hat for Stan's court appearance. She agrees after several excuses. Mavis helps out at the Corner Shop. The Hopkins family visit the shop where Granny fusses over Minnie in preparation for her being one of their future customers. Stan worries about going to court and is not helped when Len and Ray wind him up about the possible penalties he'll incur. Gordon tells the Hopkins he wants £4,000 plus money for the stock for the shop but Granny wants to knock him ...

Betty can smell a woman's scent in her house. Bet Lynch asks for a £5 advance for a dress she has seen in the Miami Modes window. Annie isn't pleased to see the story about "Champagne Stan" in the paper but Stan himself thinks he is famous because his name is in print. He shows Hilda the £143 bill from Mervyn Traynor and asks for her cruise money but she tells him to get lost. The Hopkins family have moved into the Corner Shop. Megan asks Gordon who Maggie allowed credit to and is told only Annie and the Bishops. Betty asks Billy if he knows Beverley Mather and is ...

Bet gets to know her new neighbour, Carlos, a Spanish waiter. Annie wonders what Freda Barry, the new landlady of the Flying Horse, is like when she invites herself to tea. Minnie is annoyed when Vera refuses to open the shop until 9.00am. Tricia flirts with Ray in the street and they make tenuous arrangements to meet in the Rovers at dinnertime. Minnie takes her complaint about the shop to Ken. Megan lets it be known that customers will be served any time. Bet is upset when Tricia makes comments about her age. Vera feels shut out by Granny and Idris and rings her ...

Bet and Betty aren't pleased that they're having to clean the Rovers as Hilda's been sacked. Annie tells them that Gertie will be joining as housekeeper tomorrow. Hilda starts work as normal, not realising Annie was serious about sacking her. Betty fetches Annie who makes it quite clear that her employment is terminated. Hilda re-scatters the dirt before she leaves. Gertie agrees to move into the Flying Horse as she can have a room there but doesn't know how to tell Annie. Freda happily offers to do it for her. Megan gets annoyed at Vera arguing with Idris and Tricia,...

Rita takes Mavis back at The Kabin. Ken starts work at the Mark Brittain Warehouse alongside personnel manager Edward Pollard. Jerry is disgusted when Ray flirts with Tricia and her friend Gail Potter. Granny asks Hilda to repay the £4.75½ she owed Maggie at the shop and sets interest at 10%. Tricia pretends to be interested in Jerry so that Idris will ask for Ray instead to make her a dressing table for her bedroom. Hilda pays her shop bill by demanding repayment from Stan for hiring Mervyn Traynor; £140.50, with 30p a week interest. The Bishops advertise for a new ...

The committee want the Ogdens as caretakers of the Community Centre. Len and Ken are shocked when Billy introduces Gaynor Burton, Maureen Hicks and Jean Wilkins into their after-hours drinking session. Gaynor and Ken get physical in the back room and the party finishes at 3.00am. The Ogdens are offered the caretakership but Hilda tells them they'll have to think about it. At the warehouse Ken is told to discipline Gaynor for being late that morning - when he was the cause of her being late. Rita overhears the warehouse girls discussing the party.

Hilda gives in her notice at the Rovers and agrees to move into the Community Centre. Mr Wormold's assistant, Jimmy Graham, makes enquiries around the Street of properties for sale. Tricia worries that Ray thinks she's too young and dresses up to break down his defences. Annie tries to get Bet and Betty to work mornings, throwing in a raise as an incentive. Betty accepts. Granny doesn't trust Ray with Tricia and keeps interrupting them in the flat to keep an eye on them. Tricia gives Ray extra jobs to do to keep him around. Rita stands Len up at the Rovers and agrees ...

Bet warns Betty she'll end up doing Hilda's job as well as her own. The Ogdens pack to move to the Community Centre and agree to sell No. 13 to Jimmy Graham for £2,500. He gives them a cheque for 10%. Gail takes a Polaroid of Tricia and Ray in an embarrassing pose. The Town Hall turns the Ogdens down at the last minute because of their record with the Health Inspector. Betty tells Annie she won't work mornings, forcing Annie to do the Rovers cleaning herself. Rita is annoyed when Len becomes heavy over her seeing Jimmy. She gives her engagement ring back to Len. The ...

Idris thinks the picture is nothing to worry about but tells Granny he'll sort it out. Len gives Rita back her engagement ring. They make up and plan a holiday. Jimmy Graham is pleased for her. Idris tackles Ray about Tricia. Ray tells him their relationship is all in Tricia's mind. He helps Idris by going after Deirdre in front of Tricia. Rita plans to keep seeing Jimmy. Mavis hears them talking and tells Jerry, who tells Alf. Deirdre, Ray, Tricia and Jerry look after the children at the centre. Alf sees Rita arranging to meet Jimmy at The Flying Horse and tells Len ...

Len gets Alf to name his source regarding Rita and Jimmy: Jerry, via Mavis. Len admits he'd have thumped any other man who told him that. Ray makes sure that Tricia takes the hint by making a date with Deirdre and asking her to be romantic with him when Tricia is around. Jerry encourages Len to overlook Rita's affair as he always plays away when he's on council trips. Annie is offended when Granny hints that she blames her for people talking about Ray and Tricia and reminds her that shops are more prone to gossip than public houses. Tricia is mortified when Deirdre ...

Ken eats with the warehouse workers to gauge their opinions on employee matters. He finds out that the staff, including Vera Duckworth, are very dissatisfied and want a union. With Sir Julius Berlin visiting a shoe factory, Edward Pollard is in charge at the warehouse. He and Ken disagree over the union, with Ken in favour. Billy gets Deirdre to help out at the Rovers when Bet goes to the hospital. Rita and Jimmy Graham return, shocking everyone as they thought Rita had went away with Len. The workers refuse to be pushed around by the management and threaten a strike ...

Blanche thinks Billy is good for Deirdre. Annie questions Billy's motives in taking Deirdre home. Edward tells Ken that Sir Julius Berlin doesn't like unionisation. He asks shop steward Peggy Barton not to push for it although he tells her he admires her principles. Mavis has a new hair-do and does herself up but feels embarrassed when she walks into the Rovers to show off her new look and leaves when she is stared at. Peggy tries to make the girls see that Ken is not on their side but Sir Julius's. Rita gives Mavis beauty tips. Jerry asks Mavis out but she thinks he ...

Hilda longs for a holiday, especially when Tommy, Dirty Dick and Michael Ryan write to Stan from Majorca. Pollard thinks Ken is already beaten as the staff won't get a union under any circumstances. Deirdre is enjoying being in a relationship that no one knows about. Ken meets the warehouse girls, including Peggy, Ivy, Edna, Gaynor Burton, Maureen Hicks and Jean Wilkins. He warns them that if they got a union their pay would drop to the basic union rate and there would be no advantages. Peggy doesn't agree and debates with him. They accuse each other of being ...

Stan has dropped the cycling idea but Hilda wants to give it a try as it'll help him lose weight. Stan challenges her to ride a bike up and down the street without falling off. Ray jokes that Billy is a cradle snatcher and is warned by Billy about spreading rumours. Billy offers Stan a tandem for £10. Ken meets with Peggy alone as a last ditch attempt to stop the girls from striking. He suggests a solution which she agrees to if he can clear it with Sir Julius. Ray starts jeering at Deirdre over Billy in the Rovers. Peggy agrees to resign in exchange for the girls ...

Ray constantly picks at Deirdre's work at the Yard. Minnie tells the Hopkinses that the self-service shop in Bessie Street is closing. Granny sends Idris to verify the rumour. Jerry tries to dissuade the Ogdens from riding the tandem but Hilda is adamant. Granny decides to buy the shop now the competition has gone. Deirdre agrees to go on holiday with Billy. Idris grows tired of his night-shift work. Gordon tells Granny that he's not had any offers for the shop but she thinks he's lying. Alf suggests Albert take on the caretaker's job at the centre full-time. Granny's...

Granny still plans to buy the shop and scrambles to arrange a loan before Gordon gets another buyer. Annie doesn't approve of Billy taking Deirdre on holiday. Billy notes that he didn't tell her to ask her permission but only so that she didn't hear it from someone else. Annie tells anyone who asks that Deirdre is going with him as a secretary. Billy promises Deirdre he won't hurt her. Hilda plans the holiday - cycling to the station and then train to Morecambe, pretending that they cycled all the way. Alf asks Ken to persuade Albert to take on all of the Community ...

Ray has a black eye. Alf is determined to get Albert installed in the Community Centre. Granny makes Tricia stay off work to accompany her to a meeting with the bank manager, Mr. Morgan. She asks for a loan of £1,000 but Mr. Morgan advises her to keep renting. Deirdre resigns from the Yard but Ray says he's fired her. Albert takes over the Centre but refuses to move out of No. 1. Jerry asks Deirdre to return, when Ray makes the peace she agrees. Annie bars a bunch of football hooligans. They descend on the Centre and terrorise Albert, breaking his glasses, smash up ...

The residents clear up the damage. Albert worries as he can't afford new glasses. Mavis thinks Rita is breaking up the Grahams' marriage but Rita isn't bothered. Mavis gets upset when Rita tells her that she doesn't know what she's talking about. Minnie draws up a petition and ropes Alf into going to the Hopkins' bank to speak on their behalf. The manager butters Minnie up. Albert makes himself assistant caretaker at the Community Centre. Jerry tells Jimmy Graham that Len is returning. Jimmy tells Rita he'll leave Muriel for her.

Gordon gives the Hopkins' forty-eight hours to buy the shop as he's had another offer but the bank manager refuses a loan. Len returns. Rita tells him that she's still seeing Jimmy Graham. Granny hears from Annie that Vera's mother has died and gets Idris to get in contact with her because of her inheritance. Vera returns from her mother's. Rita returns her ring to Len. Jimmy and Rita are caught together by Muriel Graham and his children Robert and Pamela but Jimmy introduces Rita as a client.

Vera agrees to return to the shop, and put up the deposit of £1,000 but on her terms. Rita is upset when Jimmy Graham goes off with his family. She realises he doesn't really want to lose them and breaks with him. Syd Greaves brings the tandem back, leaving it with Ray and telling him the Ogdens went on the train.

Granny wants the shop to be called "M and I Hopkins" and asks Ray to repaint the sign over the premises but Vera decides it will be called "V and M Hopkins". Sheila Crossley writes to the Bishops to say that she's coming to stay with them for a week as Neil and Danny have gone off together on a father-son fishing trip. Giving them little notice, she drives up from Sheffield that day. Ernie isn't happy about the set-up. Rita doesn't tell Len that she's finished with Jimmy Graham. The Ogdens sneak back home in their cycling gear and go on about their biking holiday, not...

After he upsets Deirdre at work again, Blanche fetches Ray a slap across the face in front of a packed pub. Sheila persuades the Bishops to throw a party. Bet decides to enlist some of the female residents to enter a newspaper competition.

Blanche advises Deirdre to fight Ray back. Sheila Crossley plans to throw a party to show her appreciation to the Bishops. Deirdre hates working with Ray. Blanche is angry when he makes her cry and slaps Ray in the Rovers for harassing Deirdre. Jerry wants to take Mavis to the party but she isn't sure about going. Bet enters 'Find the Football' in the Gazette and ropes in some of the girls when Len insinuates a woman could never win it. Billy rings Deirdre to say that he'll be home tomorrow. Ray spikes Jerry's pale ale with vodka. Rita flirts with Ken to make Len ...

Billy returns, to Deirdre's delight. Ernie is annoyed that he and Emily have to clear up whilst Sheila is in bed. Jerry tries to talk to Mavis but she is short with him. Billy proposes to Deirdre and she accepts. Sheila makes Emily realise that she and Ernie are always falling out before she leaves for Sheffield. Jerry apologises to Mavis and tells her that his drinks were spiked. Mavis says the real him was talking last night and accuses him of living on memories of a woman he can't have. She asks him to leave her alone. Annie fears something is going on between ...

Annie is upset over the engagement and the difference in Billy and Deirdre's ages. She thinks Blanche has got her to snare him. Billy gets angry with her attitude and wishes she would give Deirdre a chance. Mavis can't face Jerry after her harsh words. The Gazette interviews Bet about winning the competition and photographs her sitting on the bar. She is determined to go to the Bahamas. All the women want to go on the holiday so Annie gathers the winners - herself, Bet, Rita, Mavis, Deirdre, Emily, Betty and Hilda - in the Rovers' living room to determine who gets the...

In Majorca, Bet begins to fall for Martin and Mavis surprises her friends by attracting a handsome native called Pedro. Tony plots to rob some jackets from the store room. Ernest tries to avoid spending the evening with the Hopkins family.

The Weatherfield women soak up the sun in Majorca. Tony Bolton spots an opportunity to make money. Blanche moves into the Rovers to help Billy.

Bet and Mavis make the most of their holiday romances. Tony and Paul steal jackets from the warehouse. Ernest feels guilty for lying to Granny.

Fred Bolton tells Tony that the jackets are missing from the warehouse and he suspects Paul Meggitt. He warns Tony he'll have to report it in the morning. Blanche refuses to serve after hours but Billy sees to it. The women return from Majorca. Annie catches the men in the Rovers and blames Blanche. Billy tells her the truth and is annoyed that she's mistreated his future mother-in-law. Paul stops Fred from bringing in the police by telling him Tony is involved. Annie sends Betty to ask Blanche to come and see her. Deirdre thinks Annie should be the one doing the ...

Mavis doesn't like running The Kabin. Rita enjoys not having to make the important decisions. Paul considers cutting Fred in on the deal to get him to stay quiet. Tony tells him he won't go along with it. They decide to return the jackets. Blanche accepts Annie's apology. Jerry encourages Mavis to see her promotion as an opportunity to boost her confidence. Billy services Paul's van and finds the jackets in the back. Fred asks him to keep them until the boys can move it back, tonight. Mavis starts a new paperboy, Neil Forrest, when David Crabtree recommends him. Rita ...

Betty contacts the Spanish police for news of Bet. Billy is interviewed by the police. He denies all knowledge of the jackets and suggests they to the owner of the van. Det Con Phillips informs Ken about the missing jackets. Ken, Phillips and Fred Bolton check the storeroom. Deirdre tells Tony about the police investigation. Ken is shocked to learn that Billy is involved. Mavis tells Jerry she doesn't want the job at The Kabin anymore because of the way Rita is treating her and asks him to tell Len. The police interview Paul Meggitt. He says he wouldn't have left the ...

Betty and Deirdre grow anxious about Billy. The police refuse to believe Billy's innocence. They think he's the receiver, in it with Paul Meggitt. Mavis stays away from The Kabin thinking Rita will have to open it but she doesn't. Deirdre is permitted to visit Billy. She asks Ken to help him. The Spanish police can't find any trace of Bet. Fred Bolton hits Tony for getting involved with Paul. Len delivers the papers himself and gives David Crabtree his job back. The police charge Billy with receiving. Ken sacks Fred from the warehouse as it's his job to know when ...

Bet pretends to have only just returned from Majorca. The regulars keep Billy's brush with the law from Annie. Emily resents Ernest's inconsiderate behaviour.

Ernie and Emily are still at loggerheads over the breakfast table as he doesn't clear away his things. At the Camera Shop he gets annoyed when Emily gives Bet credit for her Majorca holiday snaps and accepts her apology with bad grace. Bet still refuses to admit to getting back several days earlier then she claimed. Annie and Betty agree to carry on prying. The Bishop's fall out again at dinnertime when he changes the radio without asking. She then complains about the noise he makes when he eats his soup and the two continue their meal in silence. Derek Whitely turns ...

Alf and Len are the first evening customers in the Rovers, straight after a council meeting. Emily can't find Ernie. He is at the Marriage Guidance Council where he admits to Kim Dudley that his wife doesn't know he's there. Emily gets annoyed as Tricia and Gail waste her time in the shop when they ask for credit for some snaps. Ernie tells Kim about his rows with Emily over their drama activities. Idris calls into the Rovers for a spare box of crisps and stays for a drink, annoying Megan. Bet tells Billy that she'll pay him back the £70 at £5 per week. He wants more ...

The Bishops have slept in separate rooms and are barely on speaking terms. Frank Barton teases Peggy that Ken is her new boyfriend. She admits to him and her father that she likes Ken. Annie wants to display figurines in the Rovers and gets Ray to put up shelves in the bar to display them. Deirdre is off with Billy in front of an amused Ray and Bet. Edward Pollard finds Gail chatting to Tricia in Ken's office. She's cheeky with him when he questions her. Pollard wants to sack her but Ken thinks she'll do well with training. Len worries that Ernie is looking lost ...

Emily and Ernest start communicating again, discussing the marriage counsellor's advice. Ken clashes with Ivy over the standard of packing at the warehouse. Ken arranges a lunch date with Peggy. Andy Simpson shows Ernie his portfolio and asks for work but Ernie isn't interested. Pollard tells Ken he saw him with Peggy and warns him that Sir Julius Berlin won't like him mixing with a unionist. Emily likes Andy's work and gets Ernie to reconsider taking him on. Ken considers his private and working lives separate affairs but George Barton makes him see he's being naive....

Ernie thinks Emily will like to give up working but she doesn't know what she wants. Ken and Edward Pollard tell Ivy the retirement issue is because of a cut-back in orders and the alternative is to sack people. She tells them she's calling in the union. Ernie offers Andy Simpson a part-time job. Andy asks for £15 a week as he earned that at his dad's stall at the market. Peggy Barton tells Ivy there's nothing she can do; the union have been asking for a lower retirement age for years. Ivy accuses her of sucking up to the bosses. Hilda goes to put bets on for herself ...

The Hopkins consider exchanging Maggie's old furniture for Vera's mother's when Vera tells them she's paying £3 a week for storage. Granny gets Betty to put the question to Gordon. Marcus Berlin arrives at the warehouse to deal with the furore over the new retirement age. Pollard is annoyed when Marcus meets with Ken first. Emily decides that the Bishops should put themselves up to be foster parents. Ernie agrees to make enquiries. Len has a word with the chief social worker, Norah Houston, on their behalf. Gordon refuses to think about the furniture until after ...

Emily prepares No. 3 for Vernon and Lucy Foyle. Ivy hears on the grapevine that Ken is planning a fashion parade for the new lines and suggests using the staff as models. Ken agrees. Marcus Berlin asks Ken if he gets on with Edward Pollard. Ken admits that they've had differences. Norah Houston tells Emily that the children's father Winston has a perforated ulcer and will be in hospital for a month. Marcus and Sir Julius are in agreement and ask Pollard for his resignation - they think more of Ken than him. Billy advises Betty to fight back at Granny and charge them ...

Granny does some detective work to discover the identity of the mother on the birth certificate. Hilda and Bet row in the street about who should have Betty's sideboard. Ray's prank on Jerry and Mavis does not go according to plan.

Granny determines to find out who "Elizabeth Preston" is. Hilda gives Betty £2.50 for the sideboard but she wants to see how much Bet will offer. Minnie tells Granny that Betty's maiden name was Preston. The Ogdens try to move the sideboard in secret. Bet catches them and sits on it. Hilda goes for her. Jerry stops them fighting. Annie tells Bet to let Hilda have the sideboard or she's fired - to keep the peace. Emily is worried as the children don't want to eat. Carlos tries to get Bet to tell Jerry the phone call was a joke but she can't bring herself to. Jerry ...

Carlos tells Mavis about the trick. She feels a fool and is angry. He asks her for a meal and she accepts. Granny assures Betty no one else will get to know her secret. Betty shares her worries with Bet. Rita probes Mavis for info about her night with "Pedro" but she just says it was nice. She's astonished when Carlos calls at the Kabin to check on Mavis. Betty tells Vera about Gordon's real father and that Gordon doesn't know about his parenthood. She's worried that Granny will tell him. Vera advises her to keep on her good side. Andy offers to give Deirdre ...

Annie's nose is put out of joint by Billy's plans to spend Christmas with the Hunts. Gordon arrives to negotiate with the Hopkins family but Granny refuses to back down. Jerry is angry upon learning the truth about Carlos.

Betty explains to Maggie that the Hopkins family know their secret. Minnie keeps her counsel about the identity of her visitor. Annie suggests a compromise over Christmas dinner.

Vera warns Granny to keep her mouth shut about the birth certificate. Maggie arrives and tells Betty that Ron paid for her trip as a Christmas present. Betty tells her that the Hopkins know their secret. She thinks Gordon should be told but Betty doesn't. Annie refuses to back down over Christmas dinner with the Hunts. Vera and Idris out-bid Granny and tell Maggie they'll pay £400 for the stock. When Maggie raises the issue of Gordon's parentage, they promise not to tell him. Mavis is upset that Jerry is so decent about Carlos. The residents expect Minnie's visitor to...

Eddie impresses Ena, Minnie and Albert with his festive cooking. The Walkers and Hunts share a strained Christmas Day. A power cut in the Rovers leads to a sing-song by candlelight.