Coronation Street - Season 17 (1975)

Albert adopts a pigeon. He calls it Gilbert. Ray tells Jerry that Mavis is getting married. Betty and Maggie realise they're going to have to tell Gordon. Battered wife Lynn Johnson asks Len for help but refuses to go to the police. He tells her that he's willing to talk to her husband but, afraid, she rejects the offer. Having heard from Alf that racing pigeons can be worth up to one thousand pounds, Stan tries to get Albert interested in racing Gilbert and goes in 50-50 with him. Maggie tells Gordon that Betty is his mother.

Gordon doesn't know what to think; he's relieved Les Clegg isn't his father but doesn't like the idea of being Betty's bastard son. He decides to go out for a drink. Jerry makes a cote for Gilbert. Albert watches for him settling in to it in order to know that he'll fly back if released. Deirdre tries to give Jerry some confidence in himself, saying that what matters is the person that you are. Maggie breaks down as Gordon returns drunk to celebrate the fact that Les is not his father. He taunts Betty and Maggie. The next day, Gilbert flies back to No.1 when he's ...

Len is irked by a visit from a highly distressed Lynn, seeking help. Albert mourns the demise of his new pigeon at the claws of Minnie's cat, Bobby. Ken and Janet's apparent reconciliation confuses the neighbours.

Rita tries to find out why Mavis is upset but Mavis is silent. The residents are pleased that the Barlows are back together. Lynn Johnson agrees to go to the police if Len will go with her. Albert catches Bobby on Gilbert's loft surrounded by feathers. The Barlows like being just good friends. Len lets hysterical Lynn stay at No. 9. When he tries to go to work she begs him not to leave her alone, her shouts being heard by the Barlows. Minnie tries to console Albert. Mavis tells Rita about Carlos. Janet and Ken agree to get together to talk about a divorce. Albert ...

Jerry calls the police while Ray looks for Len. Detective Chief Inspector Patterson arrives as does Doctor McKay who states that Lynn Johnson died from a blow to the head. Hilda sees the police car outside and spreads the word. Albert tells Alf what he heard from No. 9. Ray can't find Len and returns to No. 9. He and Jerry are kept away from the murder scene. Patterson finds it strange that neither of them knows the dead woman's name. Annie shows new Newton and Ridley house manager Keith Adams round the Rovers and is embarrassed that the police are in the Street ...

The police set up headquarters in the Community Centre where Det Sgt Phillips questions the residents while Det. Chief Insp. Patterson interviews Ray and Jerry at the station. Len is brought in, not knowing what's going on. Phillips questions Annie and Billy as to when Ray and Jerry left the Rovers. The regulars speculate as to the identity of the woman killed. Ken doesn't think he or Janet should say anything about what they heard until they are asked. Alf tells the shocked regulars that the police are treating the matter as a murder. Patterson questions Len and asks...

Detective Chief Inspector Patterson comes to the Community Centre to question Albert about his evidence. Exhibiting great patience he manages to pin down the time he heard the scream as being 1.35pm. Albert also gives a guarded agreement that it was Len's voice he heard. Deirdre hears a description of Lynn Johnson and realises she saw her at the yard. Morbid sensation-seekers come into the Rovers to be near the scene of the crime. Patterson takes Jerry through Len's statement while Phillips questions Ray again. Patterson thinks Len is lying to him about where he was ...

Len has been kept in overnight. Phillips questions Roy Johnson who says his wife left home on the day of her death at 12.30pm. He swears he never hit her and loved her. Bet asks Rita if she has been down to the station to try and see Len. Tricia gets nowhere when she tries to question Ray and Jerry on the details on the body. Detective Chief Inspector Patterson questions Alf about Len's previous record. Patterson takes the Barlows to the Community Centre to ask them about what they heard. They tell them of hearing Lynn and Len at 1.15pm when she said "don't leave me"....

Jerry makes it clear that he's not pleased at the lack of support Len received from Rita. Len has spent the night at Alf's house after he picked him at the police station. He is upset that Rita didn't visit him. Vera puts a ban on gossiping about Len in the Corner Shop. Mavis tells Emily that Rita has a guilty conscience about Len. He is welcomed back to the Rovers and thanks Bet for her support although he spurns the offer of a drink from Rita. Alf has to find a hostess to help him entertain a visiting Councillor from Yorkshire. Len suggests Annie. Idris pretends to ...

Mavis worries about what to cook for Alf's guests and works herself up into a headache. Rita gets exasperated with her. Granny insists she is a reasonable woman and Betty reacted the way she did as she doesn't like being beholden to them for their kindness. Vera worries that no customers are coming in. Granny says she has fixed Betty already. Gordon arrives to see Betty. Mavis panics again when she remembers Alf's cooker is a gas one. She goes back home to fetch her cookery book. Mavis cries off and Rita takes her place wearing a revealing dress. Gordon tells Betty ...

Hilda, Minnie and Albert can't understand why the Corner Shop is shut and worry that something has gone wrong inside. Deirdre is depressed that Billy hasn't sent her a Valentine. Ray fetches Stan and his ladders to look through the window. Tricia turns up and tells them the shop is empty. Rita tells Mavis the meal went well, especially her food. Stan is sent a Valentine, but not from Hilda. She thinks it's from Clara Regan. Ray tells Bet he sent it for a laugh. Annie is glad the Hopkins have left as she feels they were too greedy. The Hopkins send Gordon back the shop...

Mavis makes Rita show Deirdre the nightie but she refuses to say who she thinks it's from. Gordon refuses to let Betty try again for time off to help him in the Corner Shop. Hilda offers her services in the shop to a stunned Gordon. Blanche offers a horrified Stan a man's corset to help his bad back. Having heard the gossip, Bet calls into the Kabin to see the nightie, asking if it's from Len. Gail and Tricia agree to flat-share together. Hilda fusses round a tired Stan, trying to get him to agree to ask Gordon to let them run the shop but he angrily refuses, knowing ...

Under doctor's orders, Stan has been told to rest. Lying on the sofa, he gets Hilda to run errands for him, including placing his bets. With little work coming in, Ray annoys Jerry with his lax attitude. They argue over the benefits of capitalism. Finding out that the girls are moving into the corner shop flat, Ray pushes Tricia to have a flat-warming party. She borrows a hammer from him to do some work in the flat. Gail moves her possessions in as Blanche starts running the Corner Shop. Hilda warns the girls to keep quiet now that they're her neighbours. Gail thinks ...

Rita reveals Harold Digby sent the gifts. She rings him up and tells him to stop it. Dawn Digby arrives and tells Rita that Harold always sends presents to attractive women but that they have a happy marriage. The doctor thinks Stan should have a check-up in hospital. Jeff Lee and Tim Russell, Tricia and Gail's boyfriends, are put off the flat-warming party when they discover that residents like Annie are going but decide to go along anyway. Grindrods pull out of a Yard order and Len fears bankruptcy. Ray thinks one of them will have to leave the firm. Albert gets ...

Stan goes into hospital for tests. Tricia wants to decorate the flat. Gail would rather they get some lads in to do it for them and watch them at work. Len puts Deirdre on part-time hours at the Yard and offers her afternoons in the Kabin. Ray offers to decorate the flat for the girls. Len realises someone will have to go and he and Ray decide on Jerry as he was the last one in. Stan is entertained by fellow patient Ronnie Barnes. Jerry refuses to leave the business and reminds Len and Ray that partnerships are for bad times as well as good. He makes them feel ashamed...

Ray and Jerry are incensed to learn that Len was with Bet all afternoon when he should have been working. Hilda looks forward to Stan's return from hospital. Tricia celebrates her eighteenth birthday with a drink in the Rovers.

Len goes for Ray and calls Jerry an old woman when they tell him they're disgusted with him. Now she's eighteen, Tricia gets Annie to serve her with a Bacardi. Stan returns home. He has Otitis media; his balance is disturbed and he's got anaemia and the district nurse is to call on him. Len tells Bet he just wants her as an occasional bit on the side. She tells him to get lost.

Blanche agrees to give Tricia and Gail credit if they'll help out occasionally in the shop. Len tries to make things up with Bet. Miss Webb of Social Services vets the Ogdens for support whilst Stan is ill. Hilda is furious when she reveals that Stan hasn't paid his stamps for the last six months and he is threatened with prosecution for the arrears. Mr Wharton agrees to Len doing the job if he'll do it immediately. Stan's benefit will be £7.65 a week. The Bishops offer them Mission money but Hilda refuses charity. Stan worries that someone will pinch his round. Hilda...

Eddie returns from serving his time, spinning a yarn that he's just come out of the army. Len and Bet have spent the night together and Hilda sees them arriving back in Len's van. With Minnie away visiting friends Eddie is homeless. Jerry tries to tidy up the yard, much to Len and Ray's amusement. Bet refuses Eddie's requests for digs. Bet tells Eddie that everyone knows he's been in prison. Eddie challenges Len to a darts match for money which he loses. Eddie asks Len for a job at the yard but there isn't enough work on for them. Tricia and Gail are locked out of the...

The girls and Eddie oversleep and Eddie is forced to stay in the flat when they go to work so Blanche won't see him. The Yard has no jobs. Alf thinks he can smell gas in the Street. News reaches the residents that Ena is returning. Hilda tries to get Stan to do the housework. She is pleased when he is given an injection in the backside. Eddie leaves the flat late at night, witnessed by some neighbours.

Ena returns from St. Annes. The Brewery runs a "Personality of the Pub" contest. Hilda is run ragged looking after Stan. Eddie tries to sell a pheasant, Ken buys it off him. Ena and Eddie both ask Minnie for digs. Bet tries to get Len interested in a foreign holiday. Ena tells Eddie he can stay in the front parlour of No.5 if he gets a job. She tells Minnie that Henry Foster's sister-in-law has taken him over. Stan takes Eddie on to help Hilda with the windows.

Hilda and Eddie work well together. The residents are annoyed at the way Stan is using Hilda. Len begins to feel trapped by Bet when she buys him a sweater. Eddie runs a book on the "Personality of the Pub" competition. The residents are amazed at Stan's cheek as he drinks in the pub. Eddie is entertained by Clara Regan in No. 19 Inkerman Street. Ken tells Len that at their age women want commitment, not friendship. Hilda and Eddie do better than Stan. They only give Stan £1 from their £9 earnings. Bet plans a night at the pictures with Len. Annie counts the votes and...

Eddie tells Carlos he is Bet's husband. Deirdre is annoyed that she is still engaged and not married. Len tells Eddie he doesn't mind if he takes Bet out. Billy tells Deirdre he's worth £526; he can't afford to marry. Deirdre says she'll willingly live in the Rovers if she has to. Eddie tells Bet that Len gave him the go ahead. She is furious. Billy and Deirdre fix the date - 1st June. He tells Annie it will be a full white-wedding.

Terrible news from Northern Ireland shocks the Rovers' regulars and plunges Bet deeper into despair. A concerned Eddie goes to her aid.

Steve Baker tells a stunned Bet that Martin Downes, her natural son, is dead - killed in action in Northern Ireland. Annie and Betty try to help her but she leaves the pub. Bet considers taking a load of aspirins. Eddie forces Bet to let him into her flat and refuses to leave. He forces her to tell him about Martin and takes away her aspirins.

Bet can't face returning to work. Deirdre and Billy go to see the vicar. Bet is touched when Eddie washes her tights in a launderette so that she can go to work. Billy and Deirdre change the date to 24th May as the church is booked for the date they wanted. Billy asks Ernie to take the photos but Annie takes the job elsewhere. Betty tells Bet that she lost her son as well. Annie and Billy row over the photographs. She tells him that she's had enough of his interference and is going away to Joan's - he can sort everything out.

Annie has gone to stay at Joan's. Eddie helps Hilda to clean the Rovers so they can get on the window-cleaning round quicker. Betty tells Hilda that Stan is taking her for a mug. The packing department at the warehouse is put on a three day week. Tricia worries that she will lose her job in the cuts. Len and Ray think Jerry is becoming too homely and wifey. Stan tells Hilda the doctor has given him another sick note. Ivy asks Ken to find out about their job security. Betty wonders if Eddie is helping Stan in order to case houses to burgle. Jerry cooks a nice pie for ...

Ivy and the girls push Ken for news of the redundancies. Jerry enjoys doing the housework rather than the yard jobs. Ivy thinks Ken is stalling her on the redundancies. Betty tells Hilda she's overdoing it and agrees to keep it quiet from Stan that she's going to the doctors for a tonic. Billy pokes fun at Ray and Len about Jerry's housekeeping. Betty tells Stan about Hilda's visit to the doctor. He starts to panic. Stan offers to take on some of Hilda's workload. She's grateful but refuses and insists on keeping her appointment at the doctor's. Marcus Berlin tells ...

Hilda, Rita and Mavis speculate on Annie's wedding outfit. Tricia spreads the news that Ken has been made redundant. Albert nags Ken about his tardiness. He doesn't tell him he's out of work. Annie returns from Derby with her wedding outfit that she went to Chester specially for. Betty and Bet wonder what it looks like. Annie tells Billy that Joan is delighted at the news of his wedding. The residents react to the news of Ken's redundancy. Ken mopes round the house. Deirdre thinks Ernie's sample wedding photographs look too forced and unnatural. Rita sympathises with ...

Rita and Mavis think something must be wrong with Peter to make him come down from Glasgow on his own but Ena thinks he just needs a smack and sending home. Peter tells Ken that he used his saved Christmas money to buy the train ticket. Ken also realises something is wrong with Peter and pushes him to tell him what it is. Deirdre buys her wedding dress material for Blanche to make up. Annie says she refuses to quarrel with Blanche over the dress. She asks Billy to have a tactful word with her instead but he refuses to get involved. Ken rings Edith Tatlock but she has ...

Annie is displeased that she has to go shopping for a new dress. Still under the illusion that Billy and Deirdre will be living with her after the wedding, Annie hires Ray to decorate their bedroom. Eddie considers starting his own window cleaning round on the Parkway Estate as Stan doesn't pay him enough even though he does the lion's share of the work. Peter tells Ken that he's being bullied in Glasgow because he doesn't have a father. Tricia is jealous when Gail gets a second interview for an air hostess job. At Deirdre's insistence, Billy puts Annie right about ...

Billy considers postponing the wedding until he and Deirdre can afford a place of their own. Gail is confident that she'll bag the airline job and starts acting full of herself. Stan and Eddie start their window cleaning partnership. Ken's interview clashes with the Manchester United match. Peter is disappointed and starts to miss Glasgow. Annie tries to bully Blanche into going along with her wedding ideas but Blanche doesn't mind anyway. Annie is shocked to learn that Deirdre and Billy won't be living with her. Now on equal footing with Stan, Eddie tries to crack ...

Emily tries to get Stan and Eddie to move their piano but they make excuses. Jerry offers his assistance and shames Eddie into helping. Blanche nags Deirdre into getting her bridal head-dress. Jerry mentions that the yard is full of copper piping. Albert says that he will miss Peter now that Ken has taken him back to Glasgow. Eddie finds Stan skiving in the Kabin cafe. Eddie feels he's got a good idea coming to him. Deirdre is jealous of Gail's chances with the airline. Ray thinks she's getting cold feet about marrying Billy. Minnie and Albert bicker over whose turn ...

Billy is angry to be woken up by Fury's barking. Ray and Jerry arrive at the yard and find Eddie's message. They're relieved to find none of the copper piping or petty cash missing. Ray is livid. Deirdre tells Blanche about her row with Billy and she admits that she doesn't know what she wants from life. Billy finds out that Deirdre has gone into town to shop for the wedding. Ray tries to wind him up. Rita is annoyed that Mavis has arranged rehearsals with Ernie for her, feeling she's being pushed into something she's not sure about. Eddie and Stan call at the yard. ...

Ray is amused to hear that Billy and Deirdre's wedding is off. Blanche can't fathom why Deirdre has dropped Billy. Billy can't explain to Annie why he isn't getting married as he isn't sure himself. Emily isn't happy about Ernie playing with Rita. Ray tells Deirdre that Gail didn't get the hostess job and asks her out for a drink at the The Flying Horse but she turns him down. Alec Gilroy introduces himself to Ernie. Blanche avoids the Rovers as she doesn't want Annie giving her the third degree but Annie goes to see her at the Corner Shop, ignoring Billy's wishes. ...

Alf asks Billy to go to a car auction with him next week. Billy confides in him that he might be gone by then. Alf thinks he's doing the right thing by leaving. Deirdre thought Billy would agree to play things down for a bit, not finish completely. Alec warns Rita that she'll have to work her way back to the top as she's been away from singing for so long. Stan tries to interest local firms in hiring Fury. Albert bills Stan for Fury's meals. Stan thinks he's been feeding the dog too much and tells him to starve Fury as he'll be a better guard dog. Billy receives a ...

Rita auditions for Ralph Lancaster at the Gatsby Club. Ray chats up Rovers' customer Cindy Beswick. The Council put the rates up 30%, to everyone's anger. Ralph likes Rita but tells her they have their own pianist. Rita refuses to sing without Ernie but he tells her not to be stupid. She gets the job. Jerry has a cycle meeting in the house so Ray takes Cindy to the yard for an evening of passion but she is frightened of Fury. The residents decide to form a ratepayers association. At night, local thief Clarkie breaks into the yard, with a bone for Fury to keep him ...

The copper is stolen from the Yard, valuing £200 and Fury is missing. Furious at the rates increase, Ernie and Harry Goulden form WARP - Weatherfield's Association of Ratepayers. Rita arrives at the Gatsby Club whilst Blanche tries to finish her outfit at home. Deirdre gets the outfit to Rita on time and agrees to stand in behind the bar for the night. Ray accuses Eddie of being in on the break-in. Blanche returns the wedding presents. The regulars tell Stan and Eddie they'll be responsible if Fury bites anybody. Stan and Eddie search for him. Deirdre and Rita are ...

Ray claims off the insurance. Eddie demands £20 compensation for losing Fury. Blanche is astonished that Deirdre spent three hours in a strange man's hotel room. Ray refuses to pay Eddie a penny. Rita vouches for the men who picked up her and Deirdre but Blanche thinks she has low standards. Annie receives a postcard from Billy and considers visiting in Jersey. Emily is cautious about taking on the council. Blanche calls Deirdre a tramp. When Deirdre criticises her track record, Blanche slaps her. Ernie accuses the council of empire building and inefficiency. Alf ...

Betty offers Jerry her spare room to lodge in. Ena discovers the Council spends a lot of money entertaining VIPs. Hilda suspects Stan of seeing Blanche when she gives him some tea. Ernie chairs the WARP meeting. Jerry agrees to move in with Betty. The residents row with Alf at the meeting. Betty puts Jerry off for a couple of weeks as she has to look after the Rovers; Annie is going to visit Billy. Betty asks Bet to stay with her at the Rovers. The residents decide to hold a rates' strike.

Betty and Bet look after the Rovers in Annie's absence. Hilda puts on that she's scandalised to see Bet hanging round outside the door in her short, pink dressing-gown first thing in the morning and threatens to tell Annie. Harry Goulden thinks WARP should elect an action committee and they agree to meet in No.3 at lunchtime. Len doesn't want Jerry to move in with Betty as they'll be losing their chief cook and bottlewasher. He starts being nice to him but Jerry isn't taken in. Minnie tells Len all the residents are gunning for him. Ernie and Emily round up the ...

Emily is infuriated by Ernie's pomposity and sexism with regards to him being put on the WARP committee over her. Harry Goulden tells the Bishops that the Council didn't even discuss the rates at the latest finance meeting but he's discovered that they're sending Councillor Lucas, the finance chairman, to a conference in Torquay, out of the rates, in the Mayoral Rolls. Ken enjoys cabbing but everyone thinks he's putting a brave face on. Ernie and Harry demand that Len put a stop to the Torquay trip as he's on the finance committee. Len refuses to discuss the trip as ...

Mavis organises a trip to the Gatsby Club to see Rita sing. Rita lends Hilda a dress so that she can go to the Gatsby. Ernie discovers the Council has bought eight tractors which haven't been used. They were very expensive and were bought from the brother of a Councillor. Len, Deirdre, Ray, Mavis, Jerry, Alf, Blanche, Bet, Ken and Hilda go to the Gatsby. Deirdre is embarrassed to see Maurice Gordon there. He is all over her. Ernie arranges an interview on local radio to tell residents about the tractors. Maurice tries to force Deirdre to dance with him. When she ...

Ray and Maurice Gordon are thrown out of the Gatsby. Rita fears she might lose her job. The residents wonder why Ray was fighting over Deirdre. Deirdre wonders as well. Bet and Betty spend another night in the Rovers. Betty admits she dislikes being there after closing. Bet finds a pair of old-fashioned glasses on the bar. They remind Minnie of ones that Martha Longhurst used to wear. Emily takes Ernie through a rehearsal of his radio interview but he does badly. Ralph Lancaster tells Rita her contract won't be extended at the Gatsby. Ernie hears that his interview ...

Betty hears a woman's voice in the snug and tells Bet she saw someone in there wearing the glasses in the middle of the night. They discover the glasses are missing. Ena and Minnie are interested in Betty's story as they think she saw the ghost of Martha Longhurst. Ken is sceptical and tries to explain it away. Deirdre and Ray puzzle about their feelings for each other. Ernie is worried about his radio interview. When he accidentally steps on his glasses and breaks them, it sets him on edge. Albert asks him to enquire about pensions. As Earnshaw has laryngitis, ...

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Blanche castigates Deirdre for giving up her job though she also offers to go round and slap Ray again as she sees him as the cause of her daughter's troubles. Clearing up the yard office, Len and Jerry row with Ray for taunting Deirdre. He refuses to apologise to her even when the other two demand it. Albert complains about The Kabin cafe's weak cordial to get a refund. Ernie wants to speak to Rita about him playing piano for her but he has to wait until Emily's out of the way. He asks her not to say anything to Emily but Rita thinks he's being ridiculous. Blanche is...

Len and Jerry ask Ray if he was serious about what he told them last night about him and Deirdre getting married. Deirdre breaks the news to Blanche. She thinks she's being ridiculous. Deirdre tells her she can't explain it herself, except that they're well-matched, and has no doubts at all. Blanche tries to talk her out of it but is non-plussed when she'd told the wedding is at the register office tomorrow, the 9th July. Deirdre is happy to take the risk and the challenge. Blanche give her consent. Len wonders if they should try and stop the wedding. Rita tells Ken ...

Blanche is amazed by Deirdre's calmness and still not happy by the make-do way in which the event is being held - or her daughter's choice of husband. A hungover Ray tries to sober up and is annoyed that Len got him drunk at the stag night. He also doesn't like the way Len is taking him over. Len remembers his own disastrous stag night and tells Ray he slipped him the mickey he'd seen him prepare for Jerry. Blanche is upset that Deirdre is getting married in her work suit and not the dress she spent so long making. Rita gives her the present of a cookery book. Deirdre...

The reception continues; the champagne is handed out while Ray and Deirdre are impatient to get the train to London for their honeymoon. Jerry makes a prepared speech which is interrupted and laughed at, flustering him. Len steps in and makes the toast. The champagne quickly runs out and Eddie goes to the supermarket to get more with Len's money. Annie gets Len's assurance that Deirdre didn't cheat on Billy when she was engaged to him. The Langtons have to cut a cake misspelt with Deirdre's name by Bet. Stan is kept waiting at the hospital and is upset at missing the ...

A blissful Ray and Deirdre prepare for breakfast. Len tells Jerry that he'll only give the marriage six months. The Langtons are excited about the fact they don't know each other and have yet to find things out. Ena buys Minnie orangeade instead of milk stout as she thinks she drank too much at the reception. Minnie remembers she has to get Eddie's dinner on and rushes off. Blanche worries what sort of future Deirdre will have with someone like Ray. Ena tells Eddie to leave No.5 as he's too much work for Minnie. Len and Jerry bicker over domestic chores. Len tells him...

Len is annoyed with Eddie's snoring through the night and the speed with which he makes breakfast. Jerry wakes up on the floor of the yard office after an uncomfortable night. A cheerful Alf slaps on the aftershave. Deirdre decides to show Ray how he has committed all of the seven deadly sins in his life. Rita persuades Blanche to go to the pictures with her that night. Jerry admits to Bet where he spent the night. Minnie tells Ena to stop interfering in her life. Bet tells Jerry that Len is bound to want him back. Donna Parker catches up with Alf at work and checks ...

Donna makes of pretence of fretting at being late for work. Alf tells her that he's happy to have her around the place and to make sure she has the flat that's right for her before moving out. Blanche returns home and starts bossing the Langtons about as it's her house. Minnie buys Albert a paper but he's ungrateful as he already has one. She's puzzled why he won't sit down at the table with her and wonders if he has a boil. Donna tidies up for Alf while he's at a committee meeting. He offers to drive her to work but she refuses. She tells him about her training as a ...

Emily calls in on Albert and finds Minnie tidying up there. She's surprised to find that he had an immediate operation last night after Ken took him to hospital and has had a lump removed from his bottom. Donna tells Alf how much she hates the GPO canteen and how much she enjoyed hairdressing. Emily calls on Alf and is surprised to see Donna there. Emily tells Alf about Albert and they need a replacement caretaker at the Community Centre. Once she has gone, Donna worries about how it all looks but Alf tells her not to bother herself. Blanche nags Deirdre to help with ...

Donna brings Alf his tea in bed and flatters him about his maturity. Len does some plumbing work at the Rovers which prevents Stan from getting a clean bucket of water. He's depressed to hear the price of beer is going up. Alf enjoys a slap-up breakfast made by Donna. She tells him she can't take his money for the hairdressing business but is going to go to a money-lender instead. He insists she takes it from him or he'll be offended. Emily looks after the Corner Shop whilst Blanche goes to Majorca for a holiday. Ken tells her that he's not going to be volunteering ...

Emily reorganises the Corner Shop shelves. She and Mavis enjoy working together. Albert drops hints that his next birthday is his eightieth. Donna gives the money back to Alf saying she just can't keep it. He refuses it, saying he has faith in her ability to make the salon a success and refuses any sort of legal agreement. Eddie's only idea to increase their income is horse-betting. Stan thinks they should do as everyone else is doing and increase their prices. Albert sulks, thinking no one cares about his birthday. Ken admits to Betty that he ought to arrange ...

Ena returns from St. Anne's to check up on Minnie. The residents feel they should lay something on for Albert's upcoming eightieth birthday. Ena finds Minnie is away at Handel Gartside's. The residents plan a party for Albert but he tells Ken he's going to Glasgow. Albert feels nobody likes him and locks himself in No. 1. Beattie Pearson arrives but he refuses to talk to her. Albert can't afford the fare to Glasgow. No one wants to put Ena up. Len suggests a Street party for Albert. Ena reminds Annie that the Rovers is an inn and tells her she's moving in.

Tricia and Gail keep Albert occupied as the residents dress the Street by sitting with him in No.1 and pretending that they're interested in hearing about the First World War. Ernie faces jail if he doesn't pay his rates. Hilda flies a Union Jack from her bedroom window as part of the decorations. When he is summoned to his front door, Albert is astounded by the Street party. Rita is furious when Len kisses her. She refuses to start it all again. A bugler plays "Cookhouse Call" for Albert as Major Blake turns up from the local army depot to wish Albert well along with...

Ena reorganises Annie's life. Ray considers building a house. Ken fills in a questionnaire for a computer dating agency to humour a taxi customer. Ena hates being idle and being hampered by old age. She packs and leaves the Rovers. Rita fills out a dating questionnaire and tries to interest Mavis. Ena dumps herself on Tricia and Gail. She "helps" Tricia keep her rollers in place by giving her one of her hairnets to wear. Ken tells the men about his computer pairing. He tells them he might arrange to meet 'Mavis Armitage'. Rita overhears and guesses that Mavis is Miss ...

Tricia and Gail look after Ena. Rita tells Ken about Mavis. He realises he's going to have to ask her out. Len is furious when Ray gives Deirdre time off. The girls worry about Ena when she has a turn in the market. The residents are amazed when Ken takes Mavis out. Annie suggests that the Langtons divide Blanche's house up. Ken and Mavis enjoy themselves at the Roebuck Inn. Mavis tells Ken she has another date from the agency. Jerry arranges a tandem trip for Gail and Tricia.

Tricia and Gail get dressed in their new short outfits for their bike ride. Jerry prepares his own bike in the yard much to the amusement of Ray and Len. Hilda demands the tandem is returned in the same condition. Blanche feels that her home is no longer her own with Ray and Deirdre there. Eddie is turned on by the sight of the girls' legs but they refuse to let him come along. Ken tells Alf he's given up the computer dating business as he doesn't want all his details put into a machine. The girls are turned off by Jerry's professional cycling outfit and they set off,...

A bad-tempered Jerry returns with the wrecked tandem, much to Hilda's consternation. Ray wants to speak to Len and Jerry before deciding whether to do the conversion himself but Deirdre thinks he should do it himself and has a way of persuading him. Jerry's partners are amused when he staggers into the yard with the broken bike, furious that he came back on a milkfloat while Gail went off with a Porsche driver called Nigel to mend the bike's inner tube and never returned for him. Gail tells Tricia that Nigel took her to her Aunty Freda's in Dukinfield. The two row ...

A nervous Alf stays in the Rovers alone and is startled to find a half empty milk stout bottle in the snug. Len, Jerry and Ray join Alf. They are terrified when the lights go out and a candle appears in the darkness. Ray realises it's Eddie, Tricia and Gail. They all have a midnight party. During the party, Alf tells Len about Donna Parker and the £500. Eddie, Ray and the girls try to get in touch with Martha Longhurst with a Ouija board chalked on the table in the snug. The next morning, Betty is worried when she spots the milk stout left by the others on the bar, ...

Hilda finds a letter they've received threatening legal action if the rates aren't paid. Annie chooses new kitchen sink fittings from Len. Alf tells Len to forget what he told him about Donna Parker and not interfere in his business. Len rings his contact, Detective Sgt. Taylor, and arranges to meet him in the Town Hall instead of the Rovers. Betty decides to stand with Ernie and not pay the rates but the Bishops have already paid up. Len meets Taylor and tells him about Alf's trouble without wanting to mentioning his name but Taylor guesses who it is. Mr Stanton of ...

Ena returns and stays with Nellie Bickerstaffe in Pinfold Street. Ray and Deirdre decorate their flat. Mavis doesn't turn up at work. With Len minding The Kabin, Rita finds Mavis at home. It's clear something has upset her but Mavis won't say what it is. Rita tells her that she's behaving like a child. Eddie tries to mend the drift between Ena and Minnie. Minnie doesn't know why Ena is staying with Nellie as they've never got on. Ray completes the flat. Tricia and Gail get Ray to agree to a flatwarming. Rita tells Jerry about Mavis's odd behaviour. Mavis doesn't like ...

Mavis is back at the Kabin but jumps when customers walk in. Rita gets her to admit that her date said strange things to her and gave her a lock of hair. She thinks he's been following her. Rita looks in Mavis's handbag to find his details and tells Jerry his name is Brian Collett and he works at Fosters. Deirdre takes possession of her coffee table. Jerry meets Brian at his work and warns him off Mavis. He ends up feeling sorry for Brian as he is obviously lonely. Eddie looks after Michelle Turnbull, a friend's girlfriend. Jerry tells Mavis that Brian won't be ...

Deirdre spends the night at Blanche's. She is annoyed when Ray cleans the flat up to show her up. Eddie tries to get the burn mark off the table with sandpaper. Deirdre and Ray act cool towards each other. Eddie makes a mess of the table, Len has to mend it and charges Eddie £2 for the labour. Deirdre makes up with Ray thinking he has mended the table. Eddie has been casing houses for Monkey Gibbons to burgle. He decides to give it up and tells Stan his doctor has said his chest can't stand all the fresh air so he can't help him anymore. He considers working at the ...

Janet spends the night at No. 11. Monkey Gibbons gives Eddie a suitcase and tells him to hide it from the police. He stores it in the Yard. Ken tells Janet it does upset him to see her with another man. Ray finds the suitcase. He and Len allow Eddie to get rid of it. Vince Denton arrives for Janet. He tells Ken he'd like to settle down with Janet. DC Thornton calls at No. 13 as break-ins have been reported by Stan's customers.

Bert Gosling flirts with Betty. Eddie splits his time between Stan and Len. The police interview Stan about the burglaries. Hilda suggests they talk to Eddie. Len tells Eddie the police are after him. He stores the case at Minnie's, telling her it's for the Salvation Army. Tricia is depressed at not having a man. Betty is embarrassed by Bert's sexual overtones. She is amused when he flirts with Annie. Annie is impressed with him as he's a businessman but he doesn't let on he's a fishmonger. Minnie gives the case to Detective Sgt. Taylor thinking he's from the ...

Minnie realises she's made a mistake when Detective Sgt. Taylor finds stolen goods in the case. Bert Gosling gives Betty half a salmon. She realises she'll have to invite him to tea. Eddie admits to being a naughty boy to Minnie. He waits in the Rovers for Taylor to find him as he can't afford to make a fresh start somewhere else. Mavis doesn't like having to do extra work to cover Rita's absences for bookings. Annie thinks the salmon is for her and goes after Bert, scaring him off. The residents are amazed at Eddie waiting for the police. Bet makes Annie realise the ...

Bernie Marsh, Chris Ashton and Kevin Marsh from the Gossamer Street flats run amok in the Street. Mavis's workload is increased because of Rita's singing engagements. She is angry when Bernie, Chris and Kevin steal magazines from The Kabin. Betty looks after the shop for a holiday. Ken stops Len reporting the kids to the police as he used to teach them. Eddie is charged with dishonest handling. Ken catches the lads playing truant and takes the magazines from them. He tells them to go back to school. The lads smash a window at the Community Centre, just missing Albert....

Rita is furious when she has to make up the papers. Mavis tells her that she's not her slave. Rita threatens to sack her. The lads tip rubbish over Ken's backyard. Rita asks Len to sort militant Mavis out. Mavis tells Len how often she works a twelve hour day and he realises Rita is taking her for a mug. Ken tells Kevin Marsh to break the chain before he ends up in Borstal. The lads let Ken's tyres down so he can't work. Len tells Rita either to pay Mavis £2 a week out of her earnings or find another job. The Marshes threaten to have Ken charged with assault for ...

Ken is horrified at the state of No. 11 when he arrives back home. An angry Rita refuses to give Mavis any money. Ken shows Douglas Marsh the house. Marsh offers him £30 to keep quiet but Ken makes him see that the boys have to be sorted out. Edna Gee celebrates her fortieth birthday. Ena helps clean up No. 11 for Ken, roping Ivy, Edna, Tricia and Gail into the task. The lads consider running away after Mr Marsh tries to lay into them with a belt but is stopped by an appalled Ken. Jerry tells Rita that she's cruel, bullying and ungrateful. The Tilsleys and the Gees go...

The lads stop out all night in the warehouse and are awoken when the workers return in the morning. The dropped cigarette in the storeroom smoulders and then starts a fire. Rita packs her case. Ivy threatens Edna Gee with the sack if her work doesn't improve. Edna sneaks off to the storeroom for a cigarette. As she opens the door she is engulfed by flames. As the fire spreads, the workers panic and vacate the warehouse. Tricia suffers from shock and is laid out on the bench. Firemen battle to control the fire. Len settles Rita by saying he'll pay £2 extra a week to ...

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The Street is still closed off as something in the warehouse let off gas when it burned. Ray invites Ken and Len to stay at Blanche's. Hilda hears their conversation and she, Stan, Ena, Minnie, Tricia and Gail descend on the Langtons. Deirdre refuses to let anyone in the flat so everyone else battles for space downstairs. Emily is upset that no one is using the facilities at Bessie Street School. Hilda thinks Tricia and Gail are gossiping about her when they talk about the street being fumigated before realising her mistake and saying that the Corner Shop was ...

The Police allow the residents back into the Street after the fire. The Rovers is flooded. Annie is furious when the fire officers leave the water in the cellar and finish for the day. The regulars bail it out. Minnie becomes worried when she can't find Bobby. Annie is worried about something of Jack's in the cellar - a nest-egg of thirty gold sovereigns which were hidden there. She tells Len but swears him to secrecy. Tricia and Gail, having lost their jobs at the warehouse, apply for a modelling course at the Jet Girl Agency run by David Law. They're both smitten ...

Edna takes umbrage at Ivy's criticism of her shoddy work. Len is summoned to stop Rita from leaving. A fire takes hold at the warehouse, placing the residents in danger.

The Bishops provide shelter from the fire at the local school. The residents decamp to the New Old Inn to await news. Annie objects to being kept out of her home.

The Langtons quickly regret their offer of sanctuary. Emily feels sad when very few evacuees use the school. Annie has no fear of competition from the New Old Inn.

Annie returns from Derby, making the final leg of her journey in Ken's taxi. She's embarrassed when he carries her bags into the Rovers. Gordon returns on business and stays with Betty. The Bishops offer Ena the Centre flat rent-free in exchange for her carrying out minor duties. She's still bitter about being evicted by the pair on Christmas Eve but ultimately accepts. Ken writes Annie's speech for a Lady Victuallers meeting. Annie practices it in front of Ken, Gail and Tricia. The latter two make fun of her pretensions. Jerry shows Tricia how to play darts but she ...

Betty wonders what Gordon got up to with Sophie Edwards. Gordon thinks Betty is against Sophie because she's black though Betty is offended by the suggestion. He doesn't remember telling Sophie about Betty being his mother. Ernie wants to have a musical night at the Rovers. Annie likes the idea. Albert tells Annie that Ken didn't apply for the Community Development Officer position. Ena cooks a thank-you meal for Jerry, Tricia and Gail. Annie reprimands Ken when his taxi controller calls the Rovers with a message for him. He promises that the calls will stop but Annie...

Ray and Deirdre wonder if Sophie Edwards is right and Betty is Gordon's mother. Hilda hears them talking about it in the Corner Shop. Gordon tells Betty that Sophie gave away their secret. Betty is afraid to go into work but Gordon convinces her to carry on as normal. Ken can't build up any enthusiasm for the Community Development Officer position and wishes it wasn't in Weatherfield. Hilda spreads it around that Gordon is Betty's bastard. She thinks Betty ought to be ashamed but everyone feels sorry for her. Alf gives Ken advice on how to impress the Community Centre...

Betty isn't ready to go back to work yet; she feels she's lost people's respect. Ken throws himself into his new job, planning a special evening for Bonfire Night. He writes a modern version of the Gunpowder Plot for the local children to perform and hires Emily as his deputy. Albert lends Bessie's old cookery book to Bet but snatches it back when the youngsters laugh at her remedies. Annie grows impatient waiting for Betty to return to the Rovers. Gordon invites Betty to live with him in London. Bet advises her to go as she has nothing to stay in Weatherfield for but...

Frank Bradley returns to Weatherfield, working for the brewery. Ken is discouraged by the failure of his Gunpowder Plot play and wonders what the community wants. Rita reprimands Mavis for letting customers run up their paper bills and makes her chase them up. Ken meets Janice Berry who runs the youth section of the Centre. Janice fancies Ken and offers to help him in any way she can. Deirdre thinks that she and Ray spend too much money on alcohol. Len receives a phone call from the police. Emily accuses Ernie of being pleased that Ken isn't doing well as he thinks he...

Janice Berry refuses a girl admittance to a dance when she doesn't bring her cigarettes. Len, Mavis, Emily, Deirdre and Ray go to Jerry's funeral. Janice makes it clear to Ken she fancies him. Bet feels that Frank Bradley will only use her when he wants to. Betty contacts the brewery to see if Stan's consumption at the Rovers is a record. They plan to send a photographer round. Ken invites Ernie to give a film show for the kids. He begins to realise Janice is not what she seems. Mike Fielding from the brewery comes with a photographer who takes Stan's picture for ...

Annie returns from visiting Billy in Jersey to discover Sean Regan, Concepta's husband is coming over. Ken doesn't know whether or not to believe Mary Broughton. Bet isn't pleased to find Sean staying at the Rovers. Frank Bradley tells Bet he wants their relationship to continue. Janice Berry tells Ken the other girls are jealous of her. Sean makes another pass at Bet. She tells him to leave her alone. Ken discovers Janice elected herself. He arranges a re-election. Sean doesn't like being rejected by Bet. Janice's supporters pressurise the kids. Sean tells Frank that...

Annie wonders why Sean Regan leaves in the night. Minnie hears of a young family who have lost everything in a fire. She wonders if the residents can help them. Bet tells Betty about Sean and shows her the letter she's written to Concepta. Mavis feels that Len can't look after himself and cooks him a meal. Annie refuses to believe Sean would make a pass at Bet. She calls Bet a tart and sacks her. Minnie, Hilda and Mavis plan to make cakes and sell them to raise money for the family. Len tells Annie that Bet was telling the truth. Annie apologises to Bet and explains ...

Confronted by Les and Neil in her bedroom, Annie remains defiant and refuses to divulge where her money is kept. Hilda is concerned when she discovers she has a grey hair. Ray and Len chase away the criminals.

Ken uncovers dissent among the members of the youth club. The residents turn out for Jerry's funeral. Betty informs the brewery of Stan's consistent attendance at the Rovers.

Annie learns that Sean Regan is paying a visit. Frank tells Bet that he wants to pursue their relationship. Ken holds an election at the youth club to deal with Janice.

Annie returns from hospital to find the brewery is keen to move her to a quieter pub in the country. Ken tries to cast the remaining characters in the pantomime. Tricia stirs up trouble by talking to Blanche about Ray.

Annie tells Betty that she wouldn't move to another pub as she still feels as if Jack is with her in the Rovers. Alf sees Ray getting a blonde woman into his van. Mavis catches Eunice Wheeler walking out of The Kabin with a wind-up toy. Len makes Eunice return to the shop and orders Mavis to get the police in. Blanche is cool towards Ray. Mavis has to make a statement as Len decides he wants Eunice prosecuted. Rita is put in charge of producing the panto to Emily's anger. The residents are amazed at Tricia's singing voice. Bob Wheeler, Eunice's husband, tells Mavis ...

Emily gets Mavis to play Baroness Stoneybroke in the Panto to take her mind off the shoplifting case, not knowing that Rita has cast Annie. Alf tells Len he's seen Ray with a woman in Redmond Road. Tricia is annoyed that she won't have much time to practice her songs. Len confronts Ray who tells him to get knotted. Mavis tries to make amends to the Wheelers by giving them presents for the children but Bob Wheeler throws them back when she refuses to change her statement. Blanche worries Deirdre by asking Ray why he married her. He says he loves her. Annie and Bet ...

Ray and Deirdre aren't speaking to each other. Deirdre blames Blanche for acting on hearsay and demands to know who told her about Ray's other woman. Rita plans to get Bet to mime to her singing. The Langtons aren't speaking to each other. Ernie doesn't think the cast can pull it off. Rita and Len make Mavis go to court to testify as the case against Eunice Wheeler rests on her statement. Len takes Mavis to court in his van. Ray refuses to tell Deirdre what really went on and leaves her to make up her own mind. Annie coaches Alf on his stage voice, which serves only ...

The residents put the last minute touches to the panto. Tricia covers her black eye with an eyepatch. Ena warns Albert about drinking before the dress rehearsal to quash his nerves. He's offended by her insinuation that he can't handle it and gets blind drunk. Hilda receives a call from France informing her that Stan is stranded there as his mate's lorry has broken down and he can't make the panto. Rita and Ernie ask Ray to take Stan's part - one of the ugly sisters - but he turns them down flat. Tricia refuses to speak to Deirdre, on stage or off. Bet talks her round...

Rita's production of 'Cinderella' takes to the stage of the Community Centre. Hilda learns the reason behind Trevor's visit. Tricia sports a black eye, courtesy of Deirdre.

Rita feels ill after a night out with a man named Rex from London but is due to go out again and invites Bet to go with him instead on a blind date at a posh do at a new motel. The Kabin paper deliveries are wrong and Hilda complains she has been sent a physical culture magazine. Tricia basks in her success after the Panto and is happy that she can keep her costume. Rita tries to bring her down to earth with stories about the rough times of her own show-business career. Through Alf, a small lad asks Tricia for her autograph. Annie lends Bet a mink stole. Annie is ...

Blanche deliberately undercharges Minnie in the shop but Ena sees through her kindness. Tricia is sent chocolates by an unknown admirer though she has her suspicions as to who it might be. Annie plans the New Year's Eve party for Rovers. Hilda tries to find why Sean isn't with Concepta but Annie diverts the conversation on to Stan's whereabouts in France. Gail teases Tricia by asking Rita for show-business tips but Mavis butts in and says such people are selfish and don't consider others. Rita is forced to agree. Hilda shows off a French Christmas card from Stan. Bet ...