Only Child, Lonely Child: Mon Apr 5, 2010 Corrie Episode Review

Written by Jan McVerry, directed by Kay Patrick

Sophie is so busy talking on her phone that she bumps into Audrey and spills her coffee all over the front of Audrey’s coat. Despite Sophie’s attempts to fix the situation, Audrey huffed off in her car to go home and change. Sophie asks Ryan why he’s acting strange around Sian lately. She wonders if Ryan is seeing Tamsy, this other girl but he says he isn’t. Sian’s back on the street and Ryan shows up. Sophie tells Sian to give Ryan a chance and leaves them to talk then looks sad as she walks away. It seems that Sian and Ryan aren’t making up the way Sophie had planned. Later in Sophie’s room, they check how much their tattoos have faded. Sian tells Sophie she doesn’t want to have another boyfriend. Sophie sees Ryan later on the street locked out of his flat and tries to cheer him up telling him another girl will come by for him and Ryan immediately kisses her. What is with teenage boys? Sophie shoves him off as he apologizes.

At the Kabin, Mary shows Emily the confirmation of her and Norris’ cottage in Haworth for their holiday that they’ve won. Norris looks petrified when Mary says that the cottage is quite “cosy.” It doesn’t get any better when Mary tells him there’s only one bedroom.

Rita’s at home in her nightwear (or what looks like it) calling Lewis to thank him for the previous evening. Do you think she sleeps in full make-up? Emily comes by to tell Rita all about Norris and Mary’s upcoming trip to Haworth and how she thinks Norris is secretly looking forward to it since he’s greased the wheels on his suitcase and all. They’re at the end of their drink when someone buzzes at Rita’s door. The visitor is Audrey who sees the two glasses and assumes a man is there only to see Emily rudely dismiss her. Audrey accuses Rita of sneaking around behind her back. Yes, Lewis is a paid-man but Rita should have been upfront about it to Audrey, it’s only right. The ladies continue to squabble. Audrey’s clearly jealous and sees Lewis as more of just a paid-escort, but Rita tells her that he sees her as just another customer. Rita and Audrey make some peace and Rita thinks that them employing Lewis is great since they can have a great man for a date but don’t have to pick up after him. Audrey doesn’t want any peace though, she figures this is all pay-back time for Alf. Rita accuses Audrey of loving Alf’s money more than she loved him. She then accuses Audrey of selling herself by the hour to Alf as Lewis does to her. Well, that earned her a slap and a “God forgive you.” Rita kicks her out and Audrey can’t believe what just happened.

Norris comes up to Rita’s flat to ask what on earth was going on. Rita tells him it’s none of his business and to go back to his girlfriend to which Norris says that’s uncalled for. Norris says he’s concerned but Rita tells him not to be, she’s fine. She’s clearly not fine. She meets with Emily later in the Rovers and reflects on what happened earlier and wonders if she’ll ever learn. At this stage in the game, probably not. Audrey comes in and they get into it again. They just can’t leave each other alone when they resume their argument in the street. Rita stops by the Kabin for a cuppa after and Norris does his best to usher Mary out so he and Rita can speak in private. Rita asks Norris if he ever feels that sometimes life has lost it’s fizz. Pfft, Norris’ life never had any fizz. Norris doesn’t know why a woman like herself would resort to the company of a rent boy. Rita tells Norris that Lewis is first-class company and Norris thinks the same has been said of him. Norris understands that he’s the comfy pair of slippers to Lewis’ patent leather brogues. Rita regrets the things that she and Audrey said to one another. Rita thanks Norris for his confidentiality after a heart to heart where Norris tells Rita he feels he’s let her down. Norris wants to know if Rita can come work for him when they return from holiday. Rita smiles and says she’ll give it some thought.

Over at the salon, Audrey tells NuNick about how foolish she feels that she’s almost lost a friend. She feels as though whatever she touches turns to ashes. NuNick tries to comfort Audrey by telling her that regardless of her friends status, she’ll never ever lose her family.

Becky is keen on the idea of adoption since she’s attempting to baby-proof the Rovers. Becky tells Claire the news about how she can’t have babies, but she’s decided to adopt instead. Claire looks concerned and tells them how there’s not many babies to adopt that it’s mostly older children. They seem a bit gobsmacked by this obvious piece of information. Later, they look up the children for adoption online and are overwhelmed, especially Becky as she sees her own childhood in some of these children.

Steve tells Becky that he’s having second-thoughts about adoption later. He doesn’t want a child to come in and corrupt his Amy or life with the teachings someone else has given them. Becky thinks they should give a kid a chance, a kid like her. If they need proof that even your biological children can corrupt your life, just go down to the Platt household.

It’s Joshua Peacock’s birthday and everyone with a youngun’ is there. How they managed to fit all those people into that back patio I have no idea. The fathers go to the pub for a drink and Tyrone says when he has kids he doesn’t want an only child since he was one and was lonely. Ashley tells of how he was adopted as a kid and Steve remembers that now. Ciaran says he wasn’t adopted but spent his childhood wishing he had been. At the Peacock’s, Becky tells the ladies how she can’t have babies and wants to adopt but Steve’s got cold feet. Claire tells everyone that she’s got a kid of Ashley’s and one of her own and she loves them both to bits: it’s the bringing up that counts. Well, that is what parenting is. Later at home, Amy asks Becky when she’s getting her sister. Steve tells Amy that she’s not getting a little baby sister. Amy says that Asha told her that she’d be getting a big sister. Asha had been listening in on the grown-ups conversations at Josh’s party earlier. Amy says she wants a brother or sister to live with, but Becky tells her that she can’t have babies. Steve tells Amy that if they decided to look for a brother or sister for her they’d have to make sure they’re the right one for their family. He tells her and Becky no promises, but they’ll think about it hard and maybe make some phone calls.

Simon doesn’t know why they call Good Friday, “good” Friday since that’s the day they crucified Jesus. When no one else can answer him, Leanne tells him that it was actually called “God Friday” and over the years the word just got messed around. Sort of like how “God be with ye” turned into goodbye? Peter is in shock that Leanne had religious education, and she lusts over her old religion teacher. Apparently Simon has been asking about Granddad George quite a bit, but Peter says George is dead to him. Peter asks what Ken and Deirdre are doing for their anniversary and Deirdre is just surprised that Ken has remembered. Leanne thinks Ken has got something special planned, but it’s clear from the look on his face that he hasn’t at all.

Ken finds Steve in the street and tells him about his and Deirdre’s wedding anniversary on Thursday and asks if he can make a spread at the Rovers, since Deirdre won’t want a fuss. Oh, boy. Ken announces the Rovers spread for their anniversary on Thursday and a trip to Kendal’s since he doesn’t want Liz “outblinging” her on the night. Did Ken Barlow really just use the word “outblinging?” Peter looks at Leanne and asks her where they’d be without her. With all the adoption talk, Leanne talks to Peter about one day possibly adopting Simon and Peter casually says “sure” making her disappointed. Peter is acting strangely now, and Leanne can’t figure out why. Janice comes by later and Leanne tells her about Peter’s behaviour and her mentioning adoption. When she says that Peter and Ciaran are out for lemonades, Janice tells her that Ciaran is working in the Rovers tonight to Leanne’s shock. She must think he’s gone off the wagon again, even though she says she doesn’t. Where could he be?

Trev makes Janice swear on a book that she hasn’t cheated on their healthy eating plan this week. Carla sees Trev in the street and accuses him of being a “phantom texter” – one that only texts but doesn’t talk on the phone. She says she’s an old fashioned girl and likes it face-to-face – don’t we all. Carla basically has a pull teeth to get him to agree to a date with her this week. I guess she likes it when they play hard to get.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Liz pointing out that Hayley’s not all that wise, since we’ve all seen the anorak! I like that anorak.
- Rita and Audrey’s squabbles and Rita’s imitation of Audrey – spot on, albiet completely exaggerated!
- When Leanne figures Ken has something big planned for his and Deirdre’s anniversary, Peter knows just from the look on Ken’s face that he hasn’t. Those two know each other so, so well.
- Ken using the term “outblinging.” A man before his time, he is.
- Mary and Norris listening in on Audrey and Rita arguing in her flat above the Kabin.
- Tyrone telling all the fathers that when he’s a father (“one day”) he’s got a sure-fire plan for parenting: whatever his mum did, he’ll do the opposite!
- Norris and Rita’s heart-to-heart. I forget how really close these two former-colleagues are.

LOWLIGHTS
- Audrey being short with Emily when she was only trying to help the situation. It’s not as though Emily called up Lewis, but she just could be next on his rota at his rate.
- Rita telling Norris to go “back to his girlfriend” (Mary) and Norris telling her that was uncalled for. Is it that insulting to have Mary as a girlfriend? Ouch.

Overall Episode Rating: 7/10
Drama: 7/10, Humour: 7/10, Classic Corrie: 8/10, Wow Factor: 6/10