Coronation Street double episode review, Monday 3 March

So where is Pat Phelan? Not even his wife knows, but she seems to think that Gary and Owen will know. Is he dead? Is he alive? If he is alive - how is he alive? One thing is for sure and that's Gary's fear of a life term. Still, they head off to the mill and even though Gary has been up in the night with Jake and believes he's committed murder, he more or less succeeds in passing himself off as normal.

Valerie seems to believe that Gary and Owen must know where Phelan is and asks them, with a large dose of sarcasm if that's Noddy's car she can see. Owen succeeds in throwing her off, by saying that Jake was ill overnight so that they have more important things on their mind than the whereabouts of her wayward husband. 'If you see him tell him there's a warpath and I'm on it.'

 Valerie heads off to Anna's much to Anna's displeasure, and reveals what married life is like with Phelan the Philanderer. Not good it seems and it also appears that Valerie turns a blind eye to his disappearances because she likes having nice things. No love lost at all though between Anna and Valerie.

Andrea and Lloyd seem very cosy now and genuinely fond of each other.If Andrea is seeing Lloyd to rouse Steve's jealousy, it is going to be devastating for Lloyd. A rather awkward introduction takes place between Sally and Andrea, Sally saying that the two women haven't been formally introduced which Andrea obviously thinks is a little weird. Sally tells Andrea that Sophie is always helping people, 'beggars and such like,' and it all seems even stranger.

Sophie decides to give up volunteering and writes to Maddie. Just as she was asking her supervisor to give the letter to Maddie, Maddie herself turns up. Maddie is very upset when she realises Sophie is leaving. So this Maddie and Sophie thread - where is it going? It seems to lack direction and feels quite fragmented. We have met Maddie's mum and little brother and know that there is a foster child story there too. Much to explore - let's hope something transpires.

So Dev is fed up of mugs - mugs for every celebration, from Father's Day to Christmas. And what do his children buy him? Mugs. But all is not lost as Mary buys him an avant-garde chopping-board with a 1950s pin-up displayed upon it, though she does want the paper back. To ensure she gets it she unwraps Dev's gift from her to him, herself, thus ensuring she can keep the paper.

Poor Dev, believing that Stella is keen on him, though you can see why he would. (Is Dev the mug? It would continue the mug theme.) But Stella did ask him to the bistro and she did dress up. On arrival at her house though, he's just declaring his feelings and going in  for a kiss when  the dreaded word 'Surprise!' is heard. So embarrassing for Dev, especially as Tim takes it upon himself to tell Dev that he's 'punching above his weight' thereby reinforcing Dev's humiliation. Tim and Sally though - really? His total lack of snobbery brings out Sally's tendencies towards all which she deems superior, therefore suited to herself, so that is amusing. He's alright Tim, so far, though there has been but little if any interaction between him and Faye. Of course, the writer's can't show everything so sometimes in soaps we just have to imagine that life goes on and we cannot be witness to it all

So Tony and Liz seem to be getting on well; not something that Jason is impressed by. Smarting still from Tony's interference in what Jason should charge Kal and Dev for the gym, Jason also seems annoyed at his father for his interest in Liz. Maybe too Jason feels protective towards his mum Eileen, who may still have feelings for Tony, though she is doing a good job of convincing us that she isn't still interested in him, though she is keen that he works things out with Jason, though fears that Tony will hurt Jason again.

Liz wasn't exactly oversensitive when talking to Eileen about what she and Tony have done together, but thankfully Eileen cuts her off before the detail emerges.Eileen points out that she has known Tony a good bit longer than Liz has.

Before arriving at the pub, there was a lovely little scene in Eileen's house when Eva and Jason were eating their tea. Eva begins, while holding a huge sausage on her fork, like a lollipop. 'It's mint this gravy, ' she says. 'I tell a lie it's onion.' Jason puts her right by telling her it's actually curry sauce. Eva then says,' Oh yeah,' laughs and asks, 'What am I like?' Then in comes Eileen, at her best, opining the death of  Oscar Wilde, who, because he is dead will not be able to witness the brilliance of the banter between Eva and Jason. This is superb writing - convincing, entertaining, as realistic as you can get it and therefore as believable as it gets.

Peter! Tina! This is a reprimand though you deserve something much harsher than that. Peter seems to have an ability to move seamlessly from his lover to his wife, even spewing out the same old line about  getting the wet clothes off, when they're not wet. It seems it's the first time he's used it on Tina though it's clear that Carla has heard it before.

Carla is so kind and friendly towards Tina that it must make Tina feel really bad. Or does it? Peter is the most guilty perhaps as he's the one who is married, but Tina must shoulder some of the blame too. Peter has made it clear that he will not leave Carla. Tonight he told Tina that he really respected her. What does that even mean in this context? As Tina hears that Carla and Peter had spent the morning in bed together, it is too much for her and she leaves  Michelle and Carla in the bistro. How does Tina benefit from being with Peter? Irrelevant question really, because when in love or lust, rationality doesn't  enter into it.

Luke, Steph's brother is a good addition. Young, good-looking and with a huge cool factor, here's hoping that there will be a good story-line for him and for Steph too, who should be rewarded with a meaty story. The flat share seemed problematical at first but it was Tina's mood more than anything that was making Steph wonder if she has made the right decision moving in. It was good to see the two girls watching something on TV when Luke had gone, and laughing together.

'Did you miss me compadres?' and there he is - Phelan, coming out from the shadows and very menacing. He seems remarkably well for someone who was recently whacked across the head. It's good gripping stuff and hopefully viewers will be intrigued as to what happens next. It's just what makes a good soap.

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