Coronation Street Blog: The Week In Classic Corrie

MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 29th December 1989 and 1st January 1990

Happy new year! Or if you're Alec Gilroy, time to dwell on the futility of existence and the inevitable slide toward the grave. He decided to make it up with long-lost daughter Sandra before he finally popped his clogs. The beef between the Roberts and the McDonalds shifted into a new gear, as Alf demanded payment from them for a new shop window. They paid up with the twins' pocket money, only for Steve to drive a digger right into the Mini-Market and smash the glass all over again. The unhappiest house of all was number 1, where Ken told Deirdre he couldn't decide between her and Wendy Crozier, and asked if she could just hang on while he had a think. Unsurprisingly she told him where to go, and kicked him out in the early hours of New Year's Day, leaving Tracyluv to deal with the knowledge that her dad was an absolute pig.

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 3rd and 5th January 1990

Jim turned up at the shop with Steve, demanding Alf put him to work as punishment for the windows. As he painted the back wall Tracy turned up and flirted with him, only for him to reject her in favour of flirting with Jenny Bradley. Let's resurrect that love triangle in 2018. Word of Ken and Deirdre's separation spread round the Street, with Emily politely suggesting that maybe she should just put up with a little bit of adultery if it means she gets to have a husband. Deirdre told her to butt out then stormed off to the Recorder to tell Ken and Wendy Crozier that she wanted her half of the paper. In the process she called Wendy "Miss Piggy", which was ace. Alec found his daughter Sandra, and she was absolutely minted. She lived in a huge house with her daughter Victoria, who Alec first encountered riding in the lane outside. (Though it was a different Vicky to the one who married Steve). Don started 1990 as he'd started 1989; by getting into trouble thanks to gambling. This time, he was in a bookie's when his taxi was robbed, thanks to him leaving his keys in the ignition. The car turned up, but as it had been used in a hit and run in the meantime, the police were looking at him sideways...

WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 8th and 10th January 1990

Bet and Alec attended Sandra's birthday party, with Mrs Gilroy naturally displaying more front than Southend. She overheard Sandra saying she didn't want Alec around, and, realising they were way out of their social milieu, dragged him away. Ivy realised Don had been gambling, not having a pee as he told her, and laid into him. She also brought up his last gambling indiscretion because of course she did. Ken went to see Tracy but when he told her he wasn't coming home she lost her rag and bawled "I hate you!" in a very unconvincing fashion. Deirdre said she'd give up her half of the Recorder in exchange for the house, which would mean he'd have to flog the paper. And I know it's 28 years too late but I'd like to register a protest with Granada. There is NO NEED for any television show to include a scene of Ken Barlow and Wendy Crozier naked in bed together. NO NEED AT ALL. (Yes, I know I stuck a screengrab of it up there, but if I had to suffer through it, so can you).

THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 12th and 15th January 1990

With Alan Bradley smeared across the Blackpool pavement, there's a vacancy for "unpleasant man who uses his fists before his brains," and Don Brennan looks like he's going for the job. He thought he'd spotted the lad who stole his car on a rough estate and camped out to catch him, irritating a local brass while he was there. When he spotted the boy, he chased after him and belted him in a playground; naturally, the constabulary looked unfavourably on middle aged men beating up teenagers and arrested him. Mike got his accountant in, and was told he'd best think about his finances sharpish because he was starting to run on fumes. Ken sold the Recorder to the Gazette, then handed over number 1 to Deirdre in exchange for a quick settlement. Alec was still on cloud nine about Sandra and her big house, so Bet had to gently let him down and tell him she wasn't interested. He refused to believe it though and invited his daughter round for supper at the Rovers.

FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 17th and 19th January 1990

A giddy Tina was invited to France by Eddie. (She asked Mavis if she'd enjoyed her time in Paris. "One day Derek got a pain in the Tuileries, and then another time we got lost looking for the Louvre." Tina sympathised. "It's terrible, in't it, when you're busting to go?") She even managed to stay excited when Eddie revealed it was a football supporter's coach trip, but she was then let down as he had to stay in Weatherfield with his baby. The teenagers confessed to robbing Don's car, but his assault charge still stood, what with him having committed assault and all. He was furious and felt hard done by, as is usual for Don Brennan. Mike invited Alma to move in with him. It could be love. It could be Mike after Alma's money. Sandra turned up for the candlelight supper, but refused the smoked salmon, and told Alec she didn't want to know. She thought he'd left it too late to try and make things up. Bet went to see her to make his case, but it didn't work, and Alec accused her of just making things worse.