There is love in the air tonight (or is it gunpowder?), but will there be fireworks for our couples on the cobbles? Let's find out, shall we?
NICK AND LEANNE. Toyah tells her sister not to trust Nick, something that is proven when she overhears that Nick's bought into the factory and wastes no time spilling the beans to Lee, who puts a rocket up Nick's bottom. But it's D.I. Carla who finds out about the mystery 'E', i.e. Elsa i.e. Nick's co-owner of the restaurant in Nottingham.
PETER AND CARLA. No-one's told the workforce either that glowery, sexy Peter is out and tedious, smug Nick is in. Bah. Carla summons Peter to the Bistro and asks him to delay the sale of the factory so that they can work out their differences and find a way to work together. He tells her to sling her hook but Johnny has a word, telling him that Carla still fancies his pants, and although she later claims otherwise, there are definite sparks flying between the two of them.
GINA AND DEV (AND TIM AND SALLY). Sally has made a friend, who practices yoga, and when a guard tells her to stop doing her Shavasana on the floor, Sally's organising instincts kick in and she's calling a meeting to talk about exercise, recreation and nutrition, demanding a meeting with the governor. I think our Sal has been binge-watching OITNB. At visiting time, Sophie tells her mum she's proud of her, but Gina reminds Sally that she's no longer the mayor, and should keep her head down. It descends into sibling squabbling with Gina claiming she's put her life on hold to look after Tim and Fay(e), because a grown man can't look after his daughter, apparently. Guilty conscience much, Gina?
Meanwhile, Dev flirts with Gina over Tim's hangover cure in the shop. I guess the way to Dev's heart is throwing a dart at him (and who hasn't wanted to?). Dev says he wants to get back together but he puts his (punctured) foot in it, when he tells Gina to sack off Weatherfield vs Scarsdale (away) to go to a swanky do with him, and their date is a damp squib. Gina goes home and snuggles with Tim over a boxset on the settee. Sally's prize sofa!
RYAN AND BETHANY. Ryan's gone from death's door, to walking through the door of Michelle's flat. His teen girlfriend Bethany, who you'd think would steer well clear from older men, comes to see the patient. Over a rousing game of Go Fish, Ryan confesses that he's having nightmares about the crash. She comforts him, he tells her she's amazing and she lights up like a roman candle, going in for a goodnight kiss.
You know what's astonishing? James Borrows (Ali), despite looking 35, is only 27, whereas his "brother", Ryan Prescott (Ryan), who looks no older than 14 is actually 29!
KATE AND RANA. Kate goes to the port to meet Rana off the cruise in order to propose to her, but she has missed the boat. Instead of texting her gf to say: "Guess what ship's here lol laugh-crying emoji", Rana turns up to the pub to ask Johnny for Kate's hand in marriage. I'm pretty sure that lesbians don't do this. Anyway, after some shenanigans, in a Hollyoaks turn of plot, they propose to each other, and slip sparklers onto each other's fingers. Boom bang a bang!
Rachel Stevenson - on twitter
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