Hello and welcome to Issues Street.
Issue 1: Paediatric Health. We start back in the hospital with Oliver under sedation so the doctors can do more tests. The extended Battersby-Barlow-Brooker-McDonald clan pull together, whilst the doctor finally tells Leanne and Steve that Oliver might have mitochondrial disease.
Issue 2: Mental Health. Gemma talks to her post-natal depression group about how she feels useless and worries that she will harm the quads and that she hasn't done any of the milestones that other parents have. One of the other mums tries to reassure her that it will get better. Not for the poor casting director, who'll have to find four lookalikes for the next eighteen years. Gemma says that the group has helped her feel better about herself.
Issue 3: Racism and homophobia. Tim tells James that he should let stupid comments wash over him and that everyone's gender fluid nowadays ("gay is old school"). Not for footballers, unfortunately. Weatherfield FC's manager threatens James with going on the transfer list when he finds out that James almost punched a fan (already? It only happened about half an hour ago!)
Meanwhile, dastardly Don (you can tell he's a baddy as he has Nasty Nathan's hair-do) gets all Piers Morgan and complains to Ed and Michael that "You can't say anything nowadays", although people who come out with that kind of rubbish usually have no problem saying anything they want. Michael complains to Ed that Don is racist, but Ed says that they need to get on with the job at hand and fighting people like him won't change things, to Michael's frustration.
Issue 4: Anger issues. David confesses to Craig about why he's been winding up the local gangs. Craig's advice is not to think too much and warns him that he will handcuff David to himself if he keeps looking for trouble. I suppose David must have a type: the last man he was friends with was Graham and he tied him to a radiator.
Issue 5: Tupperware. Actually, this isn't an issue, it's the rather sweet story of Evelyn and Arthur going to a tea-dance and Ev bringing back some leftovers. Brings back memories of both my grandmas shovelling tangerines, mince pies and chocolates into their handbags, post-pub Xmas lunch.
Rachel Stevenson - on twitter
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