There could be a million years of Coronation Street and I would still struggle to find a plotline I gave as little a monkeys about as Claire's RAF pension. Someone grassed her up, Des thought it was Derek, it turned out to be her father in law, nobody cares. Alec hovered round Roy, trying to turn his amazing memory into an exploitable turn, but he ran like a mile. Sean got beaten up by the thugs who were after Liz, but after he dropped her he kind of deserved it. Joyce admitted she had terrible money problems and moved in with Gary and Judy. Gary was deeply unamused.
There was all change at number 7 as Samantha agreed to rent the house off Curly while he went off on his grand tour. She was sure to ensure there was no chance of Raquel returning. Also making plans for a big move away was Kelly, who confessed to Ken that she'd taken on a job with Denise looking after Daniel in Scotland. I wonder when she lost interest and ran off? There was a mediation for custody which was obviously highly contentious so it ended up going to a full court hearing. Ken even threw his burgeoning relationship with Deirdre into the mix as a positive which was really nasty. Deirdre was distinctly unamused to hear she'd been mentioned. There was money missing from both the Rovers till and the accounts at Sunliners which pointed to a member of staff who worked at both places. Somewhere in Weatherfield, Joyce coughed guiltily. Bill and Maureen's plans for a holiday getaway were thrown into disarray when Bill's ex-wife decided to bring his son to England for Christmas. He cancelled their holiday abroad, and since Maud had already agreed to spend Christmas with Percy, that left Maureen on her own. I hope she doesn't do anything really really stupid.
WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 20th and 22nd December 1996
A nation shrugged in indifference as Kelly departed for Scotland from famed Manchester misery hole the Chorlton Street Coach Station to care for Daniel. (There was a drunken Scotsman also looking for his coach because they left no cliche unturned). Ashley gave her an emotional farewell and then she was never mentioned ever again. Claire went to the RAF to discuss her pension. They told her she'd have to return the balance because she'd shacked up with Des. To make up for it, she took on a job in the shop. Alec marked some five pound notes to catch the thief; they promptly turned up in Joyce's possession. She tried to stop him from firing her by threatening to tell Sunliners he was paying her cleaning bill out of the company accounts which just made him angrier. Christmas Day arrangements were causing hassle, with Audrey annoyed that Gail had invited Roy. (Roy was apparently thrilled which is lovely). One person not invited was Don, who took the news badly and got roaring drunk. He then got a taxi job, but when he discovered it was Mike Baldwin, he refused to drive him. The police noticed the argument and intervened. They spotted how drunk he was put him in the patrol car. And Liz went to see her stalker Fraser in prison to ask him to stop - only to find herself being charmed by him. I mean for GOD'S SAKE, Liz.
THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 23rd and 25th December 1996
Don realised that his positive breathalyser test would mean he'd lose his job as a cab driver. He was depressed and alone (Ashley had gone to his mum's for Christmas) and he turned to the bottle. Wrecked and miserable he broke into the garage, started the engine on the car there and waited for the fumes to take hold. Unconscious, he fell against the horn, which woke the Street. Martin and Kevin rescued him but he refused to go to hospital. Out of guilt, the Platts let him stay for Christmas dinner, which Audrey believed was probably his plan all along. Bill sold the holiday to the Malletts and they flew off to Marbella, with Joyce promising to sort herself out while they were gone. That left Maureen having her Christmas with Percy and Maud which wasn't exactly party city, even though they had goose and amazing party hats. Bored, she went to see Curly, and they broke open a bottle of wine together. One thing lead to another and they ended up kissing. Yikes. Jack came out of hospital - though he was left sleeping on a board in the lounge because of his back - and he was horrified to find that Tricia had moved in for the festive season. Worse, he learned that Alec had been helping out in the pub. He was convinced Alec was after Vera to get his hands on the pub, so she flirted with him to wind Jack up. When he tried to bar Alec, Vera reminded him it was her name over the door, and said she knew why Jack was so angry: he was sexually frustrated. She swooped down on him like a hawk on a fieldmouse.
FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 27th and 29th December 1996
Maureen snuck out of Curly's, full of regret about their night of passion, and they agreed to move on. Bill returned from visiting his son and made it up with Maureen, filling her with guilt. Meanwhile Curly had his last day at Firman's and Anne took over his job as manager. She got drunk at his works' farewell party then, when he turned up in the Rovers while they were still setting up his surprise leaving party from the Street, she took him back to number 7 to keep him distracted. Anne admitted she'd always fancied him and tried to kiss him. He went to the Rovers and was delighted to find there was a surprise party for him. Maxine found the party incredibly dull and decided to get drunk instead. In fact she got so drunk she ended up going back for a night of passion with Curly. Can someone please explain his sexual allure to me because I don't understand it at all? Don returned home and sat in a funk in his living room, which, incidentally, they now film from the opposite side, so we can't see that huge hideous fireplace any more. Martin told Jack about Don's suicide attempt and he went round to talk to his mate. Don couldn't see any future at all. Luckily I can Don, and you've got a rich full life ahead of you... for about another ten months.
The end of Christmas means we'll soon be entering 1997, the year when everything changed on the Street. Whether this is a good thing or not is still up for debate. Let me know what you think over on Twitter @merseytart.
Classic Corrie is on ITV3 every weekday afternoon and is also on the ITV Hub.
Maxine and Curly?! I don't remember that...perhaps my brain blocked it out.
ReplyDeleteClaire herself was pretty dull, not just the pension. This banality rubbed off on Des too, and he was never really as exciting as he was made out to be. Love Becky though!
ReplyDeleteWhat a truly awful person Don was. It must have been something of a relief to the actor when he didn't have to portray so much misery any more.
But there was still a lot to like in this week's episodes.