There was way too much old Coronation Street on in the 60th anniversary week so I didn't recap it. I've caught up on the 1997 episodes now, so here's an entire month's worth of old Corrie.
There were corporate shenanigans aplenty as Manchester's answer to Calvin Klein Angie Freeman approached Mike with a proposition. She'd got a company interested in her underwear designs, but didn't want to be a hired hand any more, and wanted to go into partnership with Baldwin. Yes, this is the genesis of Underworld. Alma wasn't keen though, wanting to retire abroad. Meanwhile, over at Sunliners, executive Adam Newbould arrived to check up on the Weatherfield branch. He wanted to meet all the staff, including Joyce, who it turned out Alec was still claiming wages for. Deirdre was disgusted with him. He made a bargain with Jack: if Vera agreed to pretend to be Joyce, he'd let the Rovers have one of his turns for nothing. Vera wasn't impressed, but she had a lot else on her mind, with Terry's recent departure burning another hole in her heart. Ray returned and suggested to Tricia that they start again, but she was worried that she'd dropped him so easily, and it didn't say much about their relationship. Don was charged with attempted murder and sent to prison, which made Martin angry, as he thought Don was sick and needed help. Gail didn't care and washed her hands of him. His only friend was Ashley, who visited him in prison. Don tried to persuade him to throw away the factory keys so they couldn't charge him with arson as well. Ashley refused, not wanting to be an accessory, so Don retaliated: he told the police that Ashley was the one who burned down the factory.
TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 30th April and 2nd May 1997
The police arrived and arrested Ashley. He had the factory keys on him, because he'd been torn over whether to get rid or not, and he didn't have an alibi. He was terrified. Mike heard about what was happening and got his solicitor in to fight his corner, not wanting Ashley to go down for Don's crime. He also became caught in negotiations with Angie over the business but they finally agreed on a partnership. Rita arrived at Sunliners, furious with Alec for violating Joyce's memory, but Adam arrived while she was there. She ended up being dragged into pretending to be the cleaner but told him to give Judy some money for a memorial to make up for his awful behaviour. He claimed it was a tax rebate and Judy was touched. Ray tried again with Tricia, and this time he managed to persuade her that they had a future. She packed up her things and left with Jamie, though this is one of those rare cases where leaving the Street was the start of a better life for everyone: Tricia is now better known as Tracy Brabin, MP for Batley and Spen and candidate for Mayor of West Yorkshire, while Joseph Gilgun has a glittering career as a writer and actor. Less happy about their departure were Jack and Vera, who'd lost yet another grandson (and one who, unlike his half-brothers Paul and Tommy, never showed up again).
WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 4th and 5th May 1997
Sean invited himself round to see Samantha for a glass of wine. They sat together on the sofa and he inevitably tried it on, making her panic, and she screamed at him to leave. When he tried to apologise she ignored him, and later told him she didn't want to see him again. And he promptly vanished; we'll never see Sean in the programme after this. Roy and Gail spent their Sunday cleaning the cafe, and he announced he'd decided to change the name to "Roy's Rolls". The fact that he had to explain the pun means it's... probably not a great name. Alma arrived, having a walk to clear her head, and she excitedly told Gail about her plan to retire to Florida. However, Audrey told her about Mike's new business venture with Angie, and she realised he'd been humouring her. Ashley packed up to move in with Fred but in the middle of it he was interrupted by the police, arresting him for the arson. Mike was angry at the injustice and went to the club where Ashley had been on the night of the fire where he met with the manager, Cain Dingle, and looked for security camera footage. Alec was invited down to Southampton to see the head of Sunliners. He thought it'd be something exciting but it turned out he was being made redundant and Deirdre was being put in charge. And as it was a Bank Holiday, Kevin and Chris went to the races, with Rita staying behind to look after Rosie (and feeding her fish fingers, as is legally required). They came home with hefty winnings so Rita encouraged them to celebrate for the evening and go out on the town. She didn't realise that Chris, the nasty little stirrer, would tell Natalie where they were going. She turned up in a tight frock and flirted with Kevin - inviting him back to hers for a drink. Inevitably they had went to bed together, because he is a great disappointment to me, and Rita was furious when he finally rolled in at three in the morning. No doubt stinking of TROLLOP.
THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 7th and 9th May 1997
Ashley was remanded in custody but Mike and Frankie persuaded the police to check out the CCTV at the club. He was released into Maxine's arms. Ashley went to Strangeways to lay into Don for dropping him in it, but Don had no memory of it at all, and when he asked if Ivy would be visiting, Ashley realised how much he'd lost it. Natalie nipped round to see Kevin and he accused her of seducing him. She told him she'd leave him alone, but later he phoned her and said he'd like to do it again. Absolute scumbag. He decided to persist with their affair because men are awful. Meanwhile Rita simmered with anger at being taken advantage of. Deirdre received notification of her promotion and went through the orders at Sunliners. She found there was a "Las Vegas Special" on the books - a freebie holiday Alec had got for himself. He was going to flog it and keep the profit, but he came up with a scheme instead: he'd raffle it, take his share of the raffle money, and fix it so that Jack got the winning ticket. Samantha invited Jim round for dinner, for some reason, and they had a chat. Obviously he fancied her because he has eyes in his head but I'm not sure what was in it for her. And Roy and Gail fell out, as she wanted Alma to return to working in the cafe, but Roy thought he'd end up being left out if the girls were back together.
FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 11th and 12th May 1997
Maureen was bored of life with Bill, and I don't blame her, because he's dull as tar. She organised a night out at a Sixties themed dance, but while she got properly dressed up, he made no effort at all. Deirdre spotted the raffle poster and confronted Alec. He said it was to raise money for the hospital, which confused Emily as she was the hospital's usual charitable representative. She was understandably suspicious when she learned Alec was behind it. Jim went out bowling with Samantha and once again, in what universe is this coupling feasible? Don was committed to a secure unit, which meant he wouldn't stand trial; it angered Mike but left Alma relieved, as she hadn't wanted to give evidence anyway. She went out looking for a job since the cafe role had fallen through and saw there was a vacancy at Firman's. Curly was surprised, as he thought it would be below her, but she was keen and took the job on. Mike was outraged that his wife was demeaning herself in this way but she was adamant.
MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 14th and 16th May 1997
It was the day of the raffle draw, and everyone on the Street had entered, plus a random old man called Mr Conway. Jack was uncomfortable about it being rigged but the prize actually went to Mr Conway. The excitement caused him to keel over; Jack gave him the kiss of life and brought him back and was acclaimed as a hero. However, Mr Conway was one of Alec's turns, a man who could fake being a corpse at will, and after extracting his fee from Gilroy he went in the Rovers and handed the tickets over to Jack and Vera as a "thank you". Vera was thrilled, and got Samantha to look after the pub, which put Betty's nose out of joint. (If you want to know how their holiday went you'll have to hunt down a copy of the video spin off Viva Las Vegas - written by TV legend Russell T Davies, no less). Mike booked a holiday in Cyprus for him and Alma, but she refused to go with him because of her new job. He suggested he'd have a word with Curly but rather than asking for leave, Mike suggested that Alma wasn't in her right mind after the trauma with Don and shouldn't be taking on a job. Kevin asked Bill to take care of Rosie overnight while he went on a "stag night" i.e. a night of filth with Natalie. Bill invited Maureen round for a posh meal - which he made her cook herself, because he's as bad at relationships as his son - but it was ruined when Rosie turned up sick. They argued, which disturbed Rosie further, so Maureen stormed out - and on the way out the door she told a passing Rita that Kevin was out all night...
TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 18th and 19th May 1997
Angie started interviewing for the new knicker factory and took on a couple of familiar faces: Janice Lee, or as she's now known, Janice Battersby, as well as HRH Ida Clough. Rita went round to see Natalie and told her to stay away from Kevin (complete with a trademark "listen lady"). Natalie denied anything was going on but Rita still seemed unconvinced - not least because Natalie told her she'd date who she liked. She also caused Rita a "ridiculous old cow" which there was no call for, frankly. Kevin heard about all this and admitted to Rita that he'd been tempted but nothing had happened. Curly found Maureen blubbing in the shop and took her into the back room to comfort her. However, that was the exact point Bill came in to apologise and take her away to Blackpool for the night. As he had a bee in his bonnet about Curly and Maureen since they slept together at Christmas she locked him in and wandered off. Curly was forced to bed down for the night in the back room, but when she arrived to release him, Bill found them together anyway. He accused her of having a dirty love nest out there and broke things off with her. Judy was at work at the arcade and was harassed by two scuzzy teenagers. They abused her and demanded their cash and left her feeling vulnerable. However, from 2020, it's more interesting to see that they were played by future History Boy Andrew Knott and Anna the maid from Downton Abbey, Joanne Froggatt. I suspect we'll be seeing more of them.
WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 21st and 23rd May 1997
Deirdre stood up for the sisterhood and told Samantha about Jim's dodgy wife-beating past, though she did frame it with "some might say he was provoked," because it's still 1997. Sam had dinner with Jim and told him that she wasn't interested in a relationship, though she was happy to be his friend. Jim went round to Fiona's to help her with some new shelving and shared a beer with her while Alan was away on a course. Dum-dum-dum-DUM. Maureen told Maud about her dalliance with Curly and her subsequent break-up with Bill. Maud ignored her feelings about Bill and the lack of a spark and told her to go to him, and so Maureen went and apologised. Bill saw Curly and told him to keep his distance now he was back with Maureen. When Bill tried to make Curly feel bad about his life and every woman leaving him, he hinted that she'd been all over him at Christmas; Bill promptly thumped him, and when Maureen found out, she dumped him, so that was a waste of everyone's time really. Liam and Zoe, the scallies, returned to the arcade and tried to rob Judy's change cabin. However, Gary arrived and forced them to give the cash back. They returned the next day, only this time Liam was covered in bruises, and he said Gary did it and Zoe was a witness. He demanded money or he'd go to the police. When Judy confronted Gary about it in the Rovers, he said it was nothing to do with him. Natalie flirted with Chris at the garage, inflaming Kevin's jealousy, and he demanded she not go near other men because he's an appalling hypocrite. Rita, meanwhile, said she'd not tell Sally because she believed Kevin when he said it was over with Natalie. He was lying, and told Chris as much, but he chickened out of spending a weekend with his fancy piece and went off to Scarborough to see Sally. Natalie was unhappy. Good.
THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 25th and 26th May 1997
Judy handed over some money to tiny Andrew Knott to stop him from going to the police about his bruises. He immediately asked for some more, because that's why you don't give in to blackmailers, folks. She confessed what she'd done to Gary and he decided to sort him out. Emily got the money for the hospital from Alec, but she also needed the raffle ticket stubs to prove the whole thing was legal. He got the hump, but Rita and Deirdre were surprised to hear how little the hospital got from the raffle considering how many tickets were sold. Rita told him to sort it out so he pretended to hunt in the back room of the Rovers for the balance and handed over a packet of cash. Kevin returned from Scarborough to find Natalie had installed a computer in the garage and that she wanted to continue their affair. He told her that Sally was coming back at the weekend so they'd have to finish their mucky dalliances.
FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 28th and 30th May 1997
Chris has been in the show for several months now and his acting skills haven't improved at all. The producers finally came up with a storyline that played to his talents as he modelled underwear with Samantha. Afterwards he asked her for a date, but she pointed to Angie in the corner, simmering with jealousy. She finally caved in and pounced on Chris, though the next day they were awkward round one another. (When Sam got back to the Rovers, Betty interrogated her about what Chris looked like in his pants. Go Betty!) Judy chucked Zoe out of the arcade, but in the process, she revealed she was pregnant and she wanted the Mallets' money to get an abortion. When Gary found out he became angry that their money was going to be used for a termination, but they soon reconciled and Judy suggested they get some fertility tests to find out why they weren't able to have a baby. Natalie confessed that she loved Kevin, but as Sally was on her way back he put it from his mind - until she called to say she'd have to stay in Scarborough a little longer. Kevin immediately called his fancy piece because he's awful. Liz got a new job at the posh Warwick Hotel, where you entered the bar through a glass tunnel with a waterfall over it. Fancy! She got Maureen and Deirdre round for a Singles Night, and they were initially horrified when Fred Elliott turned up - until Maureen got chatting to him and realised he was actually a lot of fun. Deirdre, meanwhile, saw a handsome bloke down the end of the bar, and when he didn't introduce himself, Liz shouted, "hey, my mate fancies you!" which made me laugh. Deirdre got talking to him and he introduced himself as Jon Lindsay, an airline pilot. RUN, DEIRDRE, RUN FAR, RUN FAST!
It's funny; Fiona and Alan appeared in every other episode of Classic Corrie this last fortnight, and not once did they do anything interesting enough for me to recap. Complaints to me via Twitter @merseytart.
Classic Corrie is on ITV3 weekday afternoons, though it's taking a break over Christmas so they can show a million Carry On films. It's also available on the ITV Hub.
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