MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 18th December 1998
Deirdre was deeply regretting introducing Jackie to Coronation Street and worked with Emily and Ken to get her evicted from Curly's house. However, when Jackie learned Deirdre was trying to get rid of her, she threatened her. (Spider, meanwhile, was confused over whether he supported Jackie's occupation of a vacant property or if he should be loyal to Curly). Les went to a shyster doctor who convinced him to amplify his symptoms for maximum compensation. This caused problems for Leanne and Nicky, whose loyalties were split along family lines. Sally confidently told Gail that she'd be spending Christmas at number 13, but Kevin disagreed. He told her that she could visit at set times - and when the holidays were over, he wanted a divorce.
TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 20th, 21st and 23rd December 1998
Gail invited Nicky for Christmas dinner... and Janice invited Leanne. Of course, neither side refused to back down, so they decided to tell their parents to stuff it and stayed at number 4 with Ashley and special guest Maud. The squatters at number 7 made Audrey think about the vacant hairdresser's flat, and she asked Maxine to watch the place over Christmas. However, Maxine managed to convince her to let her the flat permanently. Greg heard about it and began sniffing around her again. Jack and Vera decided to spend Christmas with the Hortons and Tommy in Blackpool, and told Alec they wouldn't be available behind the bar. Alec let the Duckworths go to Blackpool... then immediately changed the locks and put their clothes in bin bags. Rita was shocked that he was so mercenary and called Jack and Vera. They rushed back to Weatherfield and managed to barricade themselves in their bedroom. He did have a nice surprise though as Vicky (without her trademark perm) arrived for an unexpected visit - she wanted her granddad to look over the figures of a bar she was thinking of buying. And Judy's contractions started, because obviously any woman pregnant on Coronation Street at Christmas is absolutely going to give birth on the big day.
WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 25th December 1998
The Rovers was under siege with Jack and Vera on one side, Alec on the other, and a very uncomfortable Betty in the middle. He accused them of trespassing and kept them trapped upstairs without food or clothes. The neighbours rallied round them, delivering supplies to them up a ladder. Rita confessed that she was the one who told the Duckies what was going on, and Alec felt betrayed. Judy gave birth to twins, Billy and Becky, and because she had them on Christmas Day she won a load of baby stuff from a local shop. The Battersbys were getting great presents from Les. He was spending his compensation before it had even arrived. Leanne was upset that Miranda gave Nicky a present and convinced herself he'd been sleeping with her. She stormed over the road and announced the marriage was over. Again. The highlight of the show, however, was Blanche, who'd come back to spend Christmas with Deirdre and spent the whole time laying into her daughter and her life choices. She was of course magnificent.
THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 27th and 28th December 1998
Greg was evicted from the shop flat and, after Maxine told him to get stuffed, dropped himself on the Battersbys. With Leanne also there it was a full house. He was left bitter and blamed Sally, threatening her in the pub and on the phone. Alec told Rita they were finished and boarded up the connecting door. He admitted to Natalie that the Rovers was more trouble than it was worth... and she offered to buy it. She told Alec that she wanted a discount on the Rovers if the Duckworths were there as sitting tenants. Gail agreed to sell Roy her half of the cafe so he could move it to Victoria Street. He didn't have the money, but Hayley agreed to buy Gail's half of the cafe, and persuaded her to stay on to help Roy out afterwards. He was delighted that they'd be partners. Mike caught Jackie robbing some knickers and was ready to call the police. Deirdre stopped him, but let him fire her; she told Jackie that they were now quits.
FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 30th December 1998 and 1st January 1999
Alec tried to get rid of the Duckworths, but they refused to go, so he simply flogged the pub to Natalie and packed up. He was going into business with Vicky, helping her run the cafe bar, and he left for Brighton. Alec was a brilliant character, shifty and sly, but his late 90s return wasn't as effective as when he was paired with Bet. It was a shame they never reconciled. Jack and Vera emerged from upstairs, victorious, to the news that Natalie was their new boss. Greg heard about the connecting door between Alec and Rita's flats, broke into the empty one, and smashed his way through to confront Sally. He told her she'd ruined his life and when he tried to attack her she managed to flee to the front door. Nicky spotted her screaming and fought Greg off; he went back to number 5, robbed all the money he could and ran off. Leanne saw an injured Nicky and reconciled with him, going back to his 18th birthday party at number 8. It put a bit of a damper on the occasion, but they carried on, partying until midnight. Audrey tried to wake up Alf after the fireworks to take her back to Grasmere Drive, but he didn't respond; Martin checked on him. Sadly he'd passed away. In real life, Bryan Mosley had been ill for quite some time, and the producers took the decision to finally write him out. He was livid, saying he could have carried on for years - only to die a few months later. He'd been in the show on and off, since 1961.
Next week's shows will see the return of a certain Sharon Gaskell. @merseytart hopes she's left her taser behind.
Classic Corrie is on ITV3 weekday afternoons and is also on the ITV Hub.
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