The Week In Classic Corrie

MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 21st and 23rd July 1993

Liz was short staffed at the Queens, with her barman (presumably Zak Dingle) failing to turn up two days on the trot.  Colin managed to charm his way into the job, and she clearly liked the attention, unburdening herself about her separation.  Colin made it clear he fancied her and gave her a peck on the cheek - just as Andy walked in.  And so the transformation of Liz McDonald into a man-eater began.  Maureen discovered Reg was trying to put Maud in a home and exploded.  He said he was doing it to stop Maud from coming between them again, and she agreed that they should find a way for her mother to live with them, but separately.  Also experiencing family problems was Mike, who turned up unannounced at the school for Mark's parent's evening.  Maggie (sporting a very chic new haircut) was shocked to see him, and they were both upset to learn from Ken that Mark wasn't doing well.  Mike had a proposal to improve his grades: send him to a private school.  Maggie was livid.  There was a historic moment as Tracy Barlow went into the Rovers for the first time in her life, to have dinner with Deirdre.  She didn't seem that impressed.

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 26th and 28th July 1993

A chance remark by Mavis about Derek's weight caused him to embrace health and fitness.  He started jogging round the block in a bright yellow shell suit, causing much amusement among the neighbours, then he invested in a rowing machine.  Unfortunately he immediately threw his back out and was told to spend a week sprawled on the living room floor.  Colin caused a minor fracas in the Rovers when the McDonald twins saw him in there, but at least it meant Des learned about his new job at the Queens.  They were putting on a talent show and Jack fancied himself winning the fifty quid prize with his singing.  Unfortunately he couldn't scrape together the entry fee or the support.  Denise, Angie and Alma decided it might be a laugh to go along.  Alf and Audrey viewed a house in Lytham and were very taken with it.  They put in an offer and made plans to retire there as soon as possible.

WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 30th July and 2nd August 1993

There was a stack of bad news for the Duckworths.  Elaine spotted Vera putting some tins into Tommy's buggy instead of her basket, and leapt at the opportunity to nab a shoplifter.  Curly got in first though, stopping Vera before she got to the checkouts, meaning she hadn't technically stolen anything.  She claimed to be confused and so was let off; later, Curly offered to lend her some money and she refused.  Elaine was furious and reported him to Reg.  Jack went to the talent night but he was overshadowed by Angie and Denise going full musical theatre with a duet of Fever.  They won the money, but then felt guilty when they heard about Vera's shoplifting; Denise tried to give her the winnings but was sent away with a flea in her ear.  Raquel used the massage skills she learned on Wayne on Derek, getting him into moans of rapture, and making Mavis jealous.  And Mike decided to send Mark to Eton (where is he getting his money?  He only owns a garage and a t-shirt printer!) only to balk at the fees.  He was still determined to send him to private school, though.

THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 4th and 6th August 1993

Jim returned from Ireland, so he did, and got an unfriendly welcome at home from the boys.  Steve moved out, but arrived at the Queens just as Liz and Colin were kissing passionately.  Those twins are a real damper on her love life.  Reg and Maureen viewed Ted's old house, though Reg wasn't keen as he didn't want to live with Maud.  He put in a silly low bid and was shocked when Rita accepted it, keen as she was to get rid of the place, though she did suggest he turned the garage into a granny flat for his mother in law.  He also had problems at work, as Curly was disciplined for letting Vera get away.  Reg produced the CCTV footage - only for it to be revealed as an old film; he'd "accidentally" taped over the evidence.  The regional boss, Mrs Rogers, smelt a rat, and she warned them they were on thin ice.  Meanwhile Joe offered to pay for the Websters to go on holiday if they took Jonathan with him - he didn't have time to take him away himself.

FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 9th and 11th August 1993

There was finally some good news for Jim, as he got a job at the garage with Kevin so the Websters could go on their holiday in the Lakes.  It was sadly tempered by Steve telling him about Colin and Liz, though she told Bet it was just a bit of flirtation.  On the plus side, Andy was getting on well with Amy's mum and son.  Mike was in a patrician mood, as he also gave a job to Mark and Nicky, valeting cars.  They immediately larked about, spraying water at one another, making Baldwin lose his temper and tell him boarding school would do him good.  Maggie was livid, not wanting to lose her boy, and she reminded Mike he only saw Mark at her discretion.  Nicky (wearing a Fido Dido sweatshirt, because NINETIES) soon got bored of washing cars though and got a job as Brendan's delivery boy because there was a free bike provided.  But the main event was Raquel and Ken.  Gordon was taking her to France on holiday, and she wanted to learn the lingo, so she took lessons from the Street's schoolteacher.  The lesson was a wonderful scene of character, comedy, and warmth, and should be played to every single Corrie scriptwriter before they start work.  Fortunately it's on YouTube, so do yourself a favour and watch it now:

   
if you want to parlez the lingo with me, send me a message on Twitter @merseytart.

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The Week In Classic Corrie

MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 28th and 30th June 1993

Kevin and Steve were taken in for questioning by the police.  They were charged with perverting the course of justice, with Steve getting additional charges for driving without a licence, and Mike was told he'd have to pay his insurance money back.  Elaine turned out to be efficient and enthusiastic with her eyes on a promotion, and Curly hated it.  Angie rightly realised he was being threatened by a powerful woman and suggested he was nice to her instead of putting her down.  Elaine immediately thought he was trying it on.  In other women in the workplace news, Tracy Barlow started work as a florist full-time, and Deirdre tried to negotiate a pay rise with Brendan.  She backed down when he threatened to make her part-time.  Baby Tommy came down with mumps, and Phyllis told Vera that it could cause impotence in grown men, so she kicked Jack out the house.  He went to Don for a bed, but Don admitted he was in the spare room so there was no place for him, so he ended up at Curly's.

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 2nd and 5th July 1993

Do you know, it's always annoyed me that the sign on the front window says "Alf's Mini Market", the little illuminated sign at the top says "Alf's Mini Mart", but the strip over the door says "CORNER SHOP"?  Consistent branding is key to a good business.  Alf locked it up for the last time (cough) and had his farewell do in the Rovers.  It was understandably bittersweet for him, and when Betty brought out a cake, he wandered off and spent a quiet moment behind the counter.  Brendan got rid of all that confusing branding anyway and replaced it with big signs saying BEST BUYS.  He also caused ructions by refusing to offer credit; a pain for Phyllis the day before pension day, a major cause of hassle for Jack and Vera, as Brendan demanded they pay up their tick by the end of the week - £220.  Still, it was a distraction for Vera from prying into Ivy and Don's marriage.  Steve and Kevin went to the Magistrate's, only for the case to be referred to the Crown Court, leaving it hanging over their head.  Elsewhere Derek and Curly had employment problems, with Derek not getting promoted to Head Caretaker as he expected, and Curly having his prep for the manager's interview ruined by Jack and Don having a card session.

WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 7th and 9th July 1993

Be still my beating heart.  Today's episodes saw the arrival of Colin Barnes, Des's sailor brother, who made my sixteen-year-old self quite weak at the knees.  (Although if I'm honest, in 2019, Neil the Hot Builder was better).  Before that though, Jack discovered that Brendan had paid Alf £75 for the Duckworth's debt.  He offered to pay £2 a week to pay off the lower amount, and when Brendan refused, he left quite happily thinking that would be the end of it as £75 was too low an amount to go to court for.  Des warned him that Brendan might get the heavy mob in instead, and when Vera spotted a stranger in the pub, she tried to lamp him.  It turned out to be our Col, visiting his brother with a mission to charm the pants off everyone he met.  Curly went for his job interview but the panel - including Reg - were incredibly hard on him.  Fortunately he got the job anyway and Elaine congratulated him through gritted teeth, pointing out that you have to be a man to succeed at Bettabuys.  She did however stay on as assistant manager.  Jim's mum had a heart attack, so he had to rush back to Belfast; Liz awkwardly told him to pass on her love.

THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 12th and 14th July 1993

Curly began work as manager with a stirring - but lengthy - speech delivered to the unenthusiastic Betterbuy masses (including a very young Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown in the front row).  He continued to bombard them with management speak as he tried to bring about a whole new world.  There were other big retail changes in the Corner Shop as Brendan transformed it into an Olde Worlde grocery, with jars of provisions and Deirdre in a mob cap and lacy overall.  She was furious.  Phyllis was mostly annoyed she couldn't get her dinosaur pasta any more, and Brendan's offer of "tagliatelle verde" instead wasn't appreciated.  Joe got the afternoon off and went to the park with Sally, feeding the ducks and enquiring about her marriage.  Reg and Maureen got a potential buyer for the house in behind Maud's back, and Maud immediately took the opportunity to put him off with chat about mice.  Hanif's mum went to Denise's for a haircut to find out more about her, and raised her eyebrows at her bawdy chat and two ex-husbands.  Hanif admitted he'd told his mum he was in love with Denise to put her off arranging a marriage for him, which left Denise less than amused.

FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 16th and 19th July 1993

After haranguing Alf to retire, Audrey was annoyed to have him clattering round the house and following her round the Street.  He was enjoying himself though, partly because he could keep an eye on her spending.  He also rescued the Alf's Mini Mart sign from the bin as Brendan rebranded the shop to Scott's Provisions.  Colin's flirting lead him to Raquel, and he continued right in front of Gordon, leading to a fracas.  Des warned him off Raquel so he went to drink at the Queens.  While talking to Liz she broke down in tears; number 11 had been broken into while it was empty and they'd stolen a picture of Katie.  It turned up in an alleyway, but she was still distraught, and Steve agreed to move back in to watch the place.  Denise confessed she had deeped feelings for Hanif and he told her she was just a bit of fun and dumped her.  She felt down and cried on Don's shoulder.  You'll regret that, love.  The Holdsworth-Naylor wedding preparations continued apace, with them hiring Angie to make a wedding dress, while Reg quietly interrogated Martin about residential homes for Maud. 

Did I deliberately pick that last screengrab because it has Colin in a pair of tight shorts?  You might think that.  I couldn't possibly comment.  Except perhaps on Twitter @merseytart.

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