Coronation Street Blog: may 1998

Showing posts with label may 1998. Show all posts

Monday, 31 May 2021

The Weeks In Classic Corrie

I was leading an exciting thrill-packed life last week so I didn't have time to write the weekly recap of Classic Corrie. Lol, not really; if I had an exciting thrill-packed life do you think I'd be watching decades old episodes of a soap opera? Here's twice the recap, but it's only half as interesting.

MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 24th and 25th May 1998

Darren the murderer - played by a young David Essex apparently - forced his way into number 4 and tried it on with a terrified Leanne. She tried to fend him off but it was only Ashley's intervention that stopped him. Nicky was horrified to learn what had happened but Leanne told him he didn't really care; he was happy to use his own wife as bait for a psychopath. She moved back in at the Battersbys and asked him for a divorce. Les, however, was distracted by his court appearance. He got a fine and a driving ban but his biggest worry was that Janice would find out. Jim suffered a blood clot, making Steve and Liz panic. He was frightened he'd never be able to walk. Des told Samantha that he didn't believe the baby was his, even when she swore on a bible. She told him that she didn't want a baby without him and would get an abortion.

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 27th and 29th May 1998

Samantha told Vera about her pregnancy and she laid into Des, accusing him of abandoning a woman in her time of need. He decided to give her his support but she said she wasn't interested in a dad who wasn't fully committed. He asked Natalie for advice but she confessed that she was in love with Des herself. Sally's mum passed away and she went to Scarborough for the funeral. Kevin meanwhile was rubbing his hands together with glee at selling her house. Toyah told Gail that Leanne was back with them and her marriage was over. They didn't realise that Darren the murderer was listening the whole time. Gail went to see Nicky and tried not to gloat, while Les accused him of cheating on Leanne. Les burned all the copies of the Gazette from the Kabin to stop Janice from seeing about his conviction and then faked a back injury to explain why he couldn't drive any more. Jim came home from the hospital to a special medical bed in the lounge of his house. He was miserable and angry and turfed the neighbours out when they tried to cheer him up.

WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 31st May and 1st June 1998

Kevin had a great idea for how to spend her mum's inheritance: buy Natalie out of the garage. She admitted that she wasn't really bothered by Natalie any more, but he still negotiated a sale price behind her back. Sally was far more interested in Greg, who'd started work at the factory and caught her eye. Darren saw Leanne going into number 5 and forced his way in. He accused her of messing him about but Nicky overheard their row and came in through the back. He picked up a bread knife and threatened Darren but he was predictably useless. Still, it was enough to get Leanne back. Samantha was incredibly changeable, because nobody can decide how to write her character; one minute she got back with Des and shared a romantic meal, the next she told him she was going ahead with the abortion anyway. Les told Maxine that Greg could do much better than her; as revenge, she told Janice about his conviction. She kicked him out of the house.

THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 3rd and 5th June 1998

Samantha told Des she was off to abort his baby and he begged her not to. He searched the local clinics but couldn't find her, only for Judy to tell him she saw Sam in town. When he confronted her she said there never was a baby - she lied to wind him up. He told Natalie what had happened and she called Samantha sick. However, Samantha told her that she'd actually gone ahead with the abortion and had lied to Des about it. Natalie was sympathetic and believed Samantha when she said her son was in Leeds hospital. She dashed over the Pennines, only for Samantha to kidnap her cat, for some reason. Zoe attended group therapy wearing a hilariously bad wig alongside a man, Paul. He confessed that he'd forced his employee to have sex with him for cash and Zoe realised that he was talking about Judy. Les parked a manky old camper van on the Street and started living out of it while Janice refused to give him the time of day.

FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 7th and 8th June 1998

Natalie returned from the hospital, angry at the hoax. She told the pub that Samantha had lied and walked out. Samantha, however, convinced Betty that Sally was the one who'd made the call to annoy Natalie. Kevin kept banging on about buying the garage, much to Sally's irritation, not least because it was interfering with her flirtation with Greg. He lost his temper with her for blowing hot and cold. Leanne was frightened by Fred looming up in the conservatory window and it convinced them that they should go to the police to report Darren's break in. As he was on parole that would mean he'd go back inside.

MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 10th and 12th June 1998

Spider decided to get into politics, taking Alf's position on the Council as an independent. However, he was incredibly rude about Alf's legacy which convinced Audrey that she should stand as opposition. Natalie accused Sally of making the hoax phone call, leading to a blistering row, and she returned to Samantha and apologised for thinking it was her. Samantha continued to be absolutely demented by going to Sally and telling her that Natalie and Kevin were planning on running off with her inheritance. It was enough to convince Sal to walk out on him with the girls and move in with Rita. Kevin was, naturally, baffled. Zoe returned to the Street and went to Judy and told her what she'd learned in therapy. Zoe promised not to tell anyone, but Judy worried that she was lying, and confessed everything to Gary. He walked out on her in disgust.

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 14th and 15th June 1998

Janice was sick of Les outside in his van and tried to get it moved on by the police. The constable was interested to hear Les was in charge of a vehicle, since he had a ban on driving. Les removed the wheels on the caravan to try and avoid the charge but he was livid that Janice put the police onto him. Leanne told him that Janice would take him back if he was nice to her, so he gave her flowers while I'm Not In Love played and carried her off for a good time. Kevin told Des why Sally had left him and they realised Samantha was playing them all for a mug. They went round to have a go but Alec interrupted and she put on the tears and he defended her. She then said that Natalie had accused him of groping her at the Rovers but she told him about Samantha's many, many, many lies. On top of that, Des found her cat - at Samantha's. Alec fired her, but she quit, and rode off on her motorbike - but not before telling Des she really was pregnant and she was off with his baby. He said he'd never know if that was true. To be honest I'm glad to see her go; Samantha went from being a strong, independent woman to an absolutely demented lunatic with absolutely nothing in the way of realistic characterisation. Fortunately Tina Hobley went on to much better things outside of the show.

WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 17th and 19th June 1998

Alec told Sally all about Samantha's lies and convinced her that Kevin wasn't planning on leaving. There was a part of her that was disappointed and she realised she was miserable. She returned to number 13 and Kevin suggested they go on holiday. To Florida. The following week. He arranged it all and even got time off for her from Mike Baldwin. Des went to see Natalie and they kissed; he'd decided he wanted to be with her. Leanne felt guilty about Darren being imprisoned but Nicky was unrepentant. She went to see him in Strangeways but he called her evil. He said if she really felt guilty she'd tell the police about their letters leading him on, but Nicky understandably refused to have anything to do with it. I wonder if he ever got out? Maybe he could come back to the show - no, hang on, the Tilsley-Battersbys are involved in way too much criminal nonsense already, let's not add to it. Fred was managing Audrey's campaign, calling her the Eva Peron of Weatherfield, which doesn't sound like a compliment to be honest. They walked down the Street and Fred kicked Les's camper van in disgust - only for it to fall off its blocks and topple over. They legged it quick.

THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 21st and 22nd June 1998

Spider needed people to nominate him for his council bid and Toyah stepped up. However, she wasn't old enough, and so she conned Gail into signing it instead. Gail also signed Audrey's nomination form. However, Spider realised he wasn't on the electoral roll, so he couldn't stand. Fortunately Emily had signed him up behind his back because Emily is the best. Gary finally returned to Judy and said he didn't think he loved her any more. She showed him her scan and revealed she was having twins and he forgave her. Roy received a letter from Hayley; she was now living in Amsterdam. He was touched by her lovely letter and ashamed of his behaviour towards her. Leanne was still angry with Nicky for putting an innocent man in prison. She tried to appeal to Gail, but Gail said she could never forgive him for killing Brian - meh, nobody really misses him - and Nicky was adamant. He said if she did anything to help Darren it'd be the end of them as a couple.

FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 24th and 26th June 1998

Roy told Alma that Hayley had finished her transition and was in Amsterdam. She urged him to visit her and he rushed around getting his first passport. Vera decided to hire a replacement for Sam, but she didn't want a young sexy barmaid. Alec wanted a saucepot though so he asked an actress friend to apply for the job and try it on with Jack. He convinced Vera that older women would find Jack attractive but young girls wouldn't. Vera agreed, and hired a young person - except it was a man. The Tilsleys confessed to winding Darren up, and the policeman basically said, ah well, never mind. And that was the end of that, which felt like a massive waste of time. Audrey took her nomination form to the council, where a young Diggory Compton told her that he couldn't accept it because he'd already got Gail as Spider's nominee. Alec was forced to rush out into the street to grab a passer by but it made Audrey determined to fight even harder for the position.

The author hasn't been abroad for two years now so he's thrilled that next week's episodes will feature the beautiful canals of Amsterdam - and the return of Hayley! Send a special brownie to him on Twitter @merseytart.

Classic Corrie is on ITV3 weekday afternoons and is also on the ITV Hub.

All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Sunday, 16 May 2021

The Week In Classic Corrie

MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 6th and 8th May 1998

Jim remained in a coma and Liz worried that the doctors might turn the machines off. They reassured her that the only person who could do that was her next of kin - i.e. Steve. This didn't reassure her as she didn't trust Steve as far as she could throw him, and it only got worse when he confessed they'd been grappling on the scaffolding before Jim fell. Jack continued with his "Lusty Jack" persona, much to the exasperation of Betty, but when Roy told Vera about him getting his history wrong she realised he'd been pulling her leg. She cooked Lusty Jack a proper 18th century meal - pigeon pie. When Jack realised his pigeons were missing he snapped out of character so he could berate her. (She hadn't really cooked the pigeons by the way - she'd taken them over to Jamie and Ray's). Leanne was still furious with Nicky for leading on Brian's murderer with her photo. She chucked his flowers back in his face and told him that she was terrified. Ashley visited Zoe in hospital and she said she was feeling much better. She returned home and went to the salon to get her hair fixed but when she saw baby Morgan the plot kicked in. She kidnapped him and took him out for the afternoon, because it is a truth universally acknowledged by the Coronation Street scriptwriters that any woman who loses a baby will try to steal someone else's. Ashley and Leanne spotted her on a canal bridge, and shouted at her not to jump in...

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 10th and 11th May 1998

Zoe put down Morgan but the policeman frightened her and she jumped into the Bridgewater Canal. Gary leapt in after her, saving her life, but the doctors were forced to section her. Fiona took the baby home, and Maxine fretted to Greg that she was going to be fired for not paying attention and letting Zoe kidnap Morgan. Also under the doctor was Jim, who came round from his coma. Liz was relieved, and while Steve was glad his dad wasn't dead, he was scared Jim would go for revenge. Samantha continued to confound Des and Natalie by being overly pleasant and attentive. However, she complained to Vera about feeling nauseous and sloped off work - letting out a sly smile as she did so.

WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 13th and 15th May 1998

Greg continued to disturb the status quo in the Street. Maxine was besotted, and tried to play it cool, but it was clear that she was mad keen. She bought an expensive dress for a date but Les chucked his drink all over it, meaning she couldn't return it in the morning. When Greg drove her home afterwards he realised she lived with her parents and backed off. Meanwhile Les dug out Greg's mum Moira's number from his address book and gave her a ring. He'd convinced himself he had a chance with her. Natalie lost her ring, the last piece of jewellery her mum had left her, and hunted all over the Rovers for it. Jack went through the u-bend of the sink and ended up covered in water and slime. Samantha promised to help her look for it and discovered it the next day. Natalie didn't realise that Sam was the one who'd stolen it in the first place. The doctors told Jim that his spine had been damaged and that he may never walk again. Luckily for Steve though, he still couldn't remember how it happened. Steve explained that Jim had been drunk and tried to punch him and fallen off the scaffolding - conveniently leaving out the bit where he fought back.

THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 17th and 18th May 1998

£25 was missing from the petty cash box at the Rovers. Vera accused Jack at first, then turned to the barmaids. Natalie had a key to the box and Vera took it off her to stop any more money going missing, leaving her fuming. Nicky got a letter from Strangeways addressed to Leanne and hid it away from his wife. She said "I reckon things are going to get better and better" which obviously meant everything was going to get worse, and it did, as Darren sent Leanne a visiting order. At the hospital Liz and Steve said they'd support him but Jim decided he'd rather die than be in a wheelchair. Les went to see Greg's mum Moira, played by Simone from May to December, and tried it on with her. Can we take a moment to wonder how the utterly charmless Les managed to get both Carolyn Pickles and Michelle Collins to have his babies? She told him that she never wanted to find him after she got pregnant because he was a loser and chucked him out. On the way back to Weatherfield, Les managed to crash his borrowed car into another vehicle - a police car.

FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 20th and 22nd May 1998

At the police station, Les was breathalysed and held because the car wasn't his. He used his phone call to contact Greg and ask him to help out. Unfortunately Greg was in his hotel room with Maxine; he abandoned her and she drank all the booze in the minibar. He was horrified to discover that Les had been to see his mother. He took him back to Coronation Street and covered him with Janice by saying he'd saved his mate Charlie from a burning car. She was impressed at what a hero he was. Samantha went to see Des and told him she was pregnant. He rightly pointed out that she'd also had Chris in her bed - if not dozens of other men - but she suggested she move back in with him so they could be a family. He told her to sling her hook. Nicky went for Sunday lunch at the Platts and found the name of the woman Brian was with when he was stabbed. (Her name is now Alison Oakley, and not "Disco Girl" as she was originally credited, which is a shame). He met her at a hotel to talk to her, leaving Leanne at home to receive an unexpected visitor: Darren the murderer.

There was almost an addition to the Nicky Tilsley Shirtless Count this week when he came downstairs in a dressing gown with half his chest hanging out, but I'm not counting that. For updated totals contact me on Twitter @merseytart.

Classic Corrie is on ITV3 weekday afternoons and is also on the ITV Hub.

All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Monday, 10 May 2021

The Week In Classic Corrie

MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 19th and 20th April 1998

It's interesting to see the difference between Shannon's death in 1998 and Oliver's death in 2020. The latter went on for months, with helplines and educational moments and characters tearing their hair out in agony. In 1998, Shannon just... dies. There's not even a scene in the hospital. She simply died offscreen of meningitis. Understandably it left the Street in shock, with Fred offering to pay for the funeral, and Judy and Gary crying alone. It even caused Leanne and Gail to bond as they comforted one another. Shannon was angry that people only cared about her now the baby was gone but she was mainly an emotional wreck. Alma was still livid that Deirdre kissed Mike at her release celebration, thinking he did it deliberately to humiliate her. She didn't realise that Deirdre was trapped in a different romantic nightmare as Ken tried to kiss her. She was embarrassed and immediately legged it to stay with Liz. Ken, the arrogant sod, took this as a personal slight. And Jack's efforts to give up smoking were sabotaged by Alec leaving a fag end lying around then catching him puffing away.

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 22nd and 24th April 1998

Jim was falling apart. Alone at number 11 he was drinking heavily and not paying the bills. Liz begged Steve to give him a job at the building site to get him back together and eventually he agreed. Jim refused to swallow his pride and instead got Chris's old job in the garage. He went to the building site, hammered, and berated his son. He even tried to hit Steve, but he retaliated - and Jim plunged off the scaffolding. Janice returned from her mum's and Les introduced her to his long-lost son. Of course Janice took this calmly and welcomed him to the family - lol, no, she lost her temper at Les for being a lying scumbag. She was confused by what it meant for the future of their family. Nicky talked to Leanne about Darren, the man who'd killed his dad. He wanted her to write to him and find out when he was being released and she reluctantly agreed. Alma went to see Deirdre and accused her of having an affair with Mike. Deirdre was astonished, and persuaded her that her fears were unfounded - but when Mike offered her a job running the office at Underworld she declined so they'd keep some distance between them.

WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 26th and 27th April 1998

Some people simply don't help themselves. Ashley got Zoe to help out in the shop to take her mind off things; she immediately robbed from the till so she could go out clubbing with Leanne. She had a great time but her mood was soon crushed when she discovered Judy was pregnant. She was upset and angry and when Emily tried to sympathise Zoe completely lost it and smacked her. Outrageous. Jim was rushed to hospital in a coma. John Stape dressed as a policeman interviewed Steve and he admitted Jim was drunk when he was on the scaffolding. Jack tried to pivot to pipe smoking as part of his new healthy lifestyle but Vera refused to let him smoke it. She confessed she wanted him to take it seriously because she was afraid of losing him. She booked an appointment with a hypnotherapist.

THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 29th April and 1st May 1998

Gary told Ashley about Zoe attacking Emily and he realised something had to be done. He talked to Martin, who suggested counselling. Ashley told her about it but she refused because of her terrible history with social workers. As a way of moving on he suggested she give Shannon's things to the Malletts, and while she seemed ok with it at first, she ended up setting the pram on fire and screaming in the street. Natalie went to a Wethy County match with Des, as they got closer and closer. Samantha was narky with her when she found out. Jack thought the hypnotherapist - who, I must record, was named Magenta Savannah - was a shyster and rather than taking it seriously he pretended to regress to a past life: "Lusty Jack". He began talking like a pirate and making rude remarks. Vera was confused, but even more confused when he continued with his lecherous character back home. Now in 1998 he pinched Betty's backside and she slapped him, but for some reason ITV3 thought that would offend our delicate sensibilities and cut it out. However Mark Aldridge on Twitter pointed out it was on YouTube, so if you can cope with such unbridled lust, it's available here. And Leanne got a letter from Brian's murderer, which got Nicky all excited. He was getting paroled soon.

FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 3rd and 4th May 1998

Liz was suspicious that Jim's accident wasn't an accident and that Steve was involved somehow. He admitted to Fiona that he'd pushed him but assured her it wasn't deliberate. Fiona pointed out that when Jim woke up he'd tell everyone the truth anyway. Nicky continued to use Leanne as bait for Darren but she refused to send a picture to the prison as she thought it was leading him on. He went behind her back and wrote a letter with her forged signature on it. When she found out what he'd done she was terrified. Lusty Jack continued to cause havoc at the pub, with the barmaids demanding he stop harassing them, and Vera being genuinely worried about his health. He used it as a tool to skive to the bookies and sit in front of the telly. However, when Roy tried to talk to Lusty Jack about the 18th century he got all his historic facts wrong. Zoe chopped all her hair off and Ashley realised it couldn't go on. He called in a doctor and Zoe was sectioned. Natalie worried that Des was only going out with her to bait Samantha but he said he genuinely cared about her. Samantha meanwhile decided to move out of Natalie's and into Curly's, telling everyone she'd been chucked out, and accusing her of stealing Des. Samantha is a very odd character these days.