Mon, Jan 6, 1975
Mavis doesn't know what to say to Carlos. Bet is annoyed that Eddie stood her up. Annie tells Eddie she'll give Bet the night off if he can come up with a replacement. He talks Blanche into it. Mavis decides to accept Carlos. Big Arthur wants his ham back but Minnie has already started on it. Eddie has to pay compensation and give it all back. Carlos gives Mavis his ring. He tells her they must marry at once as he needs a work permit. He offers her money but she angrily refuses to marry him. Bet and Eddie are just getting passionate when P.C. Sadler of the police arrives and arrest him.
Wed, Jan 8, 1975
Albert adopts a pigeon. He calls it Gilbert. Ray tells Jerry that Mavis is getting married. Betty and Maggie realise they're going to have to tell Gordon. Battered wife Lynn Johnson asks Len for help but refuses to go to the police. He tells her that he's willing to talk to her husband but, afraid, she rejects the offer. Having heard from Alf that racing pigeons can be worth up to one thousand pounds, Stan tries to get Albert interested in racing Gilbert and goes in 50-50 with him. Maggie tells Gordon that Betty is his mother.
Mon, Jan 13, 1975
Gordon doesn't know what to think; he's relieved Les Clegg isn't his father but doesn't like the idea of being Betty's bastard son. He decides to go out for a drink. Jerry makes a cote for Gilbert. Albert watches for him settling in to it in order to know that he'll fly back if released. Deirdre tries to give Jerry some confidence in himself, saying that what matters is the person that you are. Maggie breaks down as Gordon returns drunk to celebrate the fact that Les is not his father. He taunts Betty and Maggie. The next day, Gilbert flies back to No.1 when he's released from the Red Rec. Albert is delighted. Gordon is hungover. He asks Betty for details of his father. Betty doesn't name him but tells Gordon the circumstances of his birth and adoption. Maggie points out that Les never used the fact that Gordon wasn't his son against him. Lynn Johnson turns up at the yard with another bruise. Len is amazed that she won't leave her husband. She doesn't want a divorce. Stan and Jerry take Gilbert on a two-mile bus journey and release him. He flies off in the wrong direction. Maggie warns the Hopkins against saying anything about Betty and Gordon. Alf tells Len he's bumped into Janet Barlow at the Town Hall and she was asking after Ken.
Mon, Jan 20, 1975
Rita tries to find out why Mavis is upset but Mavis is silent. The residents are pleased that the Barlows are back together. Lynn Johnson agrees to go to the police if Len will go with her. Albert catches Bobby on Gilbert's loft surrounded by feathers. The Barlows like being just good friends. Len lets hysterical Lynn stay at No. 9. When he tries to go to work she begs him not to leave her alone, her shouts being heard by the Barlows. Minnie tries to console Albert. Mavis tells Rita about Carlos. Janet and Ken agree to get together to talk about a divorce. Albert overhears a woman screaming in No. 9. Ray and Jerry enter the house and find Lynn's body.
Wed, Jan 22, 1975
Jerry calls the police while Ray looks for Len. Detective Chief Inspector Patterson arrives as does Doctor McKay who states that Lynn Johnson died from a blow to the head. Hilda sees the police car outside and spreads the word. Albert tells Alf what he heard from No. 9. Ray can't find Len and returns to No. 9. He and Jerry are kept away from the murder scene. Patterson finds it strange that neither of them knows the dead woman's name. Annie shows new Newton and Ridley house manager Keith Adams round the Rovers and is embarrassed that the police are in the Street during his visit. Ray and Jerry are taken to the station for questioning. The residents are astonished to see them being driven away in a police car. Lynn's body is taken away in an ambulance. Onlookers wonder who is under the shroud. Jerry lets slip to Det Sgt Phillips that he doesn't always take Ray at his word. He gives alibis for himself and Ray but Ray refutes his, telling Patterson that he didn't turn up for a job at the blanket factory and was running errands all morning. Patterson is suspicious of him. Weatherfield Gazette press photographer Eddie Royle spreads the news about an unknown murdered woman being found in No. 9. Janet returns after hearing the news. She's certain that the voice she heard from No.9 was Len's. The police can't find Len's passport and think Ray tipped him off. Len's van is stopped by the police on Eastern Road.
Mon, Jan 27, 1975
The police set up headquarters in the Community Centre where Det Sgt Phillips questions the residents while Det. Chief Insp. Patterson interviews Ray and Jerry at the station. Len is brought in, not knowing what's going on. Phillips questions Annie and Billy as to when Ray and Jerry left the Rovers. The regulars speculate as to the identity of the woman killed. Ken doesn't think he or Janet should say anything about what they heard until they are asked. Alf tells the shocked regulars that the police are treating the matter as a murder. Patterson questions Len and asks him where he went after leaving the Rovers. Len says he left home at 1.15 after finishing writing out a tender and drove to Grindrods in Queen Street. He was then picked up by them at 2.30pm. Patterson shows him a photo of Lynn that was found in her handbag and he identifies her. Bet confirms to Phillips that she saw Lynn and Len in the Rovers and she left the pub in an upset state. Len tells Patterson how he was helping Lynn and is staggered to learn that she's dead and she died in No. 9. Len identifies Lynn's body as Roy Johnson can't be found. Patterson asks him to account for the missing hour. Len says he called on Mr Johnson but he was out and he spoke to the lodger. Annie tells Phillips that Len seemed relieved when Lynn left him in the pub. Jerry confirms that very few people ever came to No. 9 on council business. Patterson questions Ray if Len is violent. The police refuse to let Len, Ray or Jerry go. Albert tells Phillips about the scream and tells them he heard Len's voice.
Wed, Jan 29, 1975
Detective Chief Inspector Patterson comes to the Community Centre to question Albert about his evidence. Exhibiting great patience he manages to pin down the time he heard the scream as being 1.35pm. Albert also gives a guarded agreement that it was Len's voice he heard. Deirdre hears a description of Lynn Johnson and realises she saw her at the yard. Morbid sensation-seekers come into the Rovers to be near the scene of the crime. Patterson takes Jerry through Len's statement while Phillips questions Ray again. Patterson thinks Len is lying to him about where he was working when Jerry says the tender was delivered prior to dinnertime. The police get Ray to say that Len is hard-fisted. They finish their work at No. 9. Bet is angry when Alf is half-hearted in his support of Len. Len admits he told Jerry and Ray a lie about the tender to get them off his back. Deirdre is called in for questioning by Phillips. Patterson lets Ray and Jerry go. Deirdre acts dumb with Phillips until he threatens her with the law and she admits to seeing Lynn in the yard. Patterson gets angry as he takes Len through the discrepancies in his statement. Bet starts to get angry when no one stands up for Len. Rita cooks for Ray and Jerry to stop them being gossiped over by going in the Rovers. Lyle brings Roy Johnson in. He tells Patterson that Lynn was trying to finish a romance with Len but he wouldn't let her go. Clifford Fenton, the lodger, denies seeing Len. Patterson tries to get Len to admit to hitting Lynn. Det. Chief Insp. Patterson comes to the Community Centre to question Albert about his evidence. Exhibiting great patience he manages to pin down the time he heard the scream as being 1.35pm. Albert also gives a guarded agreement that it was Len's voice he heard. Deirdre hears a description of Lynn Johnson and realises she saw her at the yard. Morbid sensation-seekers come into the Rovers to be near the scene of the crime. Patterson takes Jerry through Len's statement while Phillips questions Ray again. Patterson thinks Len is lying to him about where he was working when Jerry says the tender was delivered prior to dinnertime. The police get Ray to say that Len is hard-fisted. They finish their work at No. 9. Bet is angry when Alf is half-hearted in his support of Len. Len admits he told Jerry and Ray a lie about the tender to get them off his back. Deirdre is called in for questioning by Phillips. Patterson lets Ray and Jerry go. Deirdre acts dumb with Phillips until he threatens her with the law and she admits to seeing Lynn in the yard. Patterson gets angry as he takes Len through the discrepancies in his statement. Bet starts to get angry when no one stands up for Len. Rita cooks for Ray and Jerry to stop them being gossiped over by going in the Rovers. Lyle brings Roy Johnson in. He tells Patterson that Lynn was trying to finish a romance with Len but he wouldn't let her go. Clifford Fenton, the lodger, denies seeing Len. Patterson tries to get Len to admit to hitting Lynn.
Mon, Feb 3, 1975
Len has been kept in overnight. Phillips questions Roy Johnson who says his wife left home on the day of her death at 12.30pm. He swears he never hit her and loved her. Bet asks Rita if she has been down to the station to try and see Len. Tricia gets nowhere when she tries to question Ray and Jerry on the details on the body. Detective Chief Inspector Patterson questions Alf about Len's previous record. Patterson takes the Barlows to the Community Centre to ask them about what they heard. They tell them of hearing Lynn and Len at 1.15pm when she said "don't leave me". Patterson is displeased that they didn't come forward before. Lodger Clifford Fenton sticks by his story that no one came to the house after Lynn left. Patterson tells Len he's got enough evidence to charge him with murder. Len starts to crack up. Bet tries to visit Len but is turned away by the police. The Pathologist says Lynn died from brain damage caused through excessive beating but Patterson doesn't trust Johnson as Lynn carried older bruises. Albert tries to explain to Ray and Jerry why he told the police what he did but they're not interested. Patterson questions Johnson about the old bruises and he admits he used to hit her but he was with Fenton playing snooker when he died. Deirdre and Bet take against Rita for not supporting Len. Fenton sticks by Johnson when Patterson questions him. A beat constable remembers Lynn crying outside her house a month before. The police tell Fenton he could be charged with being an accessory after the fact and concealing evidence. He cracks and confesses the alibi is false. Bet finds it hard to believe that Rita hasn't tried to see Len. Len is stunned when he is told he can go. Johnson has admitted to going to No. 9 and murdering Lynn. He told Fenton he was afraid he would be blamed for the murder and got Fenton to agree to the false alibi. Len is bitter at the way he's been treated.
Wed, Feb 5, 1975
Jerry makes it clear that he's not pleased at the lack of support Len received from Rita. Len has spent the night at Alf's house after he picked him at the police station. He is upset that Rita didn't visit him. Vera puts a ban on gossiping about Len in the Corner Shop. Mavis tells Emily that Rita has a guilty conscience about Len. He is welcomed back to the Rovers and thanks Bet for her support although he spurns the offer of a drink from Rita. Alf has to find a hostess to help him entertain a visiting Councillor from Yorkshire. Len suggests Annie. Idris pretends to have stomach ache to get out of eating Granny's fish. She thinks he has food poisoning from a Rovers' pie. Annie is in Derby and can't help but Hilda offers her services to Alf. Mavis tells Jerry that Carlos only asked her to marry him for a resident's permit. Alf lets Hilda down as diplomatically as possible, but fails as she is upset, and Betty refuses due to her hours in the Rovers. Granny rows with Betty about the pies and the accusation that the upkeep of the bar is slovenly. Jerry paints over "L. Clegg" on the shop sign. Rita apologises to Len. Alf agrees to having Mavis help but thinks she's too fanciful in her ideas. Betty demands a refund for an off-tin of mincemeat and calls Granny untrustworthy when she denies that they sold it. Granny determines to get her own back.
Mon, Feb 10, 1975
Mavis worries about what to cook for Alf's guests and works herself up into a headache. Rita gets exasperated with her. Granny insists she is a reasonable woman and Betty reacted the way she did as she doesn't like being beholden to them for their kindness. Vera worries that no customers are coming in. Granny says she has fixed Betty already. Gordon arrives to see Betty. Mavis panics again when she remembers Alf's cooker is a gas one. She goes back home to fetch her cookery book. Mavis cries off and Rita takes her place wearing a revealing dress. Gordon tells Betty that Granny has written him a letter telling him about his mother. Vera worries about why Gordon has come up from London. Alf asks Rita to cover up a bit. Harold and Dawn Digby turn out to be very down to earth when they arrive, with Dawn also wearing a revealing dress. Gordon and Betty arrive at the shop. He gives Granny the letter back telling her it's poison and he's known for some time who his mother is. Granny threatens to tell all the street. Gordon tells Granny he won't be signing the final contract for the shop. Idris and Vera beg him to reconsider but he refuses. Granny breaks down after Idris yells at her. Alf's party goes really well. Rita admits that they're still eating Mavis's cooking. The Hopkins pack their things. Gordon tells Betty he's only frightening the Hopkins. Dawn invites Alf and Rita to come and visit them some time. The Hopkins leave in a van at night.
Wed, Feb 12, 1975
Hilda, Minnie and Albert can't understand why the Corner Shop is shut and worry that something has gone wrong inside. Deirdre is depressed that Billy hasn't sent her a Valentine. Ray fetches Stan and his ladders to look through the window. Tricia turns up and tells them the shop is empty. Rita tells Mavis the meal went well, especially her food. Stan is sent a Valentine, but not from Hilda. She thinks it's from Clara Regan. Ray tells Bet he sent it for a laugh. Annie is glad the Hopkins have left as she feels they were too greedy. The Hopkins send Gordon back the shop keys with a letter through Gail. He wonders who can look after the shop. Hilda calls round on Clara but gets sent away with a flea in her ear. Stan feels ill and doesn't need Hilda rowing with him. Gordon tells Betty that the letter from Vera explains that she and Idris felt too ashamed to stay in the Street. Albert complains about the shop being shut. When Annie won't give Betty time off, Gordon realises he'll have to run the shop. Tricia is angry about Granny. She tells Gail that she plans to leave the Hopkins but won't tell her why her family left the area. Tricia needs somewhere to live. Rita tells her the Corner Shop flat is free. Albert complains about the thick cuts of meat Gordon cuts for him and Annie tells him off for not using tongues on serving the teacakes, making him feel he can't cope. Bet gives the game away about Stan's Valentine. Stan is off his beer. A shattered Gordon refuses to serve in the shop again. Rita receives a see-through nightie delivered from Harrison's stores. She thinks Alf sent it.
Mon, Feb 17, 1975
Mavis makes Rita show Deirdre the nightie but she refuses to say who she thinks it's from. Gordon refuses to let Betty try again for time off to help him in the Corner Shop. Hilda offers her services in the shop to a stunned Gordon. Blanche offers a horrified Stan a man's corset to help his bad back. Having heard the gossip, Bet calls into the Kabin to see the nightie, asking if it's from Len. Gail and Tricia agree to flat-share together. Hilda fusses round a tired Stan, trying to get him to agree to ask Gordon to let them run the shop but he angrily refuses, knowing the neighbours will want them to fail. Alf gives Mavis perfume as a thank-you, and another bottle to pass on to Rita for the same reason. Business at the yard is bad. Gordon wants Blanche to run the shop for him. He puts the idea to Deirdre who thinks it's a great idea. Rita confirms to Alf that she got his present. When Mavis passes on the perfume, she worries that he fancies her. Deirdre passes on Gordon's request to her mother. The residents laugh about Alf and the nightie after Bet spreads the news. He is horrified they think he sent it. Gordon agrees on principle to rent the Corner Shop flat out, but only once he's got the shop sorted. Deirdre brings Blanche to the shop and introduces her to Gordon. She agrees to take it on if the money's right. Hilda pushes Stan to work although he swears he's ill. Alf tells a puzzled Rita he didn't buy the nightie and knows nothing about it. Blanche and Gordon reach an agreement. Pleased, he tells the girls they can have the flat. Stan is unconscious in the Street after falling from his ladder. Albert fetches Hilda and the neighbours rush to help.
Wed, Feb 19, 1975
Under doctor's orders, Stan has been told to rest. Lying on the sofa, he gets Hilda to run errands for him, including placing his bets. With little work coming in, Ray annoys Jerry with his lax attitude. They argue over the benefits of capitalism. Finding out that the girls are moving into the corner shop flat, Ray pushes Tricia to have a flat-warming party. She borrows a hammer from him to do some work in the flat. Gail moves her possessions in as Blanche starts running the Corner Shop. Hilda warns the girls to keep quiet now that they're her neighbours. Gail thinks a party is a good idea. Rita can't think who sent her the nightie. Remembering that it's a year since she and Len were engaged, she wonders if he was the giver but he persuades her otherwise. The girls draw up a guest list of invitees. They realise they'll have to invite Hilda to stop any complaints. Jerry thinks they should branch out into house insulation but Ray sneers at his ideas. Jerry gets Deirdre to organise a meeting to discuss the firm's state of affairs. Annie shows off to Blanche with some of her posh food orders. Rita asks Ken who he thinks sent the nightie. Stan continues to feel giddy, worrying Hilda. Minnie brings him a herbal tonic. Gail asks Annie to the party to keep on her good side while a bashful Tricia asks Ken. Mavis rushes round to Rita with a bracelet sent in the post which came with a signed note. She refuses to tell the interested women who the sender is but tells them they'd never guess in a million years.
Mon, Feb 24, 1975
Rita reveals Harold Digby sent the gifts. She rings him up and tells him to stop it. Dawn Digby arrives and tells Rita that Harold always sends presents to attractive women but that they have a happy marriage. The doctor thinks Stan should have a check-up in hospital. Jeff Lee and Tim Russell, Tricia and Gail's boyfriends, are put off the flat-warming party when they discover that residents like Annie are going but decide to go along anyway. Grindrods pull out of a Yard order and Len fears bankruptcy. Ray thinks one of them will have to leave the firm. Albert gets drunk at the party.
Wed, Feb 26, 1975
Stan goes into hospital for tests. Tricia wants to decorate the flat. Gail would rather they get some lads in to do it for them and watch them at work. Len puts Deirdre on part-time hours at the Yard and offers her afternoons in the Kabin. Ray offers to decorate the flat for the girls. Len realises someone will have to go and he and Ray decide on Jerry as he was the last one in. Stan is entertained by fellow patient Ronnie Barnes. Jerry refuses to leave the business and reminds Len and Ray that partnerships are for bad times as well as good. He makes them feel ashamed for wanting to drop him and they change their minds. Mavis fears her job is at risk when Deirdre mentions Len's offer. Stan has an EEG and is put on a diet by the doctor. Billy offers Gail and Tricia drinks once the flat is decorated. Jerry tries to show Len and Ray how much they take him for granted by making up a rota distributing the household chores evenly. Hilda fears that she might lose Stan.
Wed, Mar 5, 1975
Len goes for Ray and calls Jerry an old woman when they tell him they're disgusted with him. Now she's eighteen, Tricia gets Annie to serve her with a Bacardi. Stan returns home. He has Otitis media; his balance is disturbed and he's got anaemia and the district nurse is to call on him. Len tells Bet he just wants her as an occasional bit on the side. She tells him to get lost.
Mon, Mar 10, 1975
Blanche agrees to give Tricia and Gail credit if they'll help out occasionally in the shop. Len tries to make things up with Bet. Miss Webb of Social Services vets the Ogdens for support whilst Stan is ill. Hilda is furious when she reveals that Stan hasn't paid his stamps for the last six months and he is threatened with prosecution for the arrears. Mr Wharton agrees to Len doing the job if he'll do it immediately. Stan's benefit will be £7.65 a week. The Bishops offer them Mission money but Hilda refuses charity. Stan worries that someone will pinch his round. Hilda decides she'll do the round. Bet entertains Len.
Wed, Mar 12, 1975
Eddie returns from serving his time, spinning a yarn that he's just come out of the army. Len and Bet have spent the night together and Hilda sees them arriving back in Len's van. With Minnie away visiting friends Eddie is homeless. Jerry tries to tidy up the yard, much to Len and Ray's amusement. Bet refuses Eddie's requests for digs. Bet tells Eddie that everyone knows he's been in prison. Eddie challenges Len to a darts match for money which he loses. Eddie asks Len for a job at the yard but there isn't enough work on for them. Tricia and Gail are locked out of the flat at night. Ray and Jerry find out about Len and Bet. The girls buy Eddie a drink and ask him to break in for them. A tired Hilda applies for her third job: washing up in the Warehouse canteen. Using the Ogdens' ladder, Eddie gets into the flat. Len and Bet flaunt their relationship in front of the regulars. The girls reluctantly let Eddie sleep on the floor.
Mon, Mar 17, 1975
The girls and Eddie oversleep and Eddie is forced to stay in the flat when they go to work so Blanche won't see him. The Yard has no jobs. Alf thinks he can smell gas in the Street. News reaches the residents that Ena is returning. Hilda tries to get Stan to do the housework. She is pleased when he is given an injection in the backside. Eddie leaves the flat late at night, witnessed by some neighbours.
Wed, Mar 19, 1975
Ena returns from St. Annes. The Brewery runs a "Personality of the Pub" contest. Hilda is run ragged looking after Stan. Eddie tries to sell a pheasant, Ken buys it off him. Ena and Eddie both ask Minnie for digs. Bet tries to get Len interested in a foreign holiday. Ena tells Eddie he can stay in the front parlour of No.5 if he gets a job. She tells Minnie that Henry Foster's sister-in-law has taken him over. Stan takes Eddie on to help Hilda with the windows.
Mon, Mar 24, 1975
Hilda and Eddie work well together. The residents are annoyed at the way Stan is using Hilda. Len begins to feel trapped by Bet when she buys him a sweater. Eddie runs a book on the "Personality of the Pub" competition. The residents are amazed at Stan's cheek as he drinks in the pub. Eddie is entertained by Clara Regan in No. 19 Inkerman Street. Ken tells Len that at their age women want commitment, not friendship. Hilda and Eddie do better than Stan. They only give Stan £1 from their £9 earnings. Bet plans a night at the pictures with Len. Annie counts the votes and Betty is the winner. Len stands Bet up.
Wed, Mar 26, 1975
Eddie tells Carlos he is Bet's husband. Deirdre is annoyed that she is still engaged and not married. Len tells Eddie he doesn't mind if he takes Bet out. Billy tells Deirdre he's worth £526; he can't afford to marry. Deirdre says she'll willingly live in the Rovers if she has to. Eddie tells Bet that Len gave him the go ahead. She is furious. Billy and Deirdre fix the date - 1st June. He tells Annie it will be a full white-wedding.
Wed, Apr 2, 1975
Steve Baker tells a stunned Bet that Martin Downes, her natural son, is dead - killed in action in Northern Ireland. Annie and Betty try to help her but she leaves the pub. Bet considers taking a load of aspirins. Eddie forces Bet to let him into her flat and refuses to leave. He forces her to tell him about Martin and takes away her aspirins.
Mon, Apr 7, 1975
Bet can't face returning to work. Deirdre and Billy go to see the vicar. Bet is touched when Eddie washes her tights in a launderette so that she can go to work. Billy and Deirdre change the date to 24th May as the church is booked for the date they wanted. Billy asks Ernie to take the photos but Annie takes the job elsewhere. Betty tells Bet that she lost her son as well. Annie and Billy row over the photographs. She tells him that she's had enough of his interference and is going away to Joan's - he can sort everything out.
Wed, Apr 9, 1975
Annie has gone to stay at Joan's. Eddie helps Hilda to clean the Rovers so they can get on the window-cleaning round quicker. Betty tells Hilda that Stan is taking her for a mug. The packing department at the warehouse is put on a three day week. Tricia worries that she will lose her job in the cuts. Len and Ray think Jerry is becoming too homely and wifey. Stan tells Hilda the doctor has given him another sick note. Ivy asks Ken to find out about their job security. Betty wonders if Eddie is helping Stan in order to case houses to burgle. Jerry cooks a nice pie for Jerry and Ray. Ken finds out that Marcus Berlin is on his way up from London and wonders why. Stan tells Eddie the doctor says he can return to work. He doesn't tell Hilda though as he doesn't think he's fit enough yet. Marcus fobs Ken off about the redundancies.
Mon, Apr 14, 1975
Ivy and the girls push Ken for news of the redundancies. Jerry enjoys doing the housework rather than the yard jobs. Ivy thinks Ken is stalling her on the redundancies. Betty tells Hilda she's overdoing it and agrees to keep it quiet from Stan that she's going to the doctors for a tonic. Billy pokes fun at Ray and Len about Jerry's housekeeping. Betty tells Stan about Hilda's visit to the doctor. He starts to panic. Stan offers to take on some of Hilda's workload. She's grateful but refuses and insists on keeping her appointment at the doctor's. Marcus Berlin tells Ken that 20% of the workers have to go. Ray tells Jerry that Billy is laughing at his domesticity. He takes offence. Hilda discovers Stan has been signed off. She goes for him in the Rovers. Marcus tells Ken that he's one of the staff that has to go as they will need less management.
Wed, Apr 16, 1975
Hilda, Rita and Mavis speculate on Annie's wedding outfit. Tricia spreads the news that Ken has been made redundant. Albert nags Ken about his tardiness. He doesn't tell him he's out of work. Annie returns from Derby with her wedding outfit that she went to Chester specially for. Betty and Bet wonder what it looks like. Annie tells Billy that Joan is delighted at the news of his wedding. The residents react to the news of Ken's redundancy. Ken mopes round the house. Deirdre thinks Ernie's sample wedding photographs look too forced and unnatural. Rita sympathises with Ken who feels he's messed everything up. Deirdre thinks there's too many guests on the list - 34 on Billy's, 18 on hers. Deirdre is pleased at Billy's "cost-no-object" approach to the wedding and the posh place he's booked for the reception. Annie asks Blanche to come round so they compare outfits. Hilda tells Albert about Ken's job loss. He berates Ken for not telling him and thinks he should get his life in order by going back to teaching. Annie shows off her peppermint green dress but Blanche's is the same colour. Ken tells Len he has no idea what he wants to do with his life. Annie tells Bet she won't change her outfit. The warehouse girls get Ken a pen as a leaving present. Peter arrives unannounced to see Ken, having come from Glasgow on the train by himself. Ken is delighted to see him.
Mon, Apr 21, 1975
Rita and Mavis think something must be wrong with Peter to make him come down from Glasgow on his own but Ena thinks he just needs a smack and sending home. Peter tells Ken that he used his saved Christmas money to buy the train ticket. Ken also realises something is wrong with Peter and pushes him to tell him what it is. Deirdre buys her wedding dress material for Blanche to make up. Annie says she refuses to quarrel with Blanche over the dress. She asks Billy to have a tactful word with her instead but he refuses to get involved. Ken rings Edith Tatlock but she has no idea why Peter's made the trip either. Ken rings Peter's headmaster, Mr Campbell at Strathmore Road Primary School. Albert takes Peter for a snack at the Kabin. Ena takes Peter to task for upsetting Edith but softens and buys him a coke when she hears that he's apologised and been forgiven. Deirdre tells Annie she's not bothered about the mother's outfits as she won't be wearing her glasses and won't be able to see them anyway. Blanche tells her she's not concerned either so Annie can change her dress if she wants to. Ken tells Peter that Mr Campbell has told him that he's been playing truant. Deirdre is surprised to find Billy siding with Annie over the dresses. He accuses her and Blanche of ganging up on Annie. She tells him she no longer wants to live in the Rovers when they're married but at 20 Victoria Street. Peter tells Ken he doesn't like Glasgow; he wants to be with him.
Wed, Apr 23, 1975
Annie is displeased that she has to go shopping for a new dress. Still under the illusion that Billy and Deirdre will be living with her after the wedding, Annie hires Ray to decorate their bedroom. Eddie considers starting his own window cleaning round on the Parkway Estate as Stan doesn't pay him enough even though he does the lion's share of the work. Peter tells Ken that he's being bullied in Glasgow because he doesn't have a father. Tricia is jealous when Gail gets a second interview for an air hostess job. At Deirdre's insistence, Billy puts Annie right about where they'll be living when they're married. Annie is hurt when he says it was his idea as Blanche has two living rooms. Ken tries for an interview with a firm of educational publishers. Peter gets excited when Ken promises to take him to a Manchester United match. Stan and Eddie agree on a 50-50 partnership. Blanche realises that Deirdre is assuming she wants her and Billy to live with her and tells her they can't; it'd be starting off the marriage on the wrong foot with their in-laws. Ken doesn't know what to do about Peter.
Mon, Apr 28, 1975
Billy considers postponing the wedding until he and Deirdre can afford a place of their own. Gail is confident that she'll bag the airline job and starts acting full of herself. Stan and Eddie start their window cleaning partnership. Ken's interview clashes with the Manchester United match. Peter is disappointed and starts to miss Glasgow. Annie tries to bully Blanche into going along with her wedding ideas but Blanche doesn't mind anyway. Annie is shocked to learn that Deirdre and Billy won't be living with her. Now on equal footing with Stan, Eddie tries to crack down on his partner's pub breaks. Deirdre shows interest in the shop flat should Gail and Tricia leave. Peter is upset when the local boys exclude him for being Scottish. Victorious, Annie re-offers Billy and Deirdre a room at the Rovers. Stan and Eddie make a profit on the new estate. Tricia and Gail throw a party to celebrate Gail's success at the airline. Billy plans to ask Len to be his best man, ignoring Annie's preference of Ken. Ken doesn't get the job with the publishers. He agrees to take Peter home and sort out his school. Deirdre and Billy attend the girls' party to check out the flat but leave when Ray turns up. Eddie and Stan find damage to the back gate of No.13 and a sign which reads "Lay off the Parkway Estate or this will happen to your head. Henshaw Bros". Stan is scared of what Bert and Fred Henshaw could do to them.
Wed, Apr 30, 1975
Emily tries to get Stan and Eddie to move their piano but they make excuses. Jerry offers his assistance and shames Eddie into helping. Blanche nags Deirdre into getting her bridal head-dress. Jerry mentions that the yard is full of copper piping. Albert says that he will miss Peter now that Ken has taken him back to Glasgow. Eddie finds Stan skiving in the Kabin cafe. Eddie feels he's got a good idea coming to him. Deirdre is jealous of Gail's chances with the airline. Ray thinks she's getting cold feet about marrying Billy. Minnie and Albert bicker over whose turn it is to buy drinks. Alec Gilroy drops into the Rovers and bumps into Rita. Stan wonders where Eddie is with their £20 round money. Ray tries to wind up Billy about Deirdre. Alec tells Rita he's gone into theatrical agency management and wants her to return to singing. She's intrigued by the thought. Eddie brings an Alsatian guard dog called Fury into the Rovers. It's a guard dog he's bought with the £20 to rent out. Minnie refuses to have him in No. 5 and Annie bars him from the pub. Albert agrees to board the animal at No. 1 "for a consideration", happy at the thought he'll chase Bobby away. Ray and Jerry refuse to employ Fury at the yard for £5 a night to protect the copper piping. Ernie is pleased at the piano move. Mavis suggests that he could help Rita rehearse. Emily isn't pleased at the idea. Annie worries that Billy is depressed about Deirdre. Eddie breaks into the yard with ease and leaves a message on the typewriter that they need a guard dog. Deirdre is sharp with Billy. He worries that she is having second thoughts and she admits that she feels unsettled. He tells her to sort herself out.
Mon, May 5, 1975
Billy is angry to be woken up by Fury's barking. Ray and Jerry arrive at the yard and find Eddie's message. They're relieved to find none of the copper piping or petty cash missing. Ray is livid. Deirdre tells Blanche about her row with Billy and she admits that she doesn't know what she wants from life. Billy finds out that Deirdre has gone into town to shop for the wedding. Ray tries to wind him up. Rita is annoyed that Mavis has arranged rehearsals with Ernie for her, feeling she's being pushed into something she's not sure about. Eddie and Stan call at the yard. Eddie shows them how insecure the establishment is against professional villains. Ray and Jerry have to admit that he's right and hire the dog for a week for £5. Emily can't see why Ernie wants to get into swing music but he's really keen. Blanche drags Deirdre into the Rovers where Annie asks her if she and Billy have had a tiff. Minnie complains about Fury's barking and threatens Albert with a noise abatement officer. Alf tells her he can't help her. Billy asks Deirdre if they can talk later. Ernie pushes a reluctant Rita to join him at 4.00pm. Once there, she's dubious until he shows he can play her type of music and they rehearse well as a jealous and disapproving Emily joins them. Eddie leaves the soft dog in the yard for the night, promising results for payment up front. Billy and Deirdre meet at her house. He tells her to make up her mind if they're getting married in nineteen days or not. Rita tells Alec Gilroy she'll work for him and she asks Blanche for help with her frocks. Billy returns to the Rovers and tells Annie and Blanche that the wedding is off.
Wed, May 7, 1975
Ray is amused to hear that Billy and Deirdre's wedding is off. Blanche can't fathom why Deirdre has dropped Billy. Billy can't explain to Annie why he isn't getting married as he isn't sure himself. Emily isn't happy about Ernie playing with Rita. Ray tells Deirdre that Gail didn't get the hostess job and asks her out for a drink at the The Flying Horse but she turns him down. Alec Gilroy introduces himself to Ernie. Blanche avoids the Rovers as she doesn't want Annie giving her the third degree but Annie goes to see her at the Corner Shop, ignoring Billy's wishes. She backs off when she sees that Blanche is as in the dark as her. Billy waits to see Deirdre at Blanche's and tells Blanche that he still loves Deirdre. Blanche asks him to give Deirdre time to sort herself out. He tells her he can't hang around. Alec gets Rita and Ernie a gig but warns them that they'll have to work their way up to clubs. Stan is apprehended by a policeman when he climbs over the gate at the Yard to drop Fury off. Jerry vouches for him. Billy answers an ad in the paper for a barman at the Hotel Carlotta, St Helier, Jersey.
Mon, May 12, 1975
Alf asks Billy to go to a car auction with him next week. Billy confides in him that he might be gone by then. Alf thinks he's doing the right thing by leaving. Deirdre thought Billy would agree to play things down for a bit, not finish completely. Alec warns Rita that she'll have to work her way back to the top as she's been away from singing for so long. Stan tries to interest local firms in hiring Fury. Albert bills Stan for Fury's meals. Stan thinks he's been feeding the dog too much and tells him to starve Fury as he'll be a better guard dog. Billy receives a call about the job and books his flight to Jersey. He tells Annie he's leaving Weatherfield. He's glad he's not marrying Deirdre. Annie tells him that she is as well. Billy decides not to tell Deirdre in case it sets her off again. Stan gets Jerry to pay more for Fury as a supermarket has offered him 30 bob a night. Alec's job for Rita and Ernie is an audition spot at the Gatsby Club. Billy changes his mind and tells Deirdre he's going to Jersey, alone. After sending a supportive Blanche away, she breaks down.
Wed, May 14, 1975
Rita auditions for Ralph Lancaster at the Gatsby Club. Ray chats up Rovers' customer Cindy Beswick. The Council put the rates up 30%, to everyone's anger. Ralph likes Rita but tells her they have their own pianist. Rita refuses to sing without Ernie but he tells her not to be stupid. She gets the job. Jerry has a cycle meeting in the house so Ray takes Cindy to the yard for an evening of passion but she is frightened of Fury. The residents decide to form a ratepayers association. At night, local thief Clarkie breaks into the yard, with a bone for Fury to keep him quiet.
Mon, May 19, 1975
The copper is stolen from the Yard, valuing £200 and Fury is missing. Furious at the rates increase, Ernie and Harry Goulden form WARP - Weatherfield's Association of Ratepayers. Rita arrives at the Gatsby Club whilst Blanche tries to finish her outfit at home. Deirdre gets the outfit to Rita on time and agrees to stand in behind the bar for the night. Ray accuses Eddie of being in on the break-in. Blanche returns the wedding presents. The regulars tell Stan and Eddie they'll be responsible if Fury bites anybody. Stan and Eddie search for him. Deirdre and Rita are picked up by a couple of oil riggers, Maurice Gordon and Stuart Bellshaw. Maurice takes a fancy to Deirdre. Blanche is furious when a drunken Deirdre returns home at 3.00am, having previously gone back to Maurice's hotel.
Wed, May 21, 1975
Ray claims off the insurance. Eddie demands £20 compensation for losing Fury. Blanche is astonished that Deirdre spent three hours in a strange man's hotel room. Ray refuses to pay Eddie a penny. Rita vouches for the men who picked up her and Deirdre but Blanche thinks she has low standards. Annie receives a postcard from Billy and considers visiting in Jersey. Emily is cautious about taking on the council. Blanche calls Deirdre a tramp. When Deirdre criticises her track record, Blanche slaps her. Ernie accuses the council of empire building and inefficiency. Alf calls him a muck-raker. Ray gets at Deirdre over the time she took off to plan a wedding that didn't happen. He rattles her into knocking everything off her desk. Ernie plans a meeting about the rates. Everybody thinks that Alf won't have the guts to attend. Blanche hates herself for hitting Deirdre as she's never done so before. They apologise to each other. The thief leaves a letter at the yard saying he has taken Fury in and only thought to rob the yard because they had a guard dog. Emily is furious when Alf tells the ratepayers to get their facts straight. Ena shames Alf by getting him to condemn a council spending £2,000 on a statue and fountain before telling him that it's in Weatherfield, for the new shopping precinct. Ernie promises Alf a fight.
Mon, Jun 2, 1975
Betty offers Jerry her spare room to lodge in. Ena discovers the Council spends a lot of money entertaining VIPs. Hilda suspects Stan of seeing Blanche when she gives him some tea. Ernie chairs the WARP meeting. Jerry agrees to move in with Betty. The residents row with Alf at the meeting. Betty puts Jerry off for a couple of weeks as she has to look after the Rovers; Annie is going to visit Billy. Betty asks Bet to stay with her at the Rovers. The residents decide to hold a rates' strike.
Wed, Jun 4, 1975
Betty and Bet look after the Rovers in Annie's absence. Hilda puts on that she's scandalised to see Bet hanging round outside the door in her short, pink dressing-gown first thing in the morning and threatens to tell Annie. Harry Goulden thinks WARP should elect an action committee and they agree to meet in No.3 at lunchtime. Len doesn't want Jerry to move in with Betty as they'll be losing their chief cook and bottlewasher. He starts being nice to him but Jerry isn't taken in. Minnie tells Len all the residents are gunning for him. Ernie and Emily round up the residents for the meeting. Ken refuses to get involved thinking their protest is useless. Ken tells Blanche he's seeing someone about a job but is evasive as to what it is. Ernie, Emily and Harry confront Len in the Rovers about his non-attendance at the previous WARP meeting but he's not concerned about their opinion. Ray sneers at Jerry's interest in WARP. The meeting begins. Len tells Rita he's not bothered by people's opinions. Ken tells Rita and Mavis he's got the job but only says it involves travelling. Harry tells WARP that they should refuses to pay the increase. Bet looks after the Corner Shop while Blanche is at the meeting. Emily is annoyed when Ernie is chosen to be on the action committee and she isn't. The Ogdens tell Alf that WARP are planning law-breaking. Ray is annoyed when he realises their own rates will go up. Rita is surprised when Ken turns up in a taxi to take her to the Gatsby Club - his new job is as a driver for Weatherfield Cabs. Hilda sees them drive off.
Mon, Jun 9, 1975
Emily is infuriated by Ernie's pomposity and sexism with regards to him being put on the WARP committee over her. Harry Goulden tells the Bishops that the Council didn't even discuss the rates at the latest finance meeting but he's discovered that they're sending Councillor Lucas, the finance chairman, to a conference in Torquay, out of the rates, in the Mayoral Rolls. Ken enjoys cabbing but everyone thinks he's putting a brave face on. Ernie and Harry demand that Len put a stop to the Torquay trip as he's on the finance committee. Len refuses to discuss the trip as it's not public knowledge and tells them they're a joke. Ernie gathers the residents in the Rovers promising them a fight. When Len arrives, Ernie tries to get him to repeat his earlier comments on tape - unless it was off the record. Len smashes the machine, causing Ernie to call him Hitler and go for him. Len pushes Ernie to the floor. Lucas calls off his trip to Torquay when he hears of the hassle. Len vows to resign if he can't get Lucas to change his mind. Emily hopes that Len will quit because of his behaviour during the Douglas Wormold development. The Town Hall refuses to accept Len's resignation and instead ask him to go to Torquay in Lucas's place.
Wed, Jun 11, 1975
Mavis organises a trip to the Gatsby Club to see Rita sing. Rita lends Hilda a dress so that she can go to the Gatsby. Ernie discovers the Council has bought eight tractors which haven't been used. They were very expensive and were bought from the brother of a Councillor. Len, Deirdre, Ray, Mavis, Jerry, Alf, Blanche, Bet, Ken and Hilda go to the Gatsby. Deirdre is embarrassed to see Maurice Gordon there. He is all over her. Ernie arranges an interview on local radio to tell residents about the tractors. Maurice tries to force Deirdre to dance with him. When she resists Ray tells him to stop and throws him to the floor.
Mon, Jun 16, 1975
Ray and Maurice Gordon are thrown out of the Gatsby. Rita fears she might lose her job. The residents wonder why Ray was fighting over Deirdre. Deirdre wonders as well. Bet and Betty spend another night in the Rovers. Betty admits she dislikes being there after closing. Bet finds a pair of old-fashioned glasses on the bar. They remind Minnie of ones that Martha Longhurst used to wear. Emily takes Ernie through a rehearsal of his radio interview but he does badly. Ralph Lancaster tells Rita her contract won't be extended at the Gatsby. Ernie hears that his interview will be with a councillor to give him the opportunity to challenge him. Len and Alf denies it will be them. Bet and Betty lock up for the night. Betty worries that the doors aren't locked and checks however she sees something that disturbs her in the darkened snug and hears the voice of a woman talking, mentioning Minnie Caldwell by name, and also 'Our Lily's Wilf.'
Wed, Jun 18, 1975
Betty hears a woman's voice in the snug and tells Bet she saw someone in there wearing the glasses in the middle of the night. They discover the glasses are missing. Ena and Minnie are interested in Betty's story as they think she saw the ghost of Martha Longhurst. Ken is sceptical and tries to explain it away. Deirdre and Ray puzzle about their feelings for each other. Ernie is worried about his radio interview. When he accidentally steps on his glasses and breaks them, it sets him on edge. Albert asks him to enquire about pensions. As Earnshaw has laryngitis, Councillor Garret is interviewed with Ernie instead. Ernie brings up the tractors and Garret can't explain them. While Ernie and his supporters celebrate their apparent victory, Len assures Alf that the tractors were sold last month at a profit and Ernie could be libelled.
Mon, Jun 30, 1975
Blanche castigates Deirdre for giving up her job though she also offers to go round and slap Ray again as she sees him as the cause of her daughter's troubles. Clearing up the yard office, Len and Jerry row with Ray for taunting Deirdre. He refuses to apologise to her even when the other two demand it. Albert complains about The Kabin cafe's weak cordial to get a refund. Ernie wants to speak to Rita about him playing piano for her but he has to wait until Emily's out of the way. He asks her not to say anything to Emily but Rita thinks he's being ridiculous. Blanche is surprised when Ray turns up at 20 Victoria Street to talk to Deirdre. He admits he's in the wrong but an angry Deirdre tells Ray he's been getting at her since she first went out with Billy. Albert tells Ken that he bumped into Janet but he didn't tell her that he's now taxi-driving. Annie tells a delighted Jerry that Betty is getting his room ready as she's agreed to take him in as a lodger. Ernie upsets Emily when he is evasive about the piano-playing. Ray refuses to leave the house until Deirdre forgives him but she's happy to let him sit and wait. Jerry tells Len he's trying to get a fresh start by leaving No.9. Deirdre tells Ray that he's only apologising because Len and Jerry forced him. Blanche thinks they enjoy arguing, throwing Deirdre. Rita and Ernie leave for the Claremont Hotel and her audition. Ken refuses to be persuaded to give up his taxi job by Albert. Annie is annoyed at the way Weatherfield Cabs are always ringing the Rovers for Ken. Their latest job is a pick-up from the Claremont Hotel. Ray tells Deirdre that she never stood a chance with Billy and she was only showing off by going out with him, making her cry. She orders him out but he gets her to admit she doesn't mean it. Ernie is horrified when Ken picks him and Rita up. Ken promises confidentiality. Ray arrives home and tells a stunned Len and Jerry that Deirdre is marrying him.
Wed, Jul 2, 1975
Len and Jerry ask Ray if he was serious about what he told them last night about him and Deirdre getting married. Deirdre breaks the news to Blanche. She thinks she's being ridiculous. Deirdre tells her she can't explain it herself, except that they're well-matched, and has no doubts at all. Blanche tries to talk her out of it but is non-plussed when she'd told the wedding is at the register office tomorrow, the 9th July. Deirdre is happy to take the risk and the challenge. Blanche give her consent. Len wonders if they should try and stop the wedding. Rita tells Ken why Ernie was so alarmed to see him in his taxi. They find it amusing. Rita urges Ernie to come clean with Emily and kids him on that Ken is a gossip. Bet is stunned at Deirdre's news and thinks she's barmy. Jerry assures Deirdre that, despite his own doubts, he's happy for her. Annie thinks Deirdre is on the rebound from Billy. Tricia is upset when she hears the news. The residents wish the couple well when they come into the Rovers and Ray buys drinks all round. Ray and Deirdre work out who they want as witnesses. Ernie confesses his piano-playing partnership to Emily who's pleased at the news. Ray and Deirdre invite everyone to drinks that night. As Deirdre gets ready, Blanche wishes her luck coping with her mistakes. Deirdre tells Blanche they'll live with her. As Deirdre is late in the Rovers, Ray buys drinks for the stags but not the hens. Ray thinks he's got Deirdre in the palm of his hand but the men think he'll change. Deirdre finally turns up. Annie gives Blanche her cold best wishes. Blanche doesn't warm to Ray when he tells her that he'll treat her daughter well. Deirdre tells the hens they're honeymooning in London. Blanche can't help worrying. The next morning, Jerry wakes a hungover Ray on his wedding day.