Wed, Jan 2, 1980
The men return at 7.00am after spending the night with fifteen women at 32 Bessie Street. They go for an early morning "hair of the dog" in the Rovers and decide to tell everyone Alf tripped and fell and they all took him to hospital. As soon as they see their wives they crack and tell the truth. Ken lectures Susan about bringing Roy Stevenson back home. Elsie runs short of money. Fred tells Annie about Alf going to hospital and is annoyed that the others have confessed. Annie finds out the truth when she rings the hospital and pleases the women by presenting their husbands with a bill for their wives' drinks and refuses Fred his request for a night off. Rita is tired of living in what she considers a dump. Elsie considers asking Mike for the supervisor's job now Steve Fisher has left. Susan asks Ken if he intends to marry Deirdre. Annie tells Ivy that Elsie intends to ask for her job back at the factory. Ivy is livid.
Mon, Jan 7, 1980
Rita tells Len she wants a decent home to live in. Len tells her to make a list of alterations. Jim Sedgewick tells Emily and Gail he's bought the cafe off Joe Dawson. Susan returns to Glasgow. Elsie asks Mike for her old job back, promising she'll be reliable. He tells her that he does need someone to help him at the factory. Gail fears Sedgewick will sack her. Rita gives Len her required alterations for No.9, which include knocking the two rooms into one and a fitted kitchen. She accuses him of not caring and rips the list up. She tells him that she's sick of the way they live. Ivy tells Mike she wants to be made supervisor as she's been doing the job in all but name. She warns him that the girls won't stand for Elsie being taken back on. Sedgewick tells Emily the jobs are safe. He intends to bring a jukebox in, telling her that he's turning the place into a transport cafe to take advantage of the new lorry park on Canal Street - Emily is horrified. Mike tells Len that he wants to take Elsie back on.
Wed, Jan 9, 1980
Len tells a gullible Hilda that Aspinall's are paying their girls' fares to France. Emily is unhappy when Jim Sedgewick installs a one-armed bandit in the cafe. He tells her that he means to make the place pay. Ivy is livid when Elsie appears in the sewing room to see Mike however he refuses to re-employ her as she walked out on the job. Elsie kids on to the girls that she'll be returning as supervisor. Rita is fed up with No.9 and Len's attitude towards her when he refuses her a new kitchen and structural changes to the house. She tells Len she's had enough. Ivy threatens Mike about Elsie returning - he tells her that she's not but tears a strip off Ivy for her attitude. The jukebox is installed in the cafe, annoying Emily. Hilda tells Vera and Ida about Aspinall's. Vera agrees to confront Mike. Gail tells Elsie that she might have got the job if Ivy hadn't wanted it as well. Rita packs and leaves Len.
Mon, Jan 14, 1980
Rita gets a room at a theatrical lodging house in Clarence Street, Salford run by Poppy Watts where she meets an old showbiz friend, Ossie Oswald. Len tells the neighbours that Rita is ill. Jim Sedgewick changes the cafe around, getting rid of the old counter and installing the cooking equipment in the shop and a new employee - Mrs. Bolton. Elsie rows with Ivy in the Rovers calling her a "tin pot busybody" and blames her for not getting the job. Rita phones Mavis and tells her that she's left Len for good. Emily tries to make the greasy meals more attractive but the coarseness of the lorry drivers upsets her. Rita only has £10 left after paying her £25 rent. Hilda tells Mike she can't go to France as she hasn't any spending money. He gives her £10 and tells her not to tell the others. Rita feels alone and isolated.
Wed, Jan 16, 1980
Jim Sedgewick renames the cafe "Jim's Cafe". When one of the girls can't go to France, Ida and Ivy both want the place. Mike tosses a coin. He tells Ivy she can go even though the coin comes up in Ida's favour. Elsie goes for an interview at a gown shop. She doesn't get the job. Hilda, Vera and Ivy leave for France and Vera tries to chat up the coach driver. When a lorry driver, Fangio, pats Gail's bottom, Emily threatens to throw him out. She tells Sedgewick the place is a pigsty and refuses to work in it any more. Len tells Mavis that Rita will be back. Rita contacts Ralph Lancaster for work, telling him that she's left Len. He asks her to see him.
Mon, Jan 28, 1980
Deirdre throws a party for Tracy's third birthday. Lorna Ferguson helps Stan tidy No.13 as Hilda is returning. Len tells Elsie he's angry with himself for letting Rita slip through his fingers. Hilda, Vera and Ivy return from France. Hilda is suspicious as the house is so tidy. She gives Stan a model of the Eiffel Tower as a present. Len offers Rita's job at The Kabin to Elsie. She turns it down for Rita's sake. Fred tells Hilda he wants £3 from Stan. Mrs. Bolton walks out of the cafe, leaving Gail on her own. Elsie agrees to join the staff.
Wed, Jan 30, 1980
Stan tells Hilda the £3 was a bet from Fred and the house is tidy as Lorna Ferguson tidied up. She refuses to believe Lorna exists. Elsie starts work at Jim's Cafe. Ken and Alf look for somewhere for Ena to stay as her flat is being decorated. Fred tells Hilda that Stan has been renting the house out to couples. She is horrified and threatens Stan with a poker for using the house for lust and immorality. Eddie turns up with Lorna - Hilda is surprised that she's so respectable. Hilda encourages Lorna to go steady with Eddie who gets nervous that marriage is being hinted at. Elsie makes Len realise that Rita left him because he's selfish. Ken cooks Deirdre a meal. Len makes an announcement in the Rovers that Rita has left him. Elsie agrees to take Ena in, mainly to stop people gossiping about her and Len. Ken feels he has to propose to Deirdre when she tells him that she's open to offers.
Mon, Feb 4, 1980
The Town Hall receives a letter from Charleville complaining about the workers' behaviour. Ivy tells Vera she's in trouble. Ena doesn't like the idea of living with Elsie but has little choice as the builders move into the community centre. Annie is ill and Betty and Bet have to man the Rovers. Vera worries that the Charleville police might be after her. Ena moves into No.11, horrified by the state of it. She sets to tidying up and stocking the kitchen. Les Carter, a reporter on the Gazette, investigates the French goings-on. Getting nothing from Bet, he turns up in the factory but an upset Vera and Ivy say they can't help him. Vera, Ivy and Hilda agree to keep quiet about the rave-up because they don't want their spouses to find out. Elsie welcomes Ena but refuses to drink in the snug with her when they go to the Rovers, even when offered Martha Longhurst's chair. Carter swears to Bet that he's going to get to the bottom of the story.
Wed, Feb 6, 1980
Deirdre hasn't heard from Ken and fears she's frightened him off. Annie has had to go to Derby to look after Joan who is ill with mumps. Les Carter discovers from a journalist in France that the English party were given an official dinner, and some of the women left to party with a load of ex-paras. They ended up playing football with a gendarme's hat. The next day, a pair of knickers were found flying on the flagpole. Carter gets hold of a photo of three of the women doing the cancan. Alf refuses to identify any of the them, as do Betty or Bet. Vera confesses to Ivy that she brought the gendarme's helmet home with her. The Gazette prints the story. Hilda is upset that Stan doesn't believe she took part in the rave-up. Ena tells Elsie that if she stays with her they'll be at each other's throats so she's going to St Annes.
Mon, Feb 11, 1980
Mavis is haunted by phone calls from a mystery man who knows her name and tells her he wants to see her in her nightie. Albert tells Ken that Deirdre is after a husband. Ken tells him it's none of his business. Deirdre helps Mavis out at The Kabin for some extra money. Mavis calls in the police over the caller. They think the caller is a customer. Gail is annoyed when Brian spends money on records rather than saving up for a house deposit. The police persuade Mavis to agree to meeting the caller, they will be watching. Len visits the Gatsby Club and asks Ralph Lancaster where Rita is. Ralph says he doesn't know and threatens him with his bouncer. Mavis waits in the precinct but the man doesn't turn up.
Wed, Feb 13, 1980
Len searches out Harry Bates to see if he's seen Rita. Albert thinks Deirdre is taking Ken for a ride. When the caller rings, Mavis tells him off for not turning up. She arranges to meet him again. Albert tells Ken that Deirdre is a load of trouble and advises him to stay clear of her. Len tells Annie that Harry says he hasn't seen Rita in years. Mavis waits in the same spot in the precinct. Eddie sees her and stops for a chat, the police jump him and arrest him for being the caller. Mavis follows them on to the police station and makes them see he's not the man. Gail discovers Brian has received a Valentine from an unknown woman. Eddie is shocked that the police think him capable of being a sex maniac. "Lover Boy" phones Mavis and tells her that he saw the police arrest Eddie. He tells her that she's disappointed him and he won't ring again. She feels like apologising to him. Ken tells Deirdre he doesn't want to risk a third marriage and thinks he's too old for her. Deirdre is upset. Len is adamant Ralph Lancaster knows where Rita is. When Ralph offers him a woman from the Gatsby Club, Len hits him. Ralph has him thrown out of the club.
Mon, Feb 18, 1980
Brian spends the night on the sofa. Deirdre goes to see Blanche so Mavis is alone again. She tells Len she can't cope so Len tells her to hire someone. Ivy wants to know why Brian and Gail are arguing. Mavis doesn't like Doreen Lovell who is sent from the Job Centre as she's bossy but Len takes her on. Len gets dressed up to go to the new Playmates club in town with Mike but Mike dumps him for a girl. Brian accuses Gail of being a nag. Gail is upset that Brian isn't saving properly. Elsie cheers her up by telling her it'll get a lot worse. A drunk Len tries to get Elsie or Bet to spend the evening with him as he's so lonely. Gail refuses to let Brian off the hook and makes his bed up on the sofa again.
Wed, Feb 20, 1980
Renee and Alf discover Bet owes over £20 for cigarettes she's taken while living in the flat. Alf tells Renee it's nothing to do with him. Bert tries to give Brian some marital advice but Brian isn't interested. Doreen Lovell treats Mavis like a junior. Ivy thinks Brian has fallen out with Gail about her overspending. Gail is outraged and gets Brian to tell Ivy it was him who was overspending, not her. Mavis puts Doreen onto a better job at a dress shop in the precinct and is relieved when she's taken on. Alf fails to get the money out of Bet. Brian and Gail make up. Sam Littlewood arrives looking for Len. He tells him that Rita's with him in Blackpool. She says she never wants to see Len again but Sam urges him to fetch her home. Len refuses.
Mon, Feb 25, 1980
Fred upsets Hilda by telling her Stan doesn't care about her and it's obvious she's spent her whole life supporting him. She is so angry she walks out of the Rovers in the middle of her work. Stan gets a letter from a solicitor asking him to call. Betty is furious that Fred has upset Hilda into resigning, especially as Annie is away and she's responsible for the pub. Ken tries to explain to Emily why he can't marry Deirdre. Hilda urges Stan to go to the solicitors but he fears they might have something on him. At the cafe, Elsie is persuaded to take lorry driver Ian McAllister in for the night on a B&B basis. She enjoys the neighbours thinking she's taken him in permanently. Fred offers an apology of sorts to Hilda and she tells him and Betty she'll see them tomorrow morning. Pushed by an angry Sam Littlewood, Len decides to go to Blackpool to find Rita.
Wed, Feb 27, 1980
Elsie enjoys having Ian McAllister about the house. Alf asks Len to look at his guttering but Len tells him he's off to Blackpool to find Rita. Stan is nervous of what the solicitors want and avoids them. Renee gossips to Emily about Ian. The solicitors, Rosenfield, Blackburn and Fox, write again telling Stan that Dora Entwistle of 2 Chapel Yard in Weatherfield has named him as a beneficiary in her will. Hilda wants to know who she was to Stan. He says he's never heard of her. Len finds Rita working at the launderette in Blackpool that Sam told her about. She is shocked that he's tracked her down. She tells him they've got nothing to talk about. He begs her to return home and have a fresh start. He promises he'll change but she doesn't believe him. She knows he means it now but also knows that really he doesn't care enough about her to change. She tells him it's too late and walks off.
Mon, Mar 3, 1980
A fed-up Mavis decides to take someone on at The Kabin without consulting Len. Len realises his marriage is over. He breaks down, telling Elsie he loves Rita. After being upbraided by Mrs. Tetlow for giving her the wrong change, Mavis takes cheerful papergirl Louise Clayton on at The Kabin full-time. Rita returns home for good. She tells a relieved Len she realises he's the closest person to her and she can't leave him - she can't face the future on her own. Len thanks her for returning. Stan is left £100 and a pot dog by Dora Entwistle. Annie reads of the bequest in the Gazette and congratulates Stan but Hilda is suspicious when Bet tells her that Dora was to Chapel Yard what Elsie is to Coronation Street. Lorry driver Dan Johnson turns up at No.11 after Ian McAllister recommended it to him. Elsie is annoyed and tells him that she's not running a boarding house but he charms her into letting her stay.
Wed, Mar 5, 1980
Elsie puts Dan Johnson up for the night, but tells him it's a one-off. Rita tells Len she's not returning to The Kabin. She tells Len she wants to be a housewife. Louise Clayton starts work at The Kabin, and she provides a record player so they can play the stock. Stan is unable to cash his inheritance cheque as he hasn't got a bank account. Annie cashes the cheque for him. Rita braves the Rovers' customers. She tells Louise she can stay on at The Kabin as she's retired. Rita tells Mavis she wants to start afresh with Len, away from the street. Hilda threatens to leave Stan unless he shares the money with her. He gives her £20. Dan gives Elsie a new handbag and persuades her to let him stay another night. She worries about her reputation, but allows him to take her to the Rovers where Bet also takes a fancy to him.
Mon, Mar 10, 1980
Annie decides to extend the food menu at the Rovers. She starts soup and sandwiches. Betty, Bet and Fred realise it'll mean extra work. Fred is voted to ask Annie for more money. Len and Rita look at some houses near the East Lancs Road at Rita's insistence. Hilda is hurt when Annie spurns her offer to assist at lunchtimes. Deirdre returns from Blanche's. Elsie continues to put Dan Johnson up. Rita wants a semi but Len is horrified at the thought of paying £25,000 for a house. Annie agrees to give the staff a pay rise and, at Fred's suggestion, considers having a bell fitted so she can ring when food is ready to be served. Gail teases Brian that Fangio has been chatting her up. Dan's lorry has to be repaired so he'll be around for a few days. Elsie isn't sure if she's doing the right thing.
Wed, Mar 12, 1980
Fred installs the bell push in the Rovers, much to Betty's disdain. Rita and Len view a house in Handforth owned by Mrs. Lambert. Brian is annoyed that Gail is chatted up a lot by lorry drivers at the cafe. Elsie is flattered as Dan Johnson appears to fancy her. Brian finds Fangio with his arm round Gail. Elsie has to stop him from fighting. Len doesn't like the house as it's surrounded by golf-playing neighbours who have Sunday morning drink parties. Things are awkward between Ken and Deirdre when they meet. Rita realises the house isn't for Len and is taken aback when he offers to make an offer on it. She tells him that she doesn't want the house. Gail makes Brian see that the lorry drivers don't mean what they say to her. Annie enjoys ringing the bell, once for Betty, twice for Bet and three times for Fred but she puts off Fred's questions about a pay rise. Dan makes Elsie feel cared for but behind her back he rings his girlfriend in Bristol, telling her that he'll be visiting her.
Mon, Mar 17, 1980
Annie's friend Olive Taylor-Brown is to call on her from Derbyshire to go to a Ladies' Evening. Annie gets Hilda cleaning to await her arrival. Len installs new kitchen units at No.9 with the help of Eddie. A lorry driver, Ernie, tells Gail that Dan Johnson has a woman in every city. She tells Elsie. Elsie tells Gail it's nothing to do with her and is cool towards Dan when he arrives to stay. Dan asks Ernie if he's been saying anything and he tells him of his conversation with Gail. Hilda noses round the improvements at No.9. Fred chauffeurs Mrs Taylor-Brown to the Rovers where she is impressed by Annie's bell. Elsie warns Dan not to take her for a fool.
Wed, Mar 19, 1980
Annie has the staff waiting on her lunch table to impress Olive Taylor-Brown although they fail to respond to her bell calls as they are so busy and Hilda has to step in. Bet flirts with Dan Johnson. He takes a fancy to her and asks her out. Betty warns her that Elsie won't like it. Fred is forced to chauffeur Annie and Olive to their Ladies' Evening. Dan tells Elsie he's meeting a mate but really goes out with Bet. Fred puts Annie's handbag on the car roof and it falls off when he drives away from the Rovers. Stan finds it and gives it to Hilda. Hilda sets off to the function with it as it has the tickets in it. Hilda saves Annie from the embarrassing situation and she gives her £5 reward and £2 for the taxi she had to use to the get to the Assembly Rooms. She also makes Fred chauffeur her home. Rita is pleased with the new kitchen. Len tells her that he's going to install central heating. Elsie sees Dan kissing Bet goodnight, she throws his things out into the street and tells him that she never wants to see him again.
Mon, Mar 24, 1980
As penance for losing the handbag, Fred "volunteers" to give up his day off to drive Olive Taylor-Brown home to Derbyshire. Mike considers making Ivy supervisor. Bert tells Ivy. When Elsie tackles Bet about Dan Johnson, she apologises. Elsie warns her not to make a fool of her. Bet tells her Dan told her he was a free agent. Elsie accuses Bet of throwing herself at Dan. When Bet accuses her of keeping an open house for lorry drivers Elsie calls her a foul-mouthed, cheap floozy. Len stops them fighting. Aspinall's buyer, Pauline Stringer looks over the factory, checking their order. Deirdre gets a job at Weatherfield Rainwear. Emily is pleased for her but isn't sure if she's up to looking after Tracy all day. A salesman takes advantage of Louise Clayton being on her own and gets her to sign for a load of magazines. The magazines turn out to be pornographic - Mavis is horrified but Bert buys one. Pauline finds some duff denim hidden at the bottom of the order. Mike likes the way she works and offers her a job as production controller, supervising the workforce. He offers her £5 a week more than her present salary.
Wed, Mar 26, 1980
Len is furious that the porn salesman managed to leave stock at The Kabin. He tells Mavis to burn it all but she points out it's sale or return and they all cost £10. Mike lets Ivy believe she's going to be supervisor. Emily admits to Deirdre that she feels trapped in the house with Tracy. Deirdre realises she's been taking her for granted and won't take the job. Mavis is aghast when the porn salesman offers her a commission for selling his magazines. She throws him and the magazines out. She complains to the salesman's boss. Aspinall's offers Pauline £10 a week more to stay but Mike offers £15. The salesman is sacked as he was moonlighting with Teaser magazine. When he threatens Mavis, Len throws him out. Pauline Stringer agrees to start as supervisor at Baldwin's. Deirdre decides to give up the job at Weatherfield Rainwear. She and Emily contemplate starting their own secretarial agency when Alf suggests the idea. Ivy shocks Mike by telling him Pauline is a well known unionist.
Mon, Mar 31, 1980
Vera tells Alf and Renee that she is delighted that Pauline Stringer has been taken on by Mike as she's on the side of the workers. Len paints old radiators to look new to make up the central heating system at No.9 and pays Eddie to do some work for him. Pauline does a timekeeping assessment, interesting Mike who sees an opportunity to sack a few people. He is disturbed to find she reads Socialist Worker. Rita sees the old radiators and Len and Eddie cover for where they're intended for. Len gives her money to go shopping and get her out of the way. Deirdre reminds Alf to get some work for her from the Town Hall. Ivy decides to use Pauline to get concessions from Mike. The community centre frontage has been redesigned and the whole building is undergoing decoration. Ken expects Ena to return from St Annes next week but she arrives early and can't get in as it's a new door. Elsie tells her the decorators haven't finished and she storms over to the corner shop to demand answers from Alf but he denies it's his responsibility. She dumps herself on Albert. Mike is annoyed when Pauline gets on with the girls when she tells them what she got for the staff at Aspinall's. She finds out that Ivy is the shop steward but Ida lets slip there was no election. Eddie is disappointed when Len only pays him £5 and he's still owed £30 from what Belshaw's owe Len. Deirdre writes to them for him to demand the sum. Ken is annoyed that Albert didn't tell him about Ena's postcard advising of her early return and offers to put her up, giving up his bed. Ivy tells Pauline that the girls want a rest room and Pauline checks with the Garments Workers' Union to see if Ivy is the official shop steward. Mike is pleased. Annie sends Fred on an errand in Jubilee Terrace. He returns late, having called into The Flying Horse where he's discovered that they have started a barbershop quartet. Pauline discovers Ivy is not on the union books. Mike gleefully tells Ivy the news and that the girls will have to hold an election to make it official.
Wed, Apr 2, 1980
Vera tells Alf and Renee that Ida is challenging Ivy for the stop steward job. Albert doesn't like Ena staying at No.1 and urges Ken to get her flat ready quickly. Belshaw's send Len a cheque. Eddie can now get his £30 owing but Len refuses him a bonus for getting the money for him. Ivy and Ida bicker over the sewing machines about the election. Mike is nervous about who will win. Deirdre is despondent that work is slow to come in. Flying Horse landlord Tony Hayes has challenged Fred to a barbershop competition with the Rovers and he tries to find a quartet. Renee pushes Alf to volunteer. The atmosphere in the sewing room is bad and Pauline suggests the vote is held at dinner time. Ida wants the election to be a secret ballot. Eddie agrees to join Fred and Alf in the quartet but Len refuses. Albert is pleased with a potato pie that Ena bakes but they continue to argue. She makes him do the washing-up. Bert agrees to be the final member of the quartet. The ballot papers are filled in for the election. Ivy worries about the result. Annie reminds Fred that the good name of the Rovers is at stake. Fred sets up the competition for next Monday. The men are horrified. They practice, singing Sweet Adeline, amusing Elsie and the regulars with their poor performance. Ena points out that Fred is the one out of key. The others agree and drop him and they instantly improve. Pauline gives the results: Ida gets 14 votes but Ivy wins with 17. The two make up. Ken tells Albert that the decorators won't be starting on Ena's flat until after Easter. He breaks the news to her when she comes back from the pub. Ena angrily tells Ken that he and the committee have messed her about for long enough. She announces that she is going back to Henry Foster in St Annes and threatens not to return. Albert is delighted. Fred and Alf realise there's nothing in the rules which says the quartet must all be men and press gang Renee into joining them after Rita refuses.
Mon, Apr 7, 1980
Susan Barlow turns up unannounced with boyfriend Duncan Craig who she is on a cycling holiday with. Ken is delighted to see them but is shocked that they're holidaying together. Rita is annoyed that the radiators are old - she accuses Len of palming her off with rubbish. Renee dresses up as a man for the barbershop quartet contest. Rita is pleased when Len finishes the central heating. Tony Hayes complains about Renee being in the quartet but backs down when Ivy threatens a female boycott on The Flying Horse. Fred has to admit that The Flying Horse quartet are better singers and buys their team drinks as a prize. Emily organises a party for Mavis's birthday. Rita is delighted to walk into a warm house. Ken makes Susan and Duncan sleep in separate rooms. Albert tells Ken he can't allow Susan to go on holiday with Duncan as he's nineteen and she's only sixteen.
Wed, Apr 9, 1980
Rita is thrilled to wake up in the warmth for the first time in her life. Susan tells Ken that both she and Peter wish he'd marry again. She is angry that Ken doesn't trust her with Duncan Craig and makes him see that she isn't a child any more. Duncan and Susan leave for Wales. Ken is pleased at Susan's mature attitude but Albert sulks that he didn't stop them going off together. Ivy snoops round Len's alterations at No.9 and is surprised that it looks so nice after having been catty to Rita earlier. Mavis fears no one will come to her party. When Rita sees the poor turnout she sends Len to the Rovers to press gang the regulars into attending. Bet is pleased when Dan Johnson phones to say he'll be seeing her soon. Mavis is thrilled when the guests arrive. She is touched when Emily presents her with a birthday cake and her friends sing Happy Birthday.
Mon, Apr 14, 1980
Hilda gets the chance of a free lift to Chesterfield to visit son Trevor overnight and takes advantage of it. Gail buys a seascape picture and Ivy lets her hang it at No.5. Bet gets a night off to spend with Dan Johnson. Hilda gives Eddie permission to entertain a girl for the evening at No.13 in her absence as she thinks he means Lorna Ferguson, but he brings Pat Marshall round instead. She frightens Stan. Eddie is put out when she wants to hang round Stan instead of him. Dan assures Bet there was nothing between him and Elsie. Brian and Gail plan to throw their first dinner party for some friends on Friday but Ivy has invited the Duckworths round on the same evening to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Alf and Renee are upset when Dan spends the night with Bet. Hilda returns at 1.00am to find Eddie and Pat in her parlour. She throws them out. Stan hears noises downstairs, thinks Pat has gone to fetch one of her friends for him and expresses his glee to Eddie, but Hilda overhears him.
Wed, Apr 16, 1980
Dan and Bet have spent the night together. Hilda hurts Stan by telling him the idea of him having another woman is like expecting to find a whale in a tin of sardines. Gail is upset that the dinner party has to be put off. Renee is furious when Bet and Dan leave the flat in the morning through the shop in front of Annie. Eddie soft soaps Hilda and she tells him that he can bring Pat Marshall round again if he wants to; she'll throw water over Stan if needed. Ivy tells Gail that she understands her frustrations about not living in her own house. Bet promises to keep her private life more private but Renee isn't convinced. Hilda and Pat get on well together and have a moan about men, ruining Eddie's planned night of passion. Renee decides to throw Bet out if she lets Dan stay again.
Mon, Apr 21, 1980
Renee is furious when Dan Johnson spends another night with Bet. The Coronation Street Secretarial Bureau opens. Deirdre deals with typing whilst Emily book-keeps. Bet is besotted with Dan. Emily takes a call from a Mr Bateman who wants to use the Bureau's services. She thinks she recognises his voice . When he calls round it is Fangio who has set up his own light haulage service and gives Deirdre typing to do - she is attracted to him but Emily is not pleased. Alf and Renee tell Bet that if she doesn't stop letting Dan stay the night she'll have to leave the flat. She is furious but refuses to give Dan up. She packs and leaves the flat. Hilda sees "money" in Stan's teacup and after hearing from Ivy and Vera that the jackpot at the bingo has reached £1,000, she tells him that they're going there tomorrow night. Betty takes Bet in for the night. Bet tells her that she feels sure Dan will take care of her.
Wed, Apr 23, 1980
Bet assures Betty she won't bring Dan Johnson to her house. Arnold Swain gives his pet shop books to Emily to work on. Hilda drags Stan to the bingo. Ivy and Vera go together and pool their money. Bet is disappointed when Dan is caught up in Birmingham. Stan sneaks off to the Legion and leaves Hilda to mark his card as well as her own. She is upset when she doesn't win the jackpot. Jeff Bateman calls at No.3 for his work but Deirdre is out. He calls at the Rovers and finds out that she is separated. Vera wins a game but Hilda thinks it's with one of Stan's cards that he left behind. She wins a weekend for two in Blackpool. Jeff calls back for his work and asks Deirdre to go for a drink with him. She accepts. Vera threatens Hilda for slander when she insists it was Stan's card.
Mon, Apr 28, 1980
Mavis goes down with flu. She struggles at The Kabin, feeling Louise is too young to run it alone but Louise makes her go to bed. Ivy and Gail realise No.5 is too small for two wives. Dan Johnson returns and he is put out to find Bet has left the flat. Ivy is annoyed when Gail makes her feel guilty for doing things for Brian. Rita agrees to help out at The Kabin as Mavis is ill. Bet views a bedsitter on Ludlow Avenue. She is depressed that she's still living in grotty flats with shared bathrooms. Hilda and Vera row in the street over the bingo prize. Hilda calls Vera a liar. Vera tells Hilda she'd compromise and take Stan on the holiday with her. Hilda tells her to stick the holiday. Ivy snaps at Gail when she cooks the wrong thing for tea. Gail tells her that she's had enough of living with her. Bert tells Brian there's a new estate of small houses being built. Dan helps Bet move into Ludlow Avenue. Annie is angry when Bet says she has a headache as she knows she wants to spend the evening with Dan. Brian agrees to look at the new houses for Gail's sake.
Wed, Apr 30, 1980
Bet enjoys having a love nest with Dan Johnson in her flat. Rita gets tired of looking after Mavis and gets Albert to sit with her. He makes her feel worse. When Bet is an hour late for work, Annie warns her not to let her love life upset her working life again. Rita decides she's missed working at The Kabin and tells Len she wants to return permanently. She plans to supervise Mavis and Louise. Bet is upset when Dan has to return to London. Gail and Brian visit the Willow Crescent Estate and put the deposit down on a plot for a £16,000 house. Gail longs to live there. Ivy feels they're taking on more than they can afford, but Bert thinks they're doing the right thing by taking the risk.
Mon, May 5, 1980
Deirdre is amused to type a manuscript from a local authoress of racy stories. Arnold is impressed by Emily's work and gives the bureau more jobs. He asks Emily out sometime. The building society gives the Tilsleys a 95% mortgage. Gail is delighted. Mavis is annoyed that Rita has returned to work as manageress. Rita tells her it'll only be part-time. Emily is touched by a poem Arnold has written which she finds in his typing. Brian discovers they'll need £1,000 cash to buy the house and they've only got £400. Louise can't face the idea of working under Rita and decides to give her job up. She walks out. Len is annoyed and tells Rita it's her fault and she'll have to do the morning papers. Brian asks Bert to loan him £500 but Bert hasn't got any money. Emily agrees to go out to a pub with Arnold.
Wed, May 7, 1980
Deirdre makes Emily excited about her date with Arnold. Rita offers Louise an extra £1 a week to return. When she refuses Rita gives her her cards. Deirdre makes Emily up and she goes for a French meal with Arnold. Bert and Ivy look forward to their holiday in Benidorm with the Duckworths. Brian sells his record player to help with the deposit. Louise's father, Jack Clayton, accuses Rita of sacking his daughter and argues with her. She sees him off. Annie tells Elsie she's worried that Bet is heading for a fall with Dan Johnson. Ivy gives Brian and Gail the £300 they need to make their deposit up.
Mon, May 12, 1980
Bert guesses that Ivy has given Brian their holiday money. He is furious; they need a holiday. Bet befriends neighbour Keith Sadler. Stan refuses to drink in the Rovers when Annie puts the prices up and instead he goes to the British Legion. Vera looks forward to holidaying in Benidorm. She is furious when the Tilsleys back out as she's paid a deposit on an apartment for four. Brian pays the deposit on the house. Stan pins the Labour Club's bar price list on the wall in the Rovers so everyone can see how much more expensive the Rovers is. Annie is furious and bars Stan from the pub. Albert demands to know why the prices are higher but Annie fobs him off. Hilda is furious that Annie has barred Stan for freedom of speech and tells Stan that she's declared war on her.
Wed, May 14, 1980
Vera refuses to speak to Ivy. Ida enjoys mixing things between them. Hilda accuses Annie of victimisation. Annie is annoyed when some of the customers take Stan's side against her. Ken accuses her of being biased against the Ogdens. Mike invites Pauline Stringer out for a drink, telling her to break her date. Stan puts the price of his window cleaning up. Three of his customers refuse to pay and tell him not to call again. Ken brings Stan into the Rovers for a drink and tells Annie if she doesn't serve him then her regulars will walk out. Annie tells Ken it was merely a misunderstanding and invites Stan back to the pub but is not pleased with Ken. Pauline puts off boyfriend Roy to go out with Mike. Bert tries to get the deposits back from the travel agents but it's non-returnable. Vera is livid to lose the £60.
Mon, May 19, 1980
Bert tells Ivy they'll have to pay the Duckworths' deposit back. Audrey arrives from Bury and Gail and Brian take her to see the house plot. Bet lets Keith Sadler use her board to iron his clothes. Dan Johnson turns up and catches him in her room alone. Bet returns from the shops and is pleased to see that Dan is jealous. Pauline Stringer accuses Mike of trying to corrupt her with the high life. He tells her that he knows she's not really a socialist. She storms out. Ivy tells Brian to watch Gail, otherwise she'll spend every penny they'll ever have, like her mother. He tells her that lending him money doesn't give her the right to run his life. Bert wants to tell Brian about their holiday sacrifice but Ivy refuses to let him. Dan threatens Keith if he doesn't stick to his own room on the other side of the landing.
Wed, May 21, 1980
Bert is furious that Brian has taken the £300 for granted. Keith Sadler tells Bet that Dan Johnson has warned him off her. Pauline Stringer is annoyed when Mike is cool towards her. Bert tells Brian the £300 was their holiday money. Brian and Gail are stricken and give the money back. Pauline has to make the first move towards Mike before he asks her out for a meal. Gail and Brian ask Audrey to ask her rich fella for £300. Audrey confesses Alan has gone back to his wife. Bert tells Gail and Brian they can still have the money; the holiday wouldn't have been enjoyable any more. The Ogdens go down with flu. Mike entertains Pauline at his hotel, the Brookhouse. Dan catches Bet talking to Keith and hits him. He tells Bet he doesn't want her talking to other men. She calls him a hypocrite, he packs and leaves, telling her that he can always find another woman like her.
Mon, May 26, 1980
Hilda and Stan stay in bed as the flu bug hits them. Mike and Pauline Stringer flirt together in the factory after their night together. Arnold gives Tracy a hamster which she calls "Conky". Emily breaks a date with Mavis to go out with Arnold. Bet is touched when Annie shows understanding over Dan Johnson's departure. Eddie discovers the Ogdens are ill and looks after them. Ivy wants the girls to have a shopping rota, Pauline agrees the idea without asking Mike. Eddie moves into No.13 to keep an eye on the Ogdens. Emily cooks Arnold a meal. They are both contented with each other.
Wed, May 28, 1980
Arnold advises Emily to invest her money in stocks and shares. Ivy works out a shopping rota for the machinists. Deirdre types up a letter for Arnold to his bank manager, asking for his overdraft to be extended. Emily wonders what his financial position is. Hilda gets bored, stuck in bed with Stan. Emily fears Arnold is after her money. Annie pays a sick visit to the Ogdens, to Hilda's shame. Mike refuses to let the girls have a shopping hour. He tells Pauline he's not running a charity. Pauline is furious and accuses him of destroying her authority with the workers. She tells him he's humiliated her and she's had enough. She quits and walks out.
Mon, Jun 2, 1980
Gail tells Brian she thinks that she's pregnant. He doesn't see how she can be as she's on the pill. Mike offers Ivy the supervisor's job on the condition that she mans the machines during sickness and holidays. He offers her an extra £10 a week to be a "working manager". Ivy takes it. Bert is delighted. Gail goes to the doctor's for tests. Arnold gives Emily his stockbroker's name and invites her to the theatre. She turns him down and makes it clear she doesn't want to go out with him in the future. Gail tells Brian she is definitely pregnant.
Wed, Jun 4, 1980
Brian and Gail are pleased that she's pregnant. Ida tells Ivy she shouldn't be shop steward as well as supervisor. Ivy agrees and tells her that she can be shop steward. Ida is furious when Ivy tells her that her work isn't up to standard. Gail and Brian tell the Tilsleys about the baby - they are delighted. Deirdre phones Arnold's stockbroker and discovers he has all his money well invested. Emily is pleased and relieved but thinks she's made a fool of herself. Deirdre advises her to make contact with Arnold. Arnold is pleased when Emily calls at the pet shop. He introduces her to his sister Flora. Mike tells Ivy that if she arranges the rota, the girls can have their shopping hour. She promises there won't be a fall in production. Arnold and Emily make a date to go out together. Gail can't get in contact with Audrey to tell her about the baby. Bert worries that Brian and Gail will have to let the house go.
Mon, Jun 9, 1980
Gail suffers from morning sickness. Eddie sells a hanging chair to Mavis for £20. Bert tells Brian he feels they won't be able to afford the mortgage. Brian doesn't want to lower his sights. Bert and Ivy urge them to back out of the mortgage as the debt will be crippling. Gail feels that she doesn't want a cheaper house and they'll manage. Brian tells her that he thinks his parents are right. Audrey arrives as soon as she hears about the baby. Eddie agrees to fix the chair up for Mavis. Emily takes Arnold to the Rovers. Annie gives him the once over and decides he is suitable. Audrey tells Brian he doesn't have to have the baby if he doesn't want it.
Wed, Jun 11, 1980
Brian is angry with Gail for forgetting to take the pill. Emily finds it difficult believing that a man is interested in her. Gail is sad that Brian isn't happy about having a baby. She is stunned when he suggests she has an abortion. Ivy is horrified and reminds him that she lost three babies before he was born. Gail is upset that it was Audrey who first suggested an abortion. Ivy slaps Brian across the face. Eddie fixes the hanging chair up in Mavis's flat. Deirdre makes excuses to be out of the way so Emily can entertain Arnold. Renee pushes Alf to take up tennis to help him lose weight. He isn't keen. Ivy accuses Audrey of putting vile ideas into Brian's head. Gail refuses to talk to Audrey. Audrey accuses Ivy of poisoning Gail against her and breaks down. Mavis loves the chair, although it is a bit high. Eddie sits in it and brings the ceiling down as the joists are rotten. Len is furious and Rita tells a distraught Mavis that she can move in with them while the flat is repaired. Gail tells the family she's having the baby no matter what else happens. Audrey begs her forgiveness. They make up.
Mon, Jun 16, 1980
Mavis stays with the Faircloughs. Len puts Eddie to work repairing the ceiling straight away as he wants rid of her. Mavis is jealous that Emily has got a man. Len catches Martin Cheveski climbing over the back wall at No.11. He grabs hold of his leg, thinking he's a thief. He is shocked to discover he is Elsie's grandson. Mavis's twittering gets to Len. Albert takes advantage of Martin and gets him to whitewash his yard. Emily enjoys her social life with Arnold. Martin tells Elsie he's fallen out with his dad and there's nothing for him in Birmingham. He asks Elsie if he can stay with her.
Wed, Jun 18, 1980
Elsie is concerned for Martin as he is despondent about getting a job. She tells him that he can stay with her if Linda agrees. Martin looks for a job in the building trade. Eddie puts him off talking to Len. Brian lets slip to Fred and Betty that Gail is pregnant. Gail isn't bothered and Ivy is pleased they can now talk about it to everyone. Elsie urges Martin to take no notice of Eddie and speak to Len himself. Arnold takes Emily and Tracy to the park. Rita is annoyed that Len is so impatient with Mavis. Martin tells Len he wants to be a plumber. Len takes him on as an apprentice. Len upsets Mavis by shouting at her when she prepares him a pineapple salad for his tea. He tells Rita he's not having the house turning into a health farm. She is angry to discover he's done Elsie a favour by taking Martin on but won't be nice to her best friend. Arnold tells Emily he loves her and wants to marry her.
Mon, Jun 23, 1980
Alf and Renee return from a week's holiday in Grange-over-Sands. Renee is fed up to be back with life in Weatherfield. Emily doesn't know whether or not to accept Arnold's proposal. Eddie bosses Martin around at the yard and makes him call him "Mr Yeats". He tells Martin he only got his job because Len fancies his gran. Eddie is annoyed when Len gives Martin good jobs whilst he has to continue labouring. Ken organises a raffle for the OAPs. It is to win a date with the mystery man - "Mr. Wonderful". Eddie tries to impress Len but he is only interested in Martin's work. Elsie tells Martin he'll hear a lot of gossip about her in the street. Renee tells Alf she wants to move to the country. Emily tells Arnold she is fond of him but can't marry him.