Episode 5403 (20th December 2002)

Plot
Karen has the idea that they could sell Vik's car and pay off the tax bill. It is Richard's birthday and David buys him a remote controlled rat. Karen and Maria commiserate with each other about Vik and the fact that they both unwittingly carried drugs for him. Richard's bank manager demands another meeting with him. Damian Rodd, the debt collector, calls at the cab office looking for Vik. He threatens to beat up Steve if he doesn't hand over Vik's car keys. Steve has no choice but to do as he asks. Damian drives off in Vik's BMW. Steve waves goodbye to his tax money. Angela fixes Katy up with a Saturday job at Roy’s Rolls. Audrey calls round to give Richard a birthday card and see the kids. Maria asks Jason some awkward questions about his new job at the River Bar. He has to lie his way out of it. Audrey overhears Richard talking to Gail about the bank manager panicking and their cashflow glitch. Richard offers to drive her home and she has to accept. Hayley is expecting Roy home but she finds out his flight has been cancelled. Steve is gutted when he realises that not only have they lost Vik's car but they are still paying £400 per month for it on direct debit. Richard quizzes Audrey closely about her appointment with the psychiatrist as he knows quite well that she's perfectly sane.

Regular cast

 * Karen McDonald - Suranne Jones
 * Steve McDonald - Simon Gregson
 * Hayley Cropper - Julie Hesmondhalgh
 * Les Battersby - Bruce Jones
 * Vera Duckworth - Elizabeth Dawn
 * Maria Sutherland - Samia Ghadie
 * Archie Shuttleworth - Roy Hudd
 * Audrey Roberts - Sue Nicholls
 * David Platt - Jack P. Shepherd
 * Richard Hillman - Brian Capron
 * Gail Hillman - Helen Worth
 * Craig Nelson - Richard Fleeshman
 * Katy Nelson - Lucy-Jo Hudson
 * Tommy Nelson - Thomas Craig
 * Angela Nelson - Kathryn Hunt
 * Mike Baldwin - Johnny Briggs
 * Joe Carter - Jonathan Wrather
 * Rita Sullivan - Barbara Knox
 * Emily Bishop - Eileen Derbyshire
 * Sarah Platt - Tina O’Brien
 * Toyah Battersby - Georgia Taylor
 * Jason Grimshaw - Ryan Thomas
 * Dev Alahan - Jimmi Harkishin

Guest cast

 * Damian Rodd - Steve Ramsden