Episode 5886 (8th November 2004)

Plot
At breakfast the 'McDonald-Barlows' can't believe their luck. Blanche and Liz try to get Steve, Tracy and Amy to go home in the same car but Steve's having none of it.

Steve's surprised to find Karen home early. She drags him into the bedroom for her welcome home. Karen is bragging about her and Steve's sex life in the Rovers when Blanche tells her about Steve's trip to London with Tracy and the family. Karen is furious and drags Steve home. Steve tries to placate Karen and explain but she shouts she's sick of him and his excuses. She slams the door and leaves.

Ashley suggests Claire moves in but she tells him he's still feeling guilty about loving her. Audrey thinks Ashley is miserable because it's Maxine's birthday, he's horrified when he realises he'd forgotten the date. Audrey tells him he needs to put Claire, Joshua and himself first now.

Doreen tells Ashley to be ready as she'll pick him and Joshua up to visit Maxine's grave. Ashley tells Claire he's not going and he's putting her first from now on. She later insists that he goes, while Doreen realises that Claire is actually a nice girl.

Meanwhile, Jack and Vera receive a letter from the National Conservation Society saying their house could be made into a museum. Jack tries to put Vera off but she thinks it's a great idea. Jack and Ron celebrate the success so far of their scheme to get Vera to allow Jack to have pigeons again.

Ian turns up at Kevin's garage in a flash car. They go the pub for a pint and Sally is horrified when Kevin suggests they go the chippy and eat at theirs. When Kevin later invites Ian and Justine for dinner Sally's furious that he could embarrass them like that.

Regular cast

 * Blanche Hunt - Maggie Jones
 * Tracy Barlow - Kate Ford
 * Ken Barlow - William Roache
 * Deirdre Rachid - Anne Kirkbride
 * Steve McDonald - Simon Gregson
 * Liz McDonald - Beverley Callard
 * Amy Barlow - Rebecca Pike
 * Ashley Peacock - Steven Arnold
 * Claire Casey - Julia Haworth
 * Vera Duckworth - Elizabeth Dawn
 * Jack Duckworth - William Tarmey
 * Audrey Roberts - Sue Nicholls
 * Kevin Webster - Michael Le Vell
 * Tyrone Dobbs - Alan Halsall
 * Tommy Harris - Thomas Craig
 * Sally Webster - Sally Whittaker
 * Karen McDonald - Suranne Jones
 * Ciaran McCarthy - Keith Duffy
 * Doreen Heavey - Prunella Gee
 * Patrick Tussel - Trevor Dwyer-Lynch

Guest cast

 * Ron Hepplewhite - Gordon Langford-Rowe
 * Ian Davenport - Philip Bretherton