Episode 6973 (22nd December 2008)

Plot
Peter tells Deirdre, Ken and Blanche that he wants to be a real father and they tell him that they will care for Simon until Peter gets himself sorted out.

Peter than has some groveling to do with Leanne and thanks her for helping him find Simon’s teddy. He invites her round to the flat but she tells him she has some shopping to do. Her attitude has softened though and he's left with a spark of hope. Back at the flat, he finds a present Simon has left for him and opens a bottle of whisky.

Maria finds an unlikely ally in the shape of Jed, who tells her that he believes her theory that Tony killed Liam. Audrey advises caution and tells Maria that she should stop looking for someone to blame.

Meanwhile, Tony is rattled when Jed sees him talking to Jimmy.

Michelle asks Steve if it's OK if she does a gig on Christmas Eve – Steve feigns disappointment and tells Becky that this is the last Christmas she'll be alone.

Rosie is up to her old tricks – she is flirty with Gary Windass, telling him that she has just done a photoshoot for a newspaper and inviting him to her 18th on Christmas Eve.

Elsewhere, Colin and Rita have hit it off and Lloyd suffers following the Brazilian Crunch class.

Regular cast

 * Peter Barlow - Chris Gascoyne
 * Ken Barlow - William Roache
 * Maria Connor - Samia Smith
 * Jed Stone - Kenneth Cope
 * Audrey Roberts - Sue Nicholls
 * Blanche Hunt - Maggie Jones
 * Deirdre Barlow - Anne Kirkbride
 * Simon Barlow - Alex Bain
 * Michelle Connor - Kym Marsh
 * Steve McDonald - Simon Gregson
 * Becky Granger - Katherine Kelly
 * Lloyd Mullaney - Craig Charles
 * Rosie Webster - Helen Flanagan
 * Gary Windass - Mikey North
 * Tony Gordon - Gray O'Brien
 * Carla Gordon - Alison King
 * Rita Sullivan - Barbara Knox
 * Colin Grimshaw - Edward de Souza
 * Eileen Grimshaw - Sue Cleaver
 * Liz McDonald - Beverley Callard
 * Leanne Battersby - Jane Danson
 * Norris Cole - Malcolm Hebden

Guest cast

 * Natasha Blakeman - Rachel Leskovac
 * Jimmy Dockerson - Robert Beck