Episode 4293 (3rd November 1997)

Plot
Liz celebrates her fortieth birthday with the rest of the family. Jim buys her a silver pendant, the boys a £100 gift voucher. Maxine is put out when Fiona refuses to let her do her hair on her wedding day and books into an expensive salon. When Betty fails to turn in for work Alec writes her a short note telling her she's sacked and forces Jack and Vera to sign it before putting it through her letterbox. Natalie gets her niece Lorraine Brownlow to look over the computer spreadsheets for her. She finds Chris attractive. Deirdre gives Jon a £5,000 cheque for the deposit on the house. Alec and the Duckworths are horrified when a distraught Betty arrives to say Billy's died of a heart attack. Vera comforts her whilst Alec retrieves the letter from her house. Natalie invites Chris for dinner and tries to match make between him and Lorraine. Chris is embarrassed as Lorraine throws herself at him. Jim feels uncomfortable as Liz throws herself into their relationship. Jon tells Deirdre they've lost the house and tells her he'll keep the money in his bank account until they find another house. When Linda finds the money in their account he tells her it's his bonus and it's for them both to spend.