Episode 5758 (16th May 2004)

Plot
A furious Claire returns from Ashley's to find Fiz and Kirk emerging from her bedroom and the flat in a complete tip. Todd guiltily breaks down in tears as Sarah asks if she has upset him. He assures her he is just overwhelmed with the baby, wedding etc, Sarah comforts him. Dennis Stokes and "Orchid Pattaya" plan her first meeting with Fred. Candice and Fiz are delighted to come home to a clean flat but that soon changes to fury as they realise that Claire has dumped all the dirty dishes and rubbish in their beds. A row blazes erupts between them resulting in Claire threatening to leave if they don't change their ways. Karl sadly tells Katy that it is all over between him and Todd as he chooses Sarah over him. Dennis shows Fred photos of the woman that have replied to his advertisement on the Internet. He is delighted and instantly falls for Orchid. Dennis wangles a cheque from Fred for a thousand pounds to arrange travel for Orchid. Shelley and Charlie flirt in the Rovers much to the interest of other punters. They plan to go for a meal that night. A desperate Todd avoids Sarah and hides out at Eileen's. He wants her to decide what he should do but she knows he needs to make that decision himself. Betty overhears a telephone conversation between Charlie and Bev. Charlie asks Bev to pass on a message to Shelley cancelling their date and his apologies. Janice assures Fiz that her night with Les was a one-off. Shelley excitedly tells Sunita about her date with Charlie. Bev guiltily looks on but does not pass on the message. Claire attempts to reassure Ashley that Fred is just trying to get fit and is not ill but he is still not convinced. Dennis tells Fred at the Rovers that it is all arranged and Orchid will be travelling over from Thailand in a few days. Betty thinks it is ridiculous but Fred is too excited to care.

Regular cast

 * Candice Stowe - Nikki Sanderson
 * Claire Casey - Julia Haworth
 * Kirk Sutherland - Andrew Whyment
 * Fiz Brown - Jennie McAlpine
 * Todd Grimshaw - Bruno Langley
 * Sarah Platt - Tina O’Brien
 * Katy Harris - Lucy-Jo Hudson
 * Fred Elliot - John Savident
 * Les Battersby - Bruce Jones
 * Janice Battersby - Vicky Entwistle
 * Jack Duckworth - William Tarmey
 * Betty Williams - Betty Driver
 * Sunita Parekh - Shobna Gulati
 * Shelley Unwin - Sally Lindsay
 * Bev Unwin - Susie Blake
 * Charlie Stubbs - Bill Ward
 * Ashley Peacock - Steven Arnold
 * Bethany Platt - Amy and Emily Walton
 * Eileen Grimshaw - Sue Cleaver

Guest cast

 * Dennis Stokes - Duncan Preston
 * Orchid Pattaya - Casey-Lee Jolleys
 * Karl Foster - Chris Finch