Plot[]
Part One: Stephen signs the legal document to become trustee of Audrey's estate. Craig irritates Faye by going on about her menopause symptoms when she just wants to feel normal. Stephen chases Audrey for her signature but she has other things on her mind. Yasmeen organises the fundraiser, perked up by the fact that Stu is in prison and can't get her. Audrey joins Rita, Ken and Roy for afternoon tea at the Chariot Square. Craig thinks Carla is putting Faye under too much pressure at work and asks her to go easy on her. Leanne's unimpressed to hear from Adam that Spider helped move Toyah out of the flat. The pensioners are surprised to see Claudia enter the restaurant with Charles Moore.
Part Two: Rita reminds the group that Norris suspected Claudia and Charles of having an affair. Taking a leaf out of their late friend's book, she, Ken and Audrey spy on the pair. Carla invites Faye to speak to her if she's having problems at work. Faye insists she isn't. As Claudia argues with Charles about his tightfistedness, she's amazed when everyone pops out from where they've been eavesdropping. The row ends with Charles walking out of the meal and their relationship. Spider's uneasy when fellow protestor Griff Reynolds introduces himself to Toyah and she invites herself along to their demo. Craig tells Zeedan that Gordon Lennox was caught having an affair and forced to take early retirement. He agrees to try and find out more. Claudia joins her old friends. Rita apologises for missing Audrey's 82nd birthday and the group belatedly mark the occasion. Faye tears a strip off Craig for humiliating her in front of her boss. Claudia has the pensioners swapping embarrassing stories from their past. Audrey shocks the group by revealing that she tried to kill herself three weeks ago. As a stunned hush descends, the lights dim and the waiter arrives with a cake, singing Happy Birthday to Audrey.
Part Three: Audrey confides in her friends that she overdosed on sleeping pills and that her neighbour saw her collapsed and called an ambulance. They're deeply concerned by her confession and feel guilty that they never noticed how low she was. Faye admits to Sally that Craig is negatively affecting her morale. Audrey is forced to admit that her family are in the dark as to what's happened and she hasn't taken the antidepressants Dr Gaddas gave her. Her friends urge her to take her meds and seek counselling but agree to keep what she told them to themselves. Toyah feels energised by the protest and feels she's making a difference while she can. Leanne warns her that she can't go around acting like she's above the law when she has a murder charge hanging over her. Audrey tells the group about her feelings of uselessness. She explains that her health issues, alcohol dependence and unsupportive family contributed to her downward spiral.
Part Four: Audrey's friends assure her that she has a lot to offer the world. She promises to start taking her medication but refuses to tell Gail what's happened. Spider tells Toyah that Griff is a loose cannon and she should steer clear while she's on bail. She's unconcerned. Faye reacts badly when Craig presents her with a special nightie designed to keep her cool and improve her sleep. The Nazirs receive letters from Stu begging them to visit him in prison to hear him out. Yasmeen rips them and bins them. Leanne accuses Spider of leading Toyah astray but he tells her that being politically active makes her feel stronger. Rita, Ken and Roy agree to start checking in on Audrey regularly without it being obvious to her. Craig realises he's blown it with Faye and offers to move back in with Beth for a while. As she tells him to do as he pleases, he packs a bag. Audrey inspects the salon, having told Nick that she wants to get the business going again after all. Taking her antidepressants, she declares that there's life in the old girl yet.
Cast[]
Regular cast[]
- Stephen Reid - Todd Boyce
- Adam Barlow - Samuel Robertson
- Craig Tinker - Colson Smith
- Faye Windass - Ellie Leach
- Shona Platt - Julia Goulding (10717 only)
- Audrey Roberts - Sue Nicholls
- Billy Mayhew - Daniel Brocklebank
- Yasmeen Metcalfe - Shelley King
- Zeedan Nazir - Qasim Akhtar
- Rita Tanner - Barbara Knox
- Ken Barlow - William Roache
- Roy Cropper - David Neilson
- Carla Barlow - Alison King (10717 only)
- Michael Bailey - Ryan Russell (10717 only)
- Leanne Battersby - Jane Danson
- Nick Tilsley - Ben Price
- Claudia Colby - Rula Lenska
- Sally Metcalfe - Sally Dynevor
- Spider Nugent - Martin Hancock
- Toyah Habeeb - Georgia Taylor
Guest cast[]
- Charles Moore - Michael Elwyn (10717 only)
- Griff Reynolds - Michael Condron (10717 only)
Places[]
| Location | 10717 | 10718 |
|---|---|---|
| Rovers Return Inn | N/A | Public |
| Audrey's | N/A | Salon |
| 2a Coronation Street | Living room/kitchen | |
| 6 Coronation Street | N/A | Downstairs rooms |
| 8 Coronation Street | Downstairs rooms | N/A |
| Underworld | Breakout area | Sales office and machine area |
| Viaduct Bistro | Restaurant | |
| Victoria Street | Main street view | |
| Barlow Legal Services | Office | N/A |
| Roy's Rolls | Cafe | |
| Speed Daal | Restaurant | |
| Chariot Square Hotel | Restaurant and corridor | Restaurant |
Notes[]
- First appearance of Claudia Colby since 24th September 2021 and final appearance of Rula Lenska in the role.
- First appearance of Griff Reynolds.
- The voice clip of Alf Roberts agreeing to buy the salon for Audrey originates from Episode 4481 (28th September 1998).
- Rita Tanner alludes to her fling with Ken Barlow and attending a swingers' party with Norris Cole, referencing the events of Episode 1319 (5th September 1973) and Episode 5850 (20th September 2004) respectively. Claudia Colby also reminds Roy Cropper of his and Evelyn Plummer's arrests for lewd conduct, which occurred in Episode 9640 (17th December 2018). Finally, Spider Nugent and Toyah Habeeb remember Emily Bishop climbing a tree in a protest, referencing events in Episode 4338 (21st January 1998) and Episode 4339 (23rd January 1998).
- TV Times synopsis: Audrey chooses to share her secret over afternoon tea with friends; Craig asks Carla not to put Faye under pressure; and Spider introduces Toyah to a fellow protester.
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast: 4,798,000 viewers (3rd place).
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