Episode 861 (24th March 1969)

Plot[]

Part One: Even after a night's sleep, Reverend James is thoroughly depressed at the sight of the wreckage. Effie is worried as to where Albert has been all night. Audrey and Dickie tell her he stayed with them and he'll agree to come back if she takes over the cooking. Effie tells them she's prepared for battle. Annie confronts Lucille about Dave bringing her back at 11.00pm last night. Annie doesn't believe she was working late and Jack agrees to sort Dave out. Len tells Alice that Albert is back from Bury. Annie warns Dave that a scandal could put punters off his establishment. Dave confirms that Lucille had indeed been working late. A sulking Albert walks out of the Rovers when Effie comes in. Elsie warns Lucille that she's out of depth with Dave. Emily recruits the residents' help to clean up the mess so as to restore Reverend James's faith in Coronation Street. He's moved by the gesture. Emily is surprised when Ena also turns up, having heard that while Effie, Audrey and Dickie are working for nothing, Stan, Hilda and Alice are getting 10/- an hour. When Ena finds out that Emily is paying the sums out of her own pocket, she offers her services for free.

Part Two: Elsie also tries to warn Dave off Lucille. He asks Lucille out to dinner at a club that night. During a tea break in the chapel, Alice tells Effie that she's an old friend of Albert's. Emily lets the Reverend believe that everyone is working for free and is alarmed when he suggests compensating them. Ena makes Stan work harder on cleaning the stained glass and Len drinks his tea. Dave praises Lucille's abilities and they dance. An alarmed Albert tries to put Alice off visiting him in Bury. She drinks with Effie in the snug. Annie believes that Dave got her message, but Jack gets Stan to tell her that he saw Dave and Lucille setting off in his Jaguar at 8.00pm. Dave insists on leaving the club early to avoid gossip and makes it clear that he's not interested in Lucille. Reverend James buys the residents drinks in the Rovers to thank them. Effie gets on with Alice and invites her to live with her at No.1. Ena wants to see Albert's reaction to the news.

Cast[]

Regular cast[]

Guest cast[]

Places[]

Rovers Return Inn - Public/snug
1 Coronation Street - Back room and hallway
St. Mary's Church - Side chapel
Dave Smith Licensed Betting Office - Front and back office
Table for Two Club

Notes[]

In mocking Albert Tatlock's refusal to speak to Effie Spicer, Jack Walker speaks of the Paris Peace Accords whose early attempts which began on 10th May 1968 were held back in part by a disagreement as to whether the delegates should sit at a square or a round table.
TV Times synopsis: All change at No.1.
Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 6,750,000 homes (3rd place).

March 1969 episodes
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