Coronation Street

- Season 8

(1966)

Stan vows to tackle Lambert over David losing his job. Dennis borrows Emily's new camera and persuades Jerry to strike a pose. Jim tracks down Elsie to ask her out.

David attempts to take charge of his future. Dennis looks forward to Emily's photographs getting a public airing. Jim and Elsie get drunk together.

Dave Smith shows an interest in purchasing the Corner Shop. Valerie is amused by Clara's fondness for Albert. Ken keeps quiet about his lunch with reporter, Jackie Marsh.

Ken contrives to bump into Jackie again. Ena voices her opposition to Dave Smith opening premises on Coronation Street. Albert tries to dodge the attentions of Clara.

David hits the bottle when an article about him is published in the paper. Irma asks Lionel about the shop sale. Hilda helps Stan to complete his football pools coupon.

In the cold light of day, Irma and David realise their mistakes. Ken and Jackie get on well when she pays him a surprise visit. Hilda unintentionally sets up Stan for a disappointment.

Hilda cannot bring herself to break the truth to Stan as he continues to celebrate his windfall. Ena and Clara argue over Minnie's financial situation. Ken calls round to see Jackie.

Minnie spends the day avoiding a man chasing her for money. Lionel hands over the shop to the Barlows before his departure. Jackie invites Ken to accompany her to watch a play.

Jed's return proves timely for both Minnie and Dennis. Emily announces her plans to move to Spain. Elsie bears witness to a scandalous betrayal.

Nuttall discovers that Jed and Dennis have swindled him. Jack and Annie bicker over idea to put a cheese board on the bar. Emily's sister calls on her with bad news.

Elsie dithers over whether to inform Val of Ken's affair. Emily is furious at her sister Joan's emotional blackmail. Jed starts on the markets with Dennis assisting.

Time runs out for Emily to make a decision about her father's care. Ken refuses to be cowed by Elsie's hold over him. Lucille enjoys working on the market stall for Jed.

An excited Emily receives her work permit for Majorca. Jackie waits for Ken to take her away. Jed unveils waxworks to liven up the market stall.

Emily puts her affairs in order before her departure, keeping her true destination a secret. Ken makes the final break from Jackie. A depressed Dennis rejects all attempts to lift his spirits.

Jerry employs Ray Langton at the yard without consulting Len. Jim takes up Stan's offer of renting a room at Number 13. Dennis refuses to get out of bed.

Jerry tires of Len neglecting work in favour of boozing. Hilda agrees to give Jim a trial period as a lodger. Dennis searches for a flash of inspiration.

Len blames himself for Jerry's fall from the scaffolding. Dennis persuades Ena to write the music for his song. Jim dislikes being stood up by Elsie.

Len visits Jerry in hospital with an apology. Jed and Dennis open a second-hand goods emporium on Viaduct Street. Hilda is furious when Stan sells a sentimental item from their home.

Ken and Val have a rare night out at the pictures with David and Irma. Clara returns from Cleveleys without Albert. Lucille invites Ray to join her for babysitting duties at Number 9.

Val tires of the growing distance between her and Ken. Lucille is upset to realise that Ray stole from Number 9. Clara steps in to clean the Rovers when Hilda falls ill.

Ken admits to David that Val has walked out on him. Jed and Dennis visit a bank to open a business account. Ena resolves to tackle Lucille and Ray about the stolen money.

Ena warns Lucille and Ray to watch their step. Elsie tires of Jim treating her like one of his floozies. Dennis pins all of his hopes on making a success of the auction rooms.

The residents get excited by an imminent phone call from Canada. Ray urges Lucille to make a choice about Ireland. Jim and Len fail to settle their differences.

Elsie demands to know how Jim views their future. Lucille blames work commitments for crying off the Ireland holiday. Jed and Dennis open the auction room for business.

Brenda Riley wins friends with her relaxed approach to pub management. Ken welcomes Val home with a surprise purchase. Jed eyes a new business opportunity.

Len and Jim compete for Brenda's attentions. Clara tackles Albert on the subject of marriage. Dennis dislikes being in charge of so many dogs.

Dennis scours the streets in search of Arthur Johnson's missing dog. The Barlows mark the twins' first birthday. Lucille and Ray's relationship gets more serious.

Ken tries to talk to Val about his affair with Jackie. Brenda agrees to join the menfolk at the football match. Lucille entertains Ray in the deserted Rovers.

Lucille is hurt by Ray's nastiness when she tackles him about the stolen whisky. Hilda returns to find her home in chaos. Vera surprises Ena by paying her a visit.

Brenda ensures that Ray gets his comeuppance. Hilda clashes with Clara over her refusal to step down as the Rovers' cleaner. Vera admits to Ena the reason for her stay.

Rumours of a new mission secretary's arrival circulate on the street. Vera admits to Ena the extent of her debts. Dennis secures a new job in the showbusiness field.

The residents ensure that Dennis gets a proper send-off. Nesbitt orders Ena to vacate the vestry while work is carried out. Brenda shares news of the Walkers' return.

Annie reacts hostilely towards Brenda upon her return to the Rovers. Jed sets up a snooker match between Jim and David. Ena seeks a neighbour willing to offer her accommodation.

Elsie's words to Hilda have consequences for Jim. Minnie becomes concerned by Ena's uncharacteristic distress. Annie deplores Brenda's influence on the Rovers.

Ena stands firm when the police are called in to investigate her alleged shoplifting. Annie's goulash is spurned by the Rovers' regulars. Elsie considers redecorating her parlour.

Ena faces the magistrates on a charge of thieving. Jerry admits a woman called Ruth Winter to the Mission for an inspection. Lucille settles her debt to Jack on her birthday.

A stranger returns to Coronation Street for the first time in twenty years. Ena refuses to reverse her decision to leave the Mission. Ruth seeks volunteers to run community classes.

Ruth takes Ena to view a council flat in a tower block. The residents attend the Mission's inaugural whist drive. Wally's messy habits drive Elsie to distraction.

Irma, David, Ken and Val enjoy an afternoon out together. Len hates having Ena as his housekeeper. Wally ingratiates himself with some of the residents.

Irma continues to supply Hilda's shopping on tick. Stan assumes that David will invest in his ice-cream venture. Ruth meets with resistance to the community centre's over-60s club.

Ena crows when Ruth's over-60s club proves an unpopular attraction. Minnie ventures out after spending a few days ill in bed. David confronts Hilda about accepting free goods from Irma.

Annie grows concerned about the calibre of workers at the new factory. Stan sets off on his first round as an ice cream vendor. Jed nurses Minnie back to health. Irma annoys David by taking the day off to go out with Lucille.

The Bonnettis prove to be stiff competition for Stan and Hilda's ice cream van. Minnie gets cold feet about a posh night out. Jed promises to set up Jerry with a blind date.

Happy to see Sheila, Jerry suggests she applies for a job at the factory. Minnie enjoys her night out at a club. Hilda refuses to let Mrs. Bonnetti scupper Stan's new enterprise.

Hilda gets jealous of Stan working closely with Mrs. Bonnetti. Irma, Lucille and Sheila start work at the factory. Dennis returns from Carlisle, claiming to be on the run from the heavy mob.

Irma struggles to get to grips with the welding machine at Elliston's. Sheila and Jerry arrange a date. Hilda's ploy successfully ends Stan's ice-cream selling career.

Jerry tires of his relationship with Sheila coming under scrutiny. Elsie begins to take seriously Dennis's fearing for his life. Albert experiences competition for his talk at the Mission.

Ena voices misgivings about Ruth's party for teenagers at the community centre. Dennis backs a horse on Dave's recommendation. Elsie advises Sheila not to hurt Jerry again.

Ruth earns Ena's respect by dealing with the unruly lads from the dance. Elsie hatches a plan to get Wally out of her house. Jerry demands honesty from Sheila.

Dave offers to rescue Dennis from a violent beating by his creditors. Ruth pushes Ena to decide on her return to the vestry. Jerry and Sheila's falling-out sparks speculation.

Dennis skips work to avoid the heavies collecting his debt. Val concocts a plan to get Sheila and Jerry talking. Ena moves back into the vestry.

Elsie is horrified to discover the heavies are going to beat Dennis up. Ena realises the men are in No. 11 and tries to get the men to help the Tanners. Dave Smith refuses to help so Len and Jack go. Elsie tries to fight the heavies off Dennis as they try to take him outside. She lashes out with the poker and Dennis has to fight to defend her. When Jack appears, they lay into him as well. They stop when Len turns up with £94 for them. To make sure he gets his money back, Len gives Dennis a job at the Yard. Sheila takes Jerry to see a baby in the care of foster mother ...

Jerry demands to know more about Sheila's child but is unprepared for the whole truth. Annie worries that Lucille is squandering her wages. Ken organises a film show at the Mission.

Ken considers buying a second hand caravan. Lucille doesn't own up to doing shoddy work and all the girls get blamed. In her anger, Lucille lets it slip that she knows Sheila has an illegitimate baby. The news spreads. Len is surprised when Ruth agrees to go out with him. Ken asks David to go halves with him for the caravan. Lucille sports a black eye. Irma thinks Sheila gave it to her.

David gives the World Cup tickets to Jack, Albert, Len and Stan. Ruth organises a pub quiz contest. The factory girls ignore Lucille. Annie accuses Sheila of giving Lucille the black eye because of her hurt pride. Annie refuses to let Jack go to the match. Jerry defends Sheila in front of everyone. John Benjamin asks Bet to apologise for hitting Lucille but she refuses. A fight starts when Lucille calls Bet for sleeping with Benjamin. Sheila decides to leave Weatherfield but Jerry vows to stop her.

Jerry reasons with Sheila and she decides not to leave. Jack gives up his match ticket to Jed. Annie worries when Lucille fails to come home after work. John Benjamin and Bet Lynch are disturbed at the factory at night when Len looks for Lucille. He threatens to report Benjamin for not running the factory properly. Benjamin goes for him with a glass ashtray but the Barlow brothers arrive. Dennis brings Lucille home at midnight. She confesses that she was frightened of Annie. Len tells Ruth he fancies her. She tells him that she's frightened of his reputation.

Jerry feels that Dennis is a nuisance and no use at the Yard. Ruth picks Ken, Jerry and Ena for the quiz team, and has to join the other team to make up the numbers. Jerry thinks about getting a divorce. Jed is the question master when George Chippendale and Alf Whittam join Ruth from the Bird in Hand pub. The contest is neck and neck but Ena wins for the Rovers on the last question. Annie gets George to identify a painting she finds in the cellar. He discovers the frame is stuffed with money and a mask. Ruth tells Len she'll go out with him on her birthday - tomorrow.

Ken, Jerry, David, Dennis, Len, Jed and Stan set off for Liverpool to see Brazil play Portugal in a World Cup qualifier. Len feels torn between the football and Ruth. Ruth tells him to go. Annie fantasises about the picture. She feels that the Rovers has some romantic past and that the pub's name may have to be changed to "The Masked Lady". In Liverpool, Jed is angry when Stan jokingly gives his name to a policeman.

The Brewery considers the name change of the Rovers. Jerry tries to get hold of Myra Booth about a divorce. Ruth tells Ena that she has had a proposal from an old boyfriend called Paul. Sheila and Jerry try desperately to get his divorce so that they can marry. Ruth tells Ena that her boyfriend, Paul, wants her to go to Rome to live there and that the Community Centre is being moved from the Mission to Chester Street. The menfolk hold a meeting and decide to stand up against Annie. Annie entertains the president of the Federation of Women's Associations, Mrs ...

The customers are surprised when Annie agrees not to change the name of the Rovers. Ruth tells Len she's getting married to Paul. He can't believe it, but tells her he's glad for her. Mrs Arkinstall tells Annie that the Federation of Women's Associations want her to stand for something special and that she has to make sure nothing spoils her copy book. The residents give Ruth a good send-off. Annie confides in Jack that she has been nominated as a Councillor in the by-elections.

Val is annoyed when Ken forgets their wedding anniversary. Dennis skips work. Sheila feels she's in the way at No. 11 and should move on. Dennis decides he's going to leave, fed up with work and living with women. He packs and goes. Elsie is sure he'll return.

The residents think that Elsie ought to be worrying about the missing Dennis. Sheila feels that it's her fault and she ought to leave No. 11. Minnie wonders at Jed as he seems to be eating more. Unknown to Elsie, Dennis stays in Jed's room to see what her reaction will be. Elsie doesn't care where Dennis is. Lucille guesses where Dennis is when Jed buys cigarettes for him. She says she won't tell - for a price. Sheila demands Jerry sees Myra for a divorce.

Albert and Jack prepare for their regimental reunion dinner. Dennis is starved of food in Jed's bedroom. George Dickinson tells Jerry a divorce will not be easy. Irma helps Annie out with the bar while Jack is away with Albert. Jed and Irma kid Dennis that Elsie is distraught with worry. Albert and Jack get drunk. Jack picks a fight with Colonel Arkinstall, Annie's sponsor's husband. Sheila waits at the bus station for the last bus.

Annie is horrified to hear about Jack's behaviour. Jerry finds Sheila at the bus shelter. She tells him that she's tired of being hurt. She's relieved when he tells her that he's made contact with George Dickinson. Starving Dennis breaks into No. 11 to raid the larder. Elsie catches him in the act. Myra leaves everything up to her father. He tells Jerry he'll have to give Myra grounds for a divorce as she doesn't want one. Sheila tells Jerry that Danny Crossley has been adopted by his foster mother, Mrs Sankey. She tells him Danny is the past. She wants everything to ...

Irma grows fed up with the factory. Mrs Arkinstall tells Annie she should be proud of the way Jack stood up to her husband. Harry Bishop asks questions about Jerry in the Street. He gets out of Minnie the fact that Jerry is in love with Sheila. Irma packs the factory in and leads David to believe it is to help him in the shop. Ena warns Elsie that Bishop is a private investigator.

Elsie and Ena plot together. Councillor Sid Platt resigns from the council. Ena sets Harry Bishop onto Elsie's trail. Elsie dresses up dowdy to give the impression of wholesomeness. Bishop tells her that he's a private investigator and has been employed by George Dickinson to find out about Jerry's love life with Sheila. Elsie promises to find out what she can for £2. Ena tells Jerry about Bishop. Annie announces that she is standing for the council, as Len announces that so is he.

Elsie agrees to let Len use No. 11 as a committee room. Jack tells Annie that Len is standing against her as an independent candidate. Elsie gives her bribe money to Sheila. Val is ill so she and Ken have to pull out of a caravan weekend with David and Irma. Hilda wangles it so that she and Stan are invited instead. The Barlows and Ogdens set off for the weekend in an isolated field. Stan and David get lost whilst trying to find a pub, leaving the women alone in the caravan.

Hilda is dismayed to learn that Stan and David have been out all night. Jack tires of Annie's preoccupation with the election. Ken helps Len to draw up his campaign.

Annie is furious with the absent Jack. Len arranges an election meeting at the Mission. Ena books Annie in for a meeting at the Mission knowing that it will clash with Len's. Len feels that the Street is a slum and should be demolished. Annie and Len row over their meetings. Annie accuses Len of only standing through spite. He accuses her of being a mouthpiece for snotty women. Ena settles the argument by suggesting a joint debate: Len versus Annie.

Len and Annie are not satisfied with their speeches, both written by Ken. He is annoyed by their attitude and withdraws from chairing the meeting. He is forced to change his mind when this sparks off another row. At the meeting, Len pledges to fence off all the canal and impresses the audience. Cockney Merle Baker is found looking for her fiancé: David Barlow.

Merle Baker tells Jerry and Sheila that David promised they'd marry when she was twenty-one. They tell her that David doesn't live in the area any more. Jerry tells David but he can't remember Merle. Annie lets Merle stay at the Rovers. Lucille tells her where David is and Annie has to break the news that David is married. Stan jokingly goes for David for cheating on Irma. He and Ken think it's a great laugh. Irma comes with David to meet Merle.

Merle and David don't recognise each other. They realise someone has used David's name to string her along. Len delivers his election pamphlets, whilst Annie canvasses. The residents split into two camps: Jed, Lucille and Hilda for Annie and Elsie, Dennis and Stan for Len. Merle reveals she has a photo of her 'David'. It turns out to be Billy Walker. She discovers the same photo at the Rovers and is determined to stay.

Merle wants to stay at the Rovers and threatens to tell the papers the whole story if Annie throws her out. Jack returns from the Nag's Head to sort the mess out, he gets Billy's point of view and gives Merle her fare home. Len and Annie make the peace on the eve of the elections.

Polling day: The Mission is used as a polling station. The residents vote: Hilda, Val, Jack and Irma for Annie, Dennis, Ken, Jerry, Stan, David and Albert for Len. Len and Annie do last-minute canvassing with their helpers. The residents feel that they've had enough of politics. Irma provides food for the party in the Rovers. The votes are counted, with Annie and Len equal and the Labour candidate close behind. A recount is called and is still a draw. A coin is tossed between Annie and Len.

Len wins the toss and is declared Councillor Fairclough. The residents celebrate in the Rovers. Len admits to Ena that he's scared. Annie cries herself to sleep. The residents all feel ill after the celebrations. Ena blames the potted meat sandwiches at the party and accuses the Barlows of selling contaminated food and causing food poisoning. She demands Len inform the Public Health.

The Public Health man calls at the shop and takes a sample of the potted meat. David throws the rest of the meat away. Jack throws out the Rovers' pies. Jed has a phone call from friend Spider Webb in Liverpool, telling him that the police are after him. He plans to disappear but wants to say goodbye to Minnie. Customers stay away from the shop and Irma blames Len. Ena and Minnie are told to rest in bed for a few days. Jed realises that he can't leave the area with Minnie ill in bed.

Jed nurses Minnie better and plans to leave for West Hartlepool. The Laundryer opens another branch. Hilda asks Elsie to put in a good word for her for a job. Minnie plans her birthday and decides to buy Jed a new cap. Jerry reminds Jed that it's Minnie's birthday tomorrow. He decides to throw a party for her before leaving. Hilda is too late for the job. She thinks Elsie didn't put in a word for her. Elsie gets mysterious phone calls. Dennis worries when Detective Constable Bill Sharp turns up. Jed rehearses the residents in 'Happy Birthday'.

Detective Constable Bill Sharp tells Jed he's wanted for questioning for receiving five dozen stolen blankets. He has a warrant to search No. 5. Sharp agrees to pretend he is a friend of Jed's so as not to upset Minnie. Sharp finds the blankets at No. 5. The residents try to keep the truth from Minnie. She recognises Sharp as a policeman but pretends not to have. Jed is taken away, leaving Minnie in tears. Jack persuades her to keep up the pretence for Jed's sake. Dennis is sure the police found Jed through Stan giving his name in Liverpool. Hilda feels Dennis is ...

Elsie's strange phone calls continue. The Cheveskis return from Canada and Elsie wonders why. Linda decides she wants Paul to go to a local school. Ivan is annoyed as he wants the family to move to Birmingham. She tells him she's not sure if she's coming to Birmingham. Irma suspects that David once went out with Linda. Bessie Street School takes Paul on to Ivan's annoyance.

Linda can't understand why Ivan can't get a local job. He is adamant about going to Birmingham. She refuses to go with him. Linda tells Elsie she had an affair in Canada and that is why they have returned. Len tells Linda that Elsie is worried about something other than the Cheveskis. Elsie tells the Cheveskis it's obvious that Paul will never have a happy life with them rowing all the time. She plans to see a solicitor to get custody of Paul. She's sick of them. Ivan goes to Birmingham to sort out a home for them all. Linda receives one of the phone calls and ...

The Barlows' potted meat is cleared by the Health Inspector. Lucille and Hilda clean the Rovers for Annie's return from Joan's. Linda tells Len about the phone call. Elsie breaks down and tells Len the calls are cracking her up. She tells him the caller is female and swears a lot. Linda tells Elsie that she suspects Irma of making the calls through jealousy. The phone rings again and Linda catches Val on her phone at the same time.

Elsie accuses Val of being the caller. She tells her that she's sick and needs a doctor. Ena makes Elsie see that it couldn't be Val as they share a party line. The incident causes Val to break down. Elsie is sacked from the Laundryer. Hilda accuses Elsie of thinking she's lady muck for not recommending her for the laundrette job. Elsie and Val make up and Val is in time to hear one of the phone calls. Ena sees Hilda making a payphone call and sees she has written Elsie's phone number on a directory. Elsie confronts Hilda who breaks down and admits she made one call.

Jed is sent to Walton Jail for nine months. Minnie has to pretend she thinks he's working in a funfair so as not to upset Jed when Dennis visits him. Ena tells Len to tell the police about the phone calls. Minnie keeps Jed's room ready for him. The police try to trace the calls and tell Elsie to keep the caller on the line. Jed gives Minnie a message: to sell all his stuff. Annie puts the police onto Hilda.

Hilda accuses Elsie of shopping her to the police. Albert advises Minnie to give Jed's stuff to the rag and bone man. A dealer offers Minnie £1 10/- for all Jed's stuff. The residents are disgusted. Jerry tells Sheila that now he's been married three years he can start divorce proceedings. Jack feels that Minnie should auction Jed's stuff and the residents should pay over the odds. Albert helps Minnie organise the auction. David feels he can't cope with talking to women all day any more. Jerry gets a solicitor. Elsie and Hilda make up. Minnie is amazed when the ...

Elsie's mystery telephone caller turns up at Number 11. Annie insists that the brooch from the auction is valuable. Minnie is satisfied with her profit on Jed's belongings.

Minnie refuses to take £5 from Annie. Dennis borrows the brooch from Lucille to compare it with some others. Minnie and Annie agree to abide by Ken's decision - he suggests Annie keeps the brooch and the money. Linda worries that Paul has become spoilt. Dennis sells Hilda a plastic cameo like Annie's. Annie discovers her brooch is missing and assumes Hilda has taken it. Lucille returns it before Annie accuses Hilda. Annie gives Ena £4 to give to Minnie. She lets Minnie think it's coal money. Ivan tells Linda he's found a house in Selly Park. She feels she could live ...

Elsie and Linda worry about Paul's whereabouts. Linda discovers he was last seen talking to a man with tools. The residents join in the search. The men get a search party together. The police join in. Linda refuses to stay at home and joins in the search. The search reveals nothing.

The police find Paul and put him in the Infirmary after he is taken out of the canal. A mystery man pulled him out. The hospital keeps Paul in for observation. Len tries to hide the fact that the incident happened on the unfenced side by Gas Street. Linda phones the news to Ivan. A reporter, John Meakin, tries to find out the story of Paul's disappearance. Everyone refuses to talk to him. Linda tells him the story in the hope something will be done about the canal. Len confides in Jerry that he voted against a fence for the canal. Linda stays the night in the hospital...

Linda anxiously waits for news of a change in Paul's condition. Jerry lets slip to Elsie about Len obstructing the council fence. Irma persuades Val to go to the cinema.

Elsie becomes hysterical and is slapped by Len. He makes her try to understand and she forgives him. Val and Irma refuse to go on the back row with Brian and Ron. Val is annoyed when Irma encourages the lads. They are embarrassed when Lucille sees them but she plays along. Len contacts the police to get in contact with Ivan. Val tries to pair Brian off with Lucille. Dennis refuses to be polite to Len. The police find Ivan. Ron and Brian track the girls down to the shop and insist they meet again. They make a date. Linda and Elsie wait for news of Paul. Ron keeps ...

Irma double-books herself and Val when Ron invites them out again. Ivan returns to support Linda. Albert grows wistful remembering a past love.

The Gazette reports that Len blocked the tender for the council fence. The residents think Len is being used by businessmen. Ena celebrates her birthday on her own with a pound box of chocolates. The paper is hidden from Ivan but he comes across a copy and reads the article.

Ivan gets drunk in the Rovers whilst waiting for Len. Paul regains consciousness. Ivan refuses to listen to Len's excuses and hits him. A fight starts and Jerry, Linda and Elsie have to separate them. On the train back from visiting her parents, Sheila meets Neil Crossley.

Stan is advised to look after himself more when a local forty year-old man dies of a heart attack. Elsie is shocked to find Neil Crossley working as manager of the local supermarket. Stan refuses to eat any more stodge nor smoke, much to Hilda's amazement. Elsie advises Sheila to stay away from Neil. Elliston's put some of the girls on short time. Stan starts drinking tomato juice. Sheila goes to visit Neil in the supermarket.

Linda agrees to go to Birmingham with Ivan and Paul. Neil takes Sheila out. Elsie realises that Linda is still in love with Mike in Canada - the man she had the affair with. Linda shows her two airline tickets for her and Paul to return to Canada. Elsie calls her a thick-headed slut and tells her that she'll ruin her life. She refuses to let her take Paul. Linda admits she's only thinking about herself but can't bear to live with Ivan any more. Elsie tells her that she's going to tell Ivan. Sheila stands Jerry up to go out with Neil again. She realises she's got to ...

Linda buys an expensive sweater for Mike. She is heartbroken to read he has another girl. She gives the sweater to Ivan. Stan loses two pounds in weight. Len tells Jerry that Sheila has been seeing Neil. Sheila tells Neil that he has a son and that she doesn't know how to tell Jerry it's over. The Cheveskis leave for Birmingham. Neil arrives to talk to Jerry.

Jerry tells Neil to stay away from Sheila. Neil asks Sheila to marry him. Val thinks about having a Christmas fancy dress party for the Street. Neil tells Sheila that he starts at a new job on Saturday. It's up to her to make a decision.

Lucille collects for parcels for the poor. The residents are glad to hear that Neil is moving on. Ena and Minnie compare prices between the shop and the supermarket. The shop prices are much higher. Dot tells Elsie to reapply for her old job at Miami Modes as she's going to be supervisor. Ena writes to the Minister of Agriculture as the Government have asked everyone to freeze prices. Jerry discovers Neil and Sheila have left town together. Stan comes off his diet when he is made redundant from the milk round.

Ken organises the fancy dress party. A bitter Jerry tells Ken that he's going to spend all his savings on a good night out. Stan goes after a job with eight others but he is too old. Jerry is picked up by the club hostess Margot.

Ken plans to go to the party as a monk. Margot and the Barman fleece Jerry of his £25. Albert tells Stan he's going for the job of Father Christmas at Gale and Gordon's department store. Stan goes for the job himself. Jerry feels no different in the morning. Albert gets the Father Christmas job. Stan tells Hilda he's got a driving job in Newcastle. He's going, with or without her.

Hilda can't face moving again. The Barlows decorate the Mission for the party. Len tells Dennis his debt is paid now; he can leave the Yard. Dennis asks to stay on and Len agrees. Lucille gives Ena and Minnie food parcels but Ena refuses to accept charity. Vera Lomax arrives to spend Christmas with Ena. Elsie is taken on at Miami Modes as supervisor, Dot is hurt. Stan decides to stay in Weatherfield. Vera tells Ena she can't cope with Colin and has given him to Bob Lomax. She asks if she can stay permanently.

Ena refuses to believe Vera is really ill. Stan asks Len for a job, but Len refuses to sack Dennis for him. Ena tells Vera to look after herself more or find somewhere else to have Christmas. Doctor Connor tells Vera to rest but Ena refuses to let her. Hilda rows with Len in the Rovers and accuses him of keeping Dennis on to please Elsie. The doctor tells Ena that Vera can't be cured and only has a month to live.

The residents gather for the fancy dress parade at the Boxing Day party in the Mission. Ena struggles to cope with watching Vera's suffering. Lucille delights in keeping secret some exciting news.

Lucille is excited about her fiancé Alistair Bradshaw. Annie thinks she's joking. Dennis is amazed that Lucille has fallen for Alistair who has a reputation of always being engaged. Lucille shows off her ring. Minnie accuses Vera of taking advantage of Ena. Hilda orders Stan to find a job as they have no money. Lucille breaks off the engagement, realising it's merely infatuation. Ena tells Ken she needs a part-time job. He recommends she applies for Supplementary Pension as she's entitled to it.