Season 21

E1. Episode 1957 (2nd January 1980)

Jan 2, 1980 · 25m

The men return at 7.00am after spending the night with fifteen women at 32 Bessie Street. They go for an early morning "hair of the dog" in the Rovers and decide to tell everyone Alf tripped and fell and they all took him to hospital. As soon as they see their wives they crack and tell the truth. Ken lectures Susan about bringing Roy Stevenson back home. Elsie runs short of money. Fred tells Annie about Alf going to hospital and is annoyed that the others have confessed. Annie finds out the truth when she rings the hospital and pleases the women by presenting their husbands with a bill for their wives' drinks and refuses Fred his request for a night off. Rita is tired of living in what she considers a dump. Elsie considers asking Mike for the supervisor's job now Steve Fisher has left. Susan asks Ken if he intends to marry Deirdre. Annie tells Ivy that Elsie intends to ask for her job back at the factory. Ivy is livid.

E2. Episode 1958 (7th January 1980)

Jan 7, 1980 · 25m

Rita tells Len she wants a decent home to live in. Len tells her to make a list of alterations. Jim Sedgewick tells Emily and Gail he's bought the cafe off Joe Dawson. Susan returns to Glasgow. Elsie asks Mike for her old job back, promising she'll be reliable. He tells her that he does need someone to help him at the factory. Gail fears Sedgewick will sack her. Rita gives Len her required alterations for No.9, which include knocking the two rooms into one and a fitted kitchen. She accuses him of not caring and rips the list up. She tells him that she's sick of the way they live. Ivy tells Mike she wants to be made supervisor as she's been doing the job in all but name. She warns him that the girls won't stand for Elsie being taken back on. Sedgewick tells Emily the jobs are safe. He intends to bring a jukebox in, telling her that he's turning the place into a transport cafe to take advantage of the new lorry park on Canal Street - Emily is horrified. Mike tells Len that he wants to take Elsie back on.

E3. Episode 1959 (9th January 1980)

Jan 9, 1980 · 25m

Len tells a gullible Hilda that Aspinall's are paying their girls' fares to France. Emily is unhappy when Jim Sedgewick installs a one-armed bandit in the cafe. He tells her that he means to make the place pay. Ivy is livid when Elsie appears in the sewing room to see Mike however he refuses to re-employ her as she walked out on the job. Elsie kids on to the girls that she'll be returning as supervisor. Rita is fed up with No.9 and Len's attitude towards her when he refuses her a new kitchen and structural changes to the house. She tells Len she's had enough. Ivy threatens Mike about Elsie returning - he tells her that she's not but tears a strip off Ivy for her attitude. The jukebox is installed in the cafe, annoying Emily. Hilda tells Vera and Ida about Aspinall's. Vera agrees to confront Mike. Gail tells Elsie that she might have got the job if Ivy hadn't wanted it as well. Rita packs and leaves Len.

E4. Episode 1960 (14th January 1980)

Jan 14, 1980 · 25m

Rita gets a room at a theatrical lodging house in Clarence Street, Salford run by Poppy Watts where she meets an old showbiz friend, Ossie Oswald. Len tells the neighbours that Rita is ill. Jim Sedgewick changes the cafe around, getting rid of the old counter and installing the cooking equipment in the shop and a new employee - Mrs. Bolton. Elsie rows with Ivy in the Rovers calling her a "tin pot busybody" and blames her for not getting the job. Rita phones Mavis and tells her that she's left Len for good. Emily tries to make the greasy meals more attractive but the coarseness of the lorry drivers upsets her. Rita only has £10 left after paying her £25 rent. Hilda tells Mike she can't go to France as she hasn't any spending money. He gives her £10 and tells her not to tell the others. Rita feels alone and isolated.

E5. Episode 1961 (16th January 1980)

Jan 16, 1980 · 25m

Jim Sedgewick renames the cafe "Jim's Cafe". When one of the girls can't go to France, Ida and Ivy both want the place. Mike tosses a coin. He tells Ivy she can go even though the coin comes up in Ida's favour. Elsie goes for an interview at a gown shop. She doesn't get the job. Hilda, Vera and Ivy leave for France and Vera tries to chat up the Coach Driver. When a lorry driver, Fangio, pats Gail's bottom, Emily threatens to throw him out. She tells Sedgewick the place is a pigsty and refuses to work in it any more. Len tells Mavis that Rita will be back. Rita contacts Ralph Lancaster for work, telling him that she's left Len. He asks her to see him.

E6. Episode 1962 (21st January 1980)

Jan 21, 1980 · 25m

Rita asks Mavis to get her cabaret clothes out of the house behind Len's back. Mavis refuses to get involved. Eddie asks Stan if he can use No.13 to court Lorna Ferguson whilst Hilda is away - Stan agrees. Gail can't cope on her own at the cafe as Mrs. Bolton is too slow. Jim Sedgewick helps out and tells her that she'll have to work Sunday as well. She protests but he threatens to sack her if she doesn't. Rita returns home for her dresses. Fred tells Len that he's seen her and Len returns home in time to catch her. He assumes she's back to stay and gloats. She tells him that she's only come for her things and leaves. Ralph Lancaster escorts Rita to a cabaret engagement. Len loans Elsie money. Lorna encourages Eddie to think of his future. He realises he wants to settle down. Len tells Elsie that Rita has left him. Stan barges into No.13 and interrupts Eddie and Lorna. Ralph offers a flat to Rita. She knows there's strings attached.

E7. Episode 1963 (23rd January 1980)

Jan 23, 1980 · 25m

Elsie cooks hotpot for Len. She tells him that he should swallow his pride; his marriage is worth fighting for. Eddie goes for his dinner with Lorna Ferguson. Rita gives Mavis her address in Salford. Brian is annoyed that Jim Sedgewick is working Gail too hard. Fred gives Stan £3 to let him entertain a woman at No.13 for the evening. Elsie advises Mavis to give Rita's address to Len, telling her that she's the only one who can reconcile them. She gives him the address. Eddie tells Stan he wants to entertain Lorna in the house; Fred will have to go somewhere else. Ralph Lancaster shows Rita the flat and offers it to her rent-free. He tells her that her future bookings at the Gatsby Club rely on whether or not she takes the flat. Len arrives and is furious to see Ralph. Ralph tells him that Rita's finished with him but Len scares him off. Len promises to do the alterations to No.9 but Rita tells him that he's only missing her as a housekeeper. She tells him that she's a woman but he's too wrapped up in his grotty world to see that. He hits her across the face. She breaks down and throws him out. Elsie helps Gail out at the cafe. Sedgewick is impressed at the way she handles Clarkie, one of the lorry drivers. He offers her a job but she refuses it. Fred and Eddie clash over using No.13. Eddie throws Fred and his girl out. Len returns to Rita's lodgings to find she's gone.

E8. Episode 1964 (28th January 1980)

Jan 28, 1980 · 25m

Deirdre throws a party for Tracy's third birthday. Lorna Ferguson helps Stan tidy No.13 as Hilda is returning. Len tells Elsie he's angry with himself for letting Rita slip through his fingers. Hilda, Vera and Ivy return from France. Hilda is suspicious as the house is so tidy. She gives Stan a model of the Eiffel Tower as a present. Len offers Rita's job at The Kabin to Elsie. She turns it down for Rita's sake. Fred tells Hilda he wants £3 from Stan. Mrs. Bolton walks out of the cafe, leaving Gail on her own. Elsie agrees to join the staff.

E9. Episode 1965 (30th January 1980)

Jan 30, 1980 · 25m

Stan tells Hilda the £3 was a bet from Fred and the house is tidy as Lorna Ferguson tidied up. She refuses to believe Lorna exists. Elsie starts work at Jim's Cafe. Ken and Alf looks for somewhere for Ena to stay as her flat is being decorated. Fred tells Hilda that Stan has been renting the house out to couples. She is horrified and threatens Stan with a poker for using the house for lust and immorality. Eddie turns up with Lorna - Hilda is surprised that she's so respectable. Hilda encourages Lorna to go steady with Eddie who gets nervous that marriage is being hinted at. Elsie makes Len realise that Rita left him because he's selfish. Ken cooks Deirdre a meal. Len makes an announcement in the Rovers that Rita has left him. Elsie agrees to take Ena in, mainly to stop people gossiping about her and Len. Ken feels he has to propose to Deirdre when she tells him that she's open to offers.

E10. Episode 1966 (4th February 1980)

Feb 4, 1980 · 25m

The Town Hall receives a letter from Charleville complaining about the workers' behaviour. Ivy tells Vera she's in trouble. Ena doesn't like the idea of living with Elsie but has little choice as the builders move into the Community Centre. Annie is ill and Betty and Bet have to man the Rovers. Vera worries that the Charleville police might be after her. Ena moves into No.11, horrified by the state of it. She sets to tidying up and stocking the kitchen. Les Carter, a reporter on the Gazette, investigates the French goings-on. Getting nothing from Bet, he turns up in the factory but an upset Vera and Ivy say they can't help him. Vera, Ivy and Hilda agree to keep quiet about the rave-up because they don't want their spouses to find out. Elsie welcomes Ena but refuses to drink in the snug with her when they go to the Rovers, even when offered Martha Longhurst's chair. Carter swears to Bet that he's going to get to the bottom of the story.

E11. Episode 1967 (6th February 1980)

Feb 6, 1980 · 25m

Deirdre hasn't heard from Ken and fears she's frightened him off. Annie has had to go to Derby to look after Joan who is ill with mumps. Les Carter discovers from a journalist in France that the English party were given an official dinner, and some of the women left to party with a load of ex-paras. They ended up playing football with a gendarme's hat. The next day a pair of knickers were found flying on the flagpole. Carter gets hold of a photo of three of the women doing the cancan. Alf refuses to identify any of the them, as do Betty or Bet. Vera confesses to Ivy that she brought the gendarme's helmet home with her. The Gazette prints the story. Hilda is upset that Stan doesn't believe she took part in the rave-up. Ena tells Elsie that if she stays with her they'll be at each other's throats so she's going to St Annes.

E12. Episode 1968 (11th February 1980)

Feb 11, 1980 · 25m

Mavis is haunted by phone calls from a mystery man who knows her name and tells her he wants to see her in her nightie. Albert tells Ken that Deirdre is after a husband. Ken tells him it's none of his business. Deirdre helps Mavis out at The Kabin for some extra money. Mavis calls in the police over the caller. They think the caller is a customer. Gail is annoyed when Brian spends money on records rather than saving up for a house deposit. The police persuade Mavis to agree to meeting the caller, they will be watching. Len visits the Gatsby Club and asks Ralph Lancaster where Rita is. Ralph says he doesn't know and threatens him with his bouncer. Mavis waits in the precinct but the man doesn't turn up.

E13. Episode 1969 (13th February 1980)

Feb 13, 1980 · 25m

Len searches out Harry Bates to see if he's seen Rita. Albert thinks Deirdre is taking Ken for a ride. When the caller rings, Mavis tells him off for not turning up. She arranges to meet him again. Albert tells Ken that Deirdre is a load of trouble and advises him to stay clear of her. Len tells Annie that Harry says he hasn't seen Rita in years. Mavis waits in the same spot in the precinct. Eddie sees her and stops for a chat, the police jump him and arrest him for being the caller. Mavis follows them on to the police station and makes them see he's not the man. Gail discovers Brian has received a Valentine from an unknown woman. Eddie is shocked that the police think him capable of being a sex maniac. "Lover Boy" phones Mavis and tells her that he saw the police arrest Eddie. He tells her that she's disappointed him and he won't ring again. She feels like apologising to him. Ken tells Deirdre he doesn't want to risk a third marriage and thinks he's too old for her. Deirdre is upset. Len is adamant Ralph Lancaster knows where Rita is. When Ralph offers him a woman from the Gatsby Club Len hits him. Ralph has him thrown out of the club.

E14. Episode 1970 (18th February 1980)

Feb 18, 1980 · 25m

Brian spends the night on the sofa. Deirdre goes to see Blanche so Mavis is alone again. She tells Len she can't cope so Len tells her to hire someone. Ivy wants to know why Brian and Gail are arguing. Mavis doesn't like Doreen Lovell who is sent from the Job Centre as she's bossy but Len takes her on. Len gets dressed up to go to the new Playmates club in town with Mike but Mike dumps him for a girl. Brian accuses Gail of being a nag. Gail is upset that Brian isn't saving properly. Elsie cheers her up by telling her it'll get a lot worse. A drunk Len tries to get Elsie or Bet to spend the evening with him as he's so lonely. Gail refuses to let Brian off the hook and makes his bed up on the sofa again.

E15. Episode 1971 (20th February 1980)

Feb 20, 1980 · 25m

Renee and Alf discover Bet owes over £20 for cigarettes she's taken while living in the flat. Alf tells Renee it's nothing to do with him. Bert tries to give Brian some marital advice but Brian isn't interested. Doreen Lovell treats Mavis like a junior. Ivy thinks Brian has fallen out with Gail about her overspending. Gail is outraged and gets Brian to tell Ivy it was him who was overspending, not her. Mavis puts Doreen onto a better job at a dress shop in the precinct and is relieved when she's taken on. Alf fails to get the money out of Bet. Brian and Gail make up. Sam Littlewood arrives looking for Len. He tells him that Rita's with him in Blackpool. She says she never wants to see Len again but Sam urges him to fetch her home. Len refuses.

E16. Episode 1972 (25th February 1980)

Feb 25, 1980 · 25m

Fred upsets Hilda by telling her Stan doesn't care about her and it's obvious she's spent her whole life supporting him. She is so angry she walks out of the Rovers in the middle of her work. Stan gets a letter from a solicitor asking him to call. Betty is furious that Fred has upset Hilda into resigning, especially as Annie is away and she's responsible for the pub. Ken tries to explain to Emily why he can't marry Deirdre. Hilda urges Stan to go to the solicitors but he fears they might have something on him. At the cafe, Elsie is persuaded to take lorry driver Ian McAllister in for the night on a B&B basis. She enjoys the neighbours thinking she's taken him in permanently. Fred offers an apology of sorts to Hilda and she tells him and Betty she'll see them tomorrow morning. Pushed by an angry Sam Littlewood, Len decides to go to Blackpool to find Rita.

E17. Episode 1973 (27th February 1980)

Feb 27, 1980 · 25m

Elsie enjoys having Ian McAllister about the house. Alf asks Len to look at his guttering but Len tells him he's off to Blackpool to find Rita. Stan is nervous of what the solicitors want and avoids them. Renee gossips to Emily about Ian. The solicitors, Rosenfield, Blackburn and Fox, write again telling Stan that Dora Entwistle of 2, Chapel Yard in Weatherfield has named him as a beneficiary in her will. Hilda wants to know who she was to Stan. He says he's never heard of her. Len finds Rita working at the launderette in Blackpool that Sam told her about. She is shocked that he's tracked her down. She tells him they've got nothing to talk about. He begs her to return home and have a fresh start. He promises he'll change but she doesn't believe him. She knows he means it now but also knows that really he doesn't care enough about her to change. She tells him it's too late and walks off.

E18. Episode 1974 (3rd March 1980)

Mar 3, 1980 · 25m

A fed-up Mavis decides to take someone on at The Kabin without consulting Len. Len realises his marriage is over. He breaks down, telling Elsie he loves Rita. After being upbraided by Mrs. Tetlow for giving her the wrong change, Mavis takes cheerful papergirl Louise Clayton on at The Kabin full-time. Rita returns home for good. She tells a relieved Len she realises he's the closest person to her and she can't leave him - she can't face the future on her own. Len thanks her for returning. Stan is left £100 and a pot dog by Dora Entwistle. Annie reads of the bequest in the Gazette and congratulates Stan but Hilda is suspicious when Bet tells her that Dora was to Chapel Yard what Elsie is to Coronation Street. Lorry driver Dan Johnson turns up at No.11 after Ian McAllister recommended it to him. Elsie is annoyed and tells him that she's not running a boarding house but he charms her into letting her stay.

E19. Episode 1975 (5th March 1980)

Mar 5, 1980 · 25m

Elsie puts Dan Johnson up for the night, but tells him it's a one-off. Rita tells Len she's not returning to The Kabin. She tells Len she wants to be a housewife. Louise Clayton starts work at The Kabin, and she provides a record player so they can play the stock. Stan is unable to cash his inheritance cheque as he hasn't got a bank account. Annie cashes the cheque for him. Rita braves the Rovers' customers. She tells Louise she can stay on at The Kabin as she's retired. Rita tells Mavis she wants to start afresh with Len, away from the Street. Hilda threatens to leave Stan unless he shares the money with her. He gives her £20. Dan gives Elsie a new handbag and persuades her to let him stay another night. She worries about her reputation, but allows him to take her to the Rovers where Bet also takes a fancy to him.

E20. Episode 1976 (10th March 1980)

Mar 10, 1980 · 25m

Annie decides to extend the food menu at the Rovers. She starts soup and sandwiches. Betty, Bet and Fred realise it'll mean extra work. Fred is voted to ask Annie for more money. Len and Rita look at some houses near the East Lancs Road at Rita's insistence. Hilda is hurt when Annie spurns her offer to assist at lunchtimes. Deirdre returns from Blanche's. Elsie continues to put Dan Johnson up. Rita wants a semi but Len is horrified at the thought of paying £25,000 for a house. Annie agrees to give the staff a pay rise and, at Fred's suggestion, considers having a bell fitted so she can ring when food is ready to be served. Gail teases Brian that Fangio has been chatting her up. Dan's lorry has to be repaired so he'll be around for a few days. Elsie isn't sure if she's doing the right thing.

E21. Episode 1977 (12th March 1980)

Mar 12, 1980 · 25m

Fred installs the bell push in the Rovers, much to Betty's disdain. Rita and Len view a house in Handforth owned by Mrs. Lambert. Brian is annoyed that Gail is chatted up a lot by lorry drivers at the cafe. Elsie is flattered as Dan Johnson appears to fancy her. Brian finds Fangio with his arm round Gail. Elsie has to stop him from fighting. Len doesn't like the house as it's surrounded by golf-playing neighbours who have Sunday morning drink parties. Things are awkward between Ken and Deirdre when they meet. Rita realises the house isn't for Len and is taken aback when he offers to make an offer on it. She tells him that she doesn't want the house. Gail makes Brian see that the lorry drivers don't mean what they say to her. Annie enjoys ringing the bell, once for Betty, twice for Bet and three times for Fred but she puts off Fred's questions about a pay rise. Dan makes Elsie feel cared for but behind her back he rings his girlfriend in Bristol, telling her that he'll be visiting her.

E22. Episode 1978 (17th March 1980)

Mar 17, 1980 · 25m

Annie's friend Olive Taylor-Brown is to call on her from Derbyshire to go to a Ladies' Evening. Annie gets Hilda cleaning to await her arrival. Len installs new kitchen units at No.9 with the help of Eddie. A lorry driver, Ernie, tells Gail that Dan Johnson has a woman in every city. She tells Elsie. Elsie tells Gail it's nothing to do with her and is cool towards Dan when he arrives to stay. Dan asks Ernie if he's been saying anything and he tells him of his conversation with Gail. Hilda noses round the improvements at No.9. Fred chauffeurs Mrs Taylor-Brown to the Rovers where she is impressed by Annie's bell. Elsie warns Dan not to take her for a fool.

E23. Episode 1979 (19th March 1980)

Mar 19, 1980 · 25m

Annie has the staff waiting on her lunch table to impress Olive Taylor-Brown although they fail to respond to her bell calls as they are so busy and Hilda has to step in. Bet flirts with Dan Johnson. He takes a fancy to her and asks her out. Betty warns her that Elsie won't like it. Fred is forced to chauffeur Annie and Olive to their Ladies' Evening. Dan tells Elsie he's meeting a mate but really goes out with Bet. Fred puts Annie's handbag on the car roof and it falls off when he drives away from the Rovers. Stan finds it and gives it to Hilda. Hilda sets off to the function with it as it has the tickets in it. Hilda saves Annie from the embarrassing situation and she gives her £5 reward and £2 for the taxi she had to use to the get to the Assembly Rooms. She also makes Fred chauffeur her home. Rita is pleased with the new kitchen. Len tells her that he's going to install central heating. Elsie sees Dan kissing Bet goodnight, she throws his things out into the Street and tells him that she never wants to see him again.

E24. Episode 1980 (24th March 1980)

Mar 24, 1980 · 25m

As penance for losing the handbag, Fred "volunteers" to give up his day off to drive Olive Taylor-Brown home to Derbyshire. Mike considers making Ivy supervisor. Bert tells Ivy. When Elsie tackles Bet about Dan Johnson, she apologises. Elsie warns her not to make a fool of her. Bet tells her Dan told her he was a free agent. Elsie accuses Bet of throwing herself at Dan. When Bet accuses her of keeping an open house for lorry drivers Elsie calls her a foul-mouthed, cheap floozy. Len stops them fighting. Aspinall's buyer, Pauline Stringer looks over the factory, checking their order. Deirdre gets a job at Weatherfield Rainwear. Emily is pleased for her but isn't sure if she's up to looking after Tracy all day. A salesman takes advantage of Louise Clayton being on her own and gets her to sign for a load of magazines. The magazines turn out to be pornographic - Mavis is horrified but Bert buys one. Pauline finds some duff denim hidden at the bottom of the order. Mike likes the way she works and offers her a job as production controller, supervising the workforce. He offers her £5 a week more than her present salary.

E25. Episode 1981 (26th March 1980)

Mar 26, 1980 · 25m

Len is furious that the porn salesman managed to leave stock at The Kabin. He tells Mavis to burn it all but she points out it's sale or return and they all cost £10. Mike lets Ivy believe she's going to be supervisor. Emily admits to Deirdre that she feels trapped in the house with Tracy. Deirdre realises she's been taking her for granted and won't take the job. Mavis is aghast when the porn salesman offers her a commission for selling his magazines. She throws him and the magazines out. She complains to the salesman's boss. Aspinall's offers Pauline £10 a week more to stay but Mike offers £15. The salesman is sacked as he was moonlighting with Teaser magazine. When he threatens Mavis, Len throws him out. Pauline Stringer agrees to start as supervisor at Baldwin's. Deirdre decides to give up the job at Weatherfield Rainwear. She and Emily contemplate starting their own secretarial agency when Alf suggests the idea. Ivy shocks Mike by telling him Pauline is a well known unionist.

E26. Episode 1982 (31st March 1980)

Mar 31, 1980 · 25m

Vera tells Alf and Renee that she is delighted that Pauline Stringer has been taken on by Mike as she's on the side of the workers. Len paints old radiators to look new to make up the central heating system at No.9 and pays Eddie to do some work for him. Pauline does a timekeeping assessment, interesting Mike who sees an opportunity to sack a few people. He is disturbed to find she reads Socialist Worker. Rita sees the old radiators and Len and Eddie cover for where they're intended for. Len gives her money to go shopping and get her out of the way. Deirdre reminds Alf to get some work for her from the Town Hall. Ivy decides to use Pauline to get concessions from Mike. The Community Centre frontage has been redesigned and the whole building is undergoing decoration. Ken expects Ena to return from St Annes next week but she arrives early and can't get in as it's a new door. Elsie tells her the decorators haven't finished and she storms over to the Corner Shop to demand answers from Alf but he denies it's his responsibility. She dumps herself on Albert. Mike is annoyed when Pauline gets on with the girls when she tells them what she got for the staff at Aspinall's. She finds out that Ivy is the shop steward but Ida lets slip there was no election. Eddie is disappointed when Len only pays him £5 and he's still owed £30 from what Belshaw's owe Len. Deirdre writes to them for him to demand the sum. Ken is annoyed that Albert didn't tell him about Ena's postcard advising of her early return and offers to put her up, giving up his bed. Ivy tells Pauline that the girls want a rest room and Pauline checks with the Garments Workers' Union to see if Ivy is the official shop steward. Mike is pleased. Annie sends Fred on an errand in Jubilee Terrace. He returns late, having called into The Flying Horse where he's discovered that they have started a barbershop quartet. Pauline discovers Ivy is not on the union books. Mike gleefully tells Ivy the news and that the girls will hav

E27. Episode 1983 (2nd April 1980)

Apr 2, 1980 · 25m

Vera tells Alf and Renee that Ida is challenging Ivy for the stop steward job. Albert doesn't like Ena staying at No.1 and urges Ken to get her flat ready quickly. Belshaw's send Len a cheque. Eddie can now get his £30 owing but Len refuses him a bonus for getting the money for him. Ivy and Ida bicker over the sewing machines about the election. Mike is nervous about who will win. Deirdre is despondent that work is slow to come in. Flying Horse landlord Tony Hayes has challenged Fred to a barbershop competition with the Rovers and he tries to find a quartet. Renee pushes Alf to volunteer. The atmosphere in the sewing room is bad and Pauline suggests the vote is held at dinner time. Ida wants the election to be a secret ballot. Eddie agree to join Fred and Alf in the quartet but Len refuses. Albert is pleased with a potato pie that Ena bakes but they continue to argue. She makes him do the washing-up. Bert agrees to be the final member of the quartet. The ballot papers are filled in for the election. Ivy worries about the result. Annie reminds Fred that the good name of the Rovers is at stake. Fred sets up the competition for next Monday. The men are horrified. They practice, singing Sweet Adeline, amusing Elsie and the regulars with their poor performance. Ena points out that Fred is the one out of key. The others agree and drop him and they instantly improve. Pauline gives the results: Ida gets 14 votes but Ivy wins with 17. The two make up. Ken tells Albert that the decorators won't be starting on Ena's flat until after Easter. He breaks the news to her when she comes back from the pub. Ena angrily tells Ken that he and the committee have messed her about for long enough. She announces that she is going back to Henry Foster in St Annes and threatens not to return. Albert is delighted. Fred and Alf realise there's nothing in the rules which says the quartet must all be men and press gang Renee into joining them after Rita refuses.

E28. Episode 1984 (7th April 1980)

Apr 7, 1980 · 25m

Susan Barlow turns up unannounced with boyfriend Duncan Craig who she is on a cycling holiday with. Ken is delighted to see them but is shocked that they're holidaying together. Rita is annoyed that the radiators are old - she accuses Len of palming her off with rubbish. Renee dresses up as a man for the barbershop quartet contest. Rita is pleased when Len finishes the central heating. Tony Hayes complains about Renee being in the quartet but backs down when Ivy threatens a female boycott on The Flying Horse. Fred has to admit that The Flying Horse quartet are better singers and buys their team drinks as a prize. Emily organises a party for Mavis's birthday. Rita is delighted to walk into a warm house. Ken makes Susan and Duncan sleep in separate rooms. Albert tells Ken he can't allow Susan to go on holiday with Duncan as he's nineteen and she's only sixteen.

E29. Episode 1985 (9th April 1980)

Apr 9, 1980 · 25m

Rita is thrilled to wake up in the warmth for the first time in her life. Susan tells Ken that both she and Peter wish he'd marry again. She is angry that Ken doesn't trust her with Duncan Craig and makes him see that she isn't a child any more. Duncan and Susan leave for Wales. Ken is pleased at Susan's mature attitude but Albert sulks that he didn't stop them going off together. Ivy snoops round Len's alterations at No.9 and is surprised that it looks so nice after having been catty to Rita earlier. Mavis fears no one will come to her party. When Rita sees the poor turnout she sends Len to the Rovers to press gang the regulars into attending. Bet is pleased when Dan Johnson phones to say he'll be seeing her soon. Mavis is thrilled when the guests arrive. She is touched when Emily presents her with a birthday cake and her friends sing Happy Birthday.

E30. Episode 1986 (14th April 1980)

Apr 14, 1980 · 25m

Hilda gets the chance of a free lift to Chesterfield to visit son Trevor overnight and takes advantage of it. Gail buys a seascape picture and Ivy lets her hang it at No.5. Bet gets a night off to spend with Dan Johnson. Hilda gives Eddie permission to entertain a girl for the evening at No.13 in her absence as she thinks he means Lorna Ferguson, but he brings Pat Marshall round instead. She frightens Stan. Eddie is put out when she wants to hang round Stan instead of him. Dan assures Bet there was nothing between him and Elsie. Brian and Gail plan to throw their first dinner party for some friends on Friday but Ivy has invited the Duckworths round on the same evening to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Alf and Renee are upset when Dan spends the night with Bet. Hilda returns at 1.00am to find Eddie and Pat in her parlour. She throws them out. Stan hears noises downstairs, thinks Pat has gone to fetch one of her friends for him and expresses his glee to Eddie, but Hilda overhears him.