Season 24

E1. Mon Jan 3 1983

Jan 3, 1983 · 24m

Mike tries to keep Deirdre with him for as long as possible. Betty is upset when drunken Fred tells her that she's got a fat backside. She goes home in a huff. Deirdre returns home in the early hours. She enjoyed talking to Mike. He admits that he misses Maggie and still hurts. Jack gatecrashes the Rovers' party and plays the piano, disturbing Annie. The next morning, Betty and Fred refuse to speak to each other. Betty points out that she's always having to help him out of scrapes. Fred throws Gordon Clegg's illegitimacy in her face. She is horrified to find that Bet told Fred about Ted Farrell and resigns from the Rovers.

E2. Episode 2271 (5th January 1983)

Jan 5, 1983 · 25m

Bet refuses to work on her day off. Annie tells Fred that he'll have to cope on his own. Blanche writes to Deirdre offering the family a holiday. Ken tells Deirdre he hasn't got the time. Annie persuades Bet to work, telling her that she doesn't have to talk to Fred. The customers leave the pub because of the icy atmosphere. Deirdre feels bored with Ken and, telling him she's seeing a girlfriend, calls on Mike. He tells her that she needs him as he's not reliable or steady. She feels frightened of her feelings for him. Annie summons Betty, Bet and Fred and tells them if they don't cheer up, she'll sack them all. To get away from Mike for a bit, Deirdre decides to visit Blanche.

E3. Episode 2272 (10th January 1983)

Jan 10, 1983 · 25m

Eddie worries about Chalkie when he doesn't turn up for work. The garage roof leaks. Brian wants Len to repair it as he owes him for repairing his van. Eddie and Marion find Chalkie in bed with flu. He refuses to see a doctor. Mike is surprised to find Deirdre has gone to visit Blanche. Bert doesn't like being off work with his arm. Chalkie wants a nursemaid, hoping for Bet or Elsie but Eddie gets Phyllis to look after him. Sammy Patel phones and asks to see Vera and the girls. Phyllis forces medicine down Chalkie. Eddie enjoys driving the wagon. Len refuses to mend Brian's roof, telling Rita that he blames him for Sharon leaving.

E4. Episode 2273 (12th January 1983)

Jan 12, 1983 · 25m

Ivy is annoyed when Sammy Patel visits the girls. She warns him that they can't make any more bags. He tells them that he wants one hundred bags a week more from them. The girls tell him they can't help. He tries to tempt them with £100 a week. Brian tackles Len about his attitude. Len tells him that they haven't got a deal any more. Sammy offers the girls £150 a week. Brian gives Len a bill for £80 for the work he's done on the van. Len scrunches it up and refuses to pay. Rita and Gail stop Len and Brian fighting. Elsie, Ida and Vera decide to make the bags for Sammy.

E5. Episode 2274 (17th January 1983)

Jan 17, 1983 · 25m

Elsie and Ida tell Vera that it's too risky to make the bags. Deirdre returns home and she is pleased when Ken suggests a family outing to see Aladdin. Ken applies for the job of Deputy Director of Social Services. Mike finds out about Sammy Patel visiting the girls. He accuses them of making more bags and sacks them. The girls maintain their innocence and tell him that Sammy was offering £150 a week. Phyllis reads Chalkie's bank book and discovers he's got £300 saved. She is upset when he eats Elsie's dinner rather than hers. Eddie names the bin wagon Rosie and hopes to drive it full-time. Ken pulls out of the pantomime as he's working. Deirdre is disappointed. Mike sends for Sammy and tells him that he'll supply five hundred bags a week for £1.75 each. Mike invites Deirdre out for a meal - she agrees.

E6. Episode 2275 (19th January 1983)

Jan 19, 1983 · 25m

Ken is enthusiastic about the job and is sure he'll get it. The girls refuse to make any bags until Mike agrees to pay them a bonus as they designed the bags in the first place. Mike worries that he'll lose the deal and agrees to pay the girls. Phyllis is furious to discover that Chalkie has had a letter from Craig. Deirdre pretends to see friend Carol, but really goes out with Mike. He takes her to an expensive restaurant. She realises Ken no longer notices her any more. After the meal she agrees to go back to Mike's flat. They kiss.

E7. Episode 2276 (24th January 1983)

Jan 24, 1983 · 25m

Deirdre returned home at 1.00am. Ken goes for the job interview and tells Deirdre that he'll take her out for a meal to celebrate afterwards. Mike invites her out for a meal the next day - she agrees. Suzie Birchall hitches a lift to Weatherfield from London and arrives on Gail's doorstep. Eddie reverses the binwagon into Annie's Rover after Fred drives it round the corner of the Rovers. The front of the car is smashed in but no one witnessed the smash. Eddie accuses Fred of driving the car into the van. Annie is horrified that the Rover has been damaged. Fred takes the car to Brian. Brian tells him that it'll cost and he can't start work until the insurance company gives the go-ahead. Ken enjoys the interview and is confident. Brian tells Suzie that she can sleep on their sofa. Gail isn't too sure.

E8. Episode 2277 (26th January 1983)

Jan 26, 1983 · 25m

Gail doesn't like Suzie walking round in skimpy nighties. Annie holds Fred responsible for the crash. Ken springs a night out dance on Deirdre. She is alarmed as she was planning to see Mike. Ken tells her that all his bosses will be at the dance so she agrees. Elsie is delighted to see Suzie. The insurance man, Mr. Powell, inspects the car and tells Annie it's a write-off; the repair cost is more than the car's worth. Suzie asks Mike for a job and throws herself at him. Mike tells her that he can't employ her or take her out. Annie is distraught to find the Rover isn't worth £500. Deirdre tells Mike she can't see him as she's going to the Probation Officers Ball. Emily innocently overhears Mike's side of the phone call. Emily babysits for the Barlows, she is alarmed to discover they are going to the Probation Officers Ball and realises that Deirdre was Mike's date.

E9. Episode 2278 (31st January 1983)

Jan 31, 1983 · 25m

Fred looks into a new Rover for Annie to buy. Emily tells Deirdre about overhearing her phone conversation with Mike and knows about her affair. Deirdre tells her it's none of her business. Her defence makes Emily realise she was right about the affair. Suzie annoys Gail by going on about her high-life in London whilst complaining about boring Weatherfield. Gail asks her to find somewhere else to live soon as there's no room in her house. They gang up on Elsie and ask her to get Marion to share her room. Deirdre tells Mike that Emily knows about them. Elsie talks Marion into sharing her room with Suzie by knocking £6 a week off her rent. Annie decides a new car would be expensive and decides to use taxis in future. Fred is annoyed. Suzie moves in with Marion. Deirdre apologises to Emily for shouting at her and admits to seeing Mike. She tries to explain how boring marriage to Ken is. Mike has given her something in her life which she feels she needs. Emily tells her that she's putting her marriage on the line. Emily begs her to think of the consequences of the affair.

E10. Episode 2279 (2nd February 1983)

Feb 2, 1983 · 25m

Marion feels that Suzie is a cheap tart and doesn't like sharing a bedroom with her. Chalkie has a relapse and has to stay off work. Phyllis hears a rumour that the council are going to knock her street down. Betty is ill with a virus leaving the Rovers short-staffed. Emily walks out of the Rovers when she's caught between Mike and Ken. She tells Mike that he's behaving outrageously; he's putting a marriage and a child's future at risk. She begs him to stop the affair. Mike tells her that he wants more from Deirdre than a casual fling. Emily urges him to consider Tracy. Phyllis is told her house is going to be flattened and she has to move. Fred discovers Suzie has bar experience and asks her to join the Rovers. She agrees. Deirdre tells Mike that she still intends on seeing him.

E11. Episode 2280 (7th February 1983)

Feb 7, 1983 · 25m

Annie refuses to employ Suzie, feeling she'd be unsuitable. Suzie wins her round by telling her she worked at the London Hilton. Brian gets the Rover on the road after buying it for scrap value. Brian gets someone else to repair his roof and demands Len pays his bill. Len tears the bill up and tells him to take him to court. Deirdre spends the afternoon with Mike. She finds the deceit hard to live with but needs Mike. She agrees with Mike that they're in love. Fred is thrilled to have Suzie behind the bar with him but disappointed when she tells him that she doesn't fancy him. Bert tries to make the peace between Len and Brian but Len refuses to listen. Emily finds it impossible working with Mike. He tells her that she can leave whenever she wants to. Deirdre feels guilty when Ken starts talking about a holiday. She is stunned when he's got a cancellation and they're going next week. Brian has to sell the Rover to pay for his roof repairs.

E12. Episode 2281 (9th February 1983)

Feb 9, 1983 · 25m

Emily tells Deirdre that she's doing the same thing as Ray Langton did. Fred wants to buy the Rover off Brian but has no money. Brian repossesses the battery from Len's van. Annie is horrified when Fred buys the Rover, telling him that he's beneath her contempt. Fred borrowed the £250 off a moneylender to buy the car. Deirdre feels that she's two different people. She doesn't know if all the lies are worth it. Mike suggests she leaves Ken and marries him. She feels that she's being pulled by everyone. Mike urges her not to waste her life. She realises he's right. Bet is jealous of Suzie's youth and popularity behind the bar. Fred runs Suzie out to Southport in the Rover. Len spends ages searching for a new battery when he discovers his has been stolen. He decides to end the feud and gives Brian the £84. Brian returns £20, telling him he took the battery back. Deirdre decides to leave Ken whilst he's happy about the job. She prepares herself to tell him but finds him depressed as he hasn't got the job. He is bitter that he's suffered another failure.

E13. Episode 2282 (16th February 1983)

Feb 16, 1983 · 25m

Chalkie puts No.9 up for sale as Bob Whitely needs the money. Chalkie plans to move to a council flat by the park. Ken can't believe that he hasn't got the job and wants to find out why. An anonymous Valentine is sent to "the redhead" at No.11. As all three occupants are redheads they don't know who it's from. Ken asks Alf to find out why he didn't get the job. Fred tells Suzie that he wrote the Valentine to her - she is horrified. Stan finds it impossible to climb his ladders any more. His customers refuse to pay him for just cleaning downstairs. Fred reorganises the bar so that Suzie has to bend down to get beers. Stan gives Hilda his day's takings - only £8. She tells him it's not good enough. Deirdre can't bring herself to leave Ken as he's so down. Mike promises he'll look after Tracy. He tells her that they should go away together for a few days.

E14. Episode 2283 (17th February 1983)

Feb 17, 1983 · 25m

Eddie's building society account interest amounts to £92.08. He is amazed. Deirdre tells Mike that it's going to be hard to get away for the weekend. Stan visits Syd Kippax, a moneylender, and asks him to extend his loan. Kippax refuses him any more until he repays his original loan. Alf tells Deirdre that Ken didn't get the job as the committee thought he didn't have enough energy or drive. Marion is annoyed when Suzie doesn't pull her weight. Elsie threatens to throw her out if she doesn't do her share. Marion is upset when Suzie says Eddie only calls round the house to see her in her skimpy outfits. Deirdre gets angry when Ken feels his life is dull and pointless. She tells him that he's pathetic, all he needs to be is enthusiastic. She tells him that he was too boring for the job. He is furious and upset. When he resigns himself to being boring, Deirdre tells him that she wants more from life than what he gives her and she's found someone else - Mike.

E15. Episode 2284 (21st February 1983)

Feb 21, 1983 · 25m

Ken sleeps on the sofa. When Albert finds him there in the morning he realises something is wrong but Ken tells him to mind his own business. Ken gets Albert out of the house before laying into Deirdre. Deirdre apologises for hurting Ken but he tells her it's too late for her to be sorry. Suzie starts doing more work than usual as Annie returns from visiting Joan. Fred is annoyed as Annie still treats the Rover as if it was hers. Ken wants to know Deirdre's plans and accuses her of being selfish. She accuses him of never wanting her, just someone to clean up after him. Albert feels in the way at No.1 as the Barlows row. Deirdre accuses Ken of tolerating her and it feels as if they've been married for twenty years. Mike calls on Deirdre. She tells him Ken knows, she has to stop Ken from hitting Mike whilst he drags her away from Mike, nearly hitting her in the process. Fred tackles Annie for petrol money but she ignores him. Ken calls Deirdre calculating and tells her she's killed their marriage; she must pack and get out.

E16. Episode 2285 (23rd February 1983)

Feb 23, 1983 · 25m

Deirdre gives her job up and packs hers and Tracy's bags. Ken tells Albert that Deirdre and Tracy are leaving for good. Albert is heartbroken and tells them he's sick and disgusted with them. Annie is pleased when Betty is well enough to return home. Stan fears Syd Kippax will take the house off him. Deirdre tells Ken she's going to stay with Blanche. He is furious that she isn't going to Mike's. He tells her to remember that she's wrecked their marriage and tells her never to return once she's walked out of the door. He breaks down as she leaves but she returns, telling him that she can't go. She begs him not to make her go and tells him that she'll do anything to stay. They are reconciled. Ken calls on Mike at the factory and tells him that Deirdre doesn't want to see him again. Mike refuses to believe Deirdre isn't leaving Ken. Eddie helps Stan chase up bad payers. He discovers Stan has let the round disintegrate. Emily is delighted to hear Deirdre is staying with Ken. Albert weeps when Deirdre tells him that she's not leaving. Fred advises Annie to keep Suzie on and get rid of Bet or Betty. Ken books an immediate holiday in Malta for Deirdre. Mike calls at No.1 and accuses Ken of keeping Deirdre from him. Deirdre tells him herself that she's staying with Ken.

E17. Episode 2286 (28th February 1983)

Feb 28, 1983 · 25m

Mike is annoyed that the Barlows have left for Malta, depriving him of the chance to speak to Deirdre. Emily tells him that she's glad. Betty returns to work. Bet worries that Annie will replace her with Suzie. Alf trips on one of Bet's shoes and falls down the stairs. Annie tells the staff that Suzie has to leave as Betty is back. Len rings for a doctor who tells Alf his ankle is sprained. He has to rest up for a few weeks. Marion tells Eddie that she saw Stan going into a cinema in Manchester when he should have been working. Alf asks Bet to look after the shop but she refuses as she has to work at the Rovers. Moneylender Syd Kippax calls at No.13 and tells a shocked Hilda that Stan owes him £185 and has twenty-four hours to pay up. She breaks down, upset that Stan has resorted to borrowing money. Stan tells her that he hasn't been able to work and spends all his days at the pictures. He is distraught to see Hilda so upset and weeps in frustration.

E18. Episode 2287 (2nd March 1983)

Mar 2, 1983 · 25m

Hilda is upset to discover that Stan was frightened of her and borrowed money to give her housekeeping. She is touched when he tells her how he can't climb ladders in the bad weather. Annie makes Bet help Alf out at the shop and takes Suzie back on at the Rovers. Bet is furious. Eddie realises that something is troubling the Ogdens. Stan tells Syd Kippax that he can't repay him at the moment and asks for more time. Eddie finds Kippax at No.13 and throws him out, telling Stan he's stupid to have borrowed money from someone like him. Hilda wants to ask Trevor for the money but Stan refuses to borrow from him or Eddie. Bet gets revenge on Annie by letting her walk in on Alf whilst he's in the nude as he changes his pyjamas in the back room of the shop. Hilda asks Mike to re-employ her at the factory. He refuses as the girls would object. Eddie buys Stan's window round for £185 and tells him that he's now employed. The Ogdens are thrilled.

E19. Episode 2288 (7th March 1983)

Mar 7, 1983 · 25m

Bet hates looking after the shop and Alf can't stand the thought of her ruining his trade. Bert gets a letter from work saying that his sick pay is going to be halved. He feels that he's never going to get better. Bet tries to get Alf on his feet but he isn't up to moving. She asks Jack to help her to return to the Rovers, promising gratitude. He tells her that he'll pull the "wrong change" number on Suzie. When he sees Suzie he changes his mind and chats her up. Brian worries about Bert's illness. Fred tries to get time off to take Suzie to Stockport but Annie refuses. Jack takes her in his cab, for free. The council offers Phyllis a flat on Brooks Drive. She doesn't like it as it's on the fifth floor. She asks Chalkie if she could move in with him. He refuses, telling her that he has to sell the house as Bob needs the money. Bet is furious to discover that Jack has taken Suzie out instead of helping her.

E20. Episode 2289 (9th March 1983)

Mar 9, 1983 · 25m

Alf manages to walk about on crutches. Fred is jealous of Jack as Suzie takes to him because of his free lifts. Bet tells Vera that Jack has been taking Suzie for free rides. Vera tackles Jack about taking Suzie out. When Vera shouts at her in the Rovers, Suzie makes her look a fool by refusing to have a slanging match. Annie approves of the way she handled the situation. Bert visits the doctor. He reassures Ivy that his disability is temporary. The council offer Phyllis a bungalow in Gorton Close. She invites Chalkie to live with her, or near her. He refuses, telling her that he wants as much space between them as possible. Bet is pleased to hear Vera has caused trouble for Suzie at the Rovers. Brian feels Bert should see a specialist.

E21. Episode 2290 (14th March 1983)

Mar 14, 1983 · 25m

Bet returns to the Rovers and the Barlows also return from Malta. Alice Kirby's lodger dies. She suggests that Chalkie moves in with her. Ken assures Deirdre he's forgiven her. They make plans for the future to make a new beginning. Deirdre tells Alf she wants to give up the shop to spend more time with Ken. He persuades her to return until his leg is better. The specialist tells Bert to take things easy. Chalkie tells Phyllis it wouldn't be moral for them to live together but he is also frightened of living with Alice. Bert tells Brian he might have had a mini-stroke. It's a warning that he could have a stroke any time. He doesn't know how to tell Ivy.

E22. Episode 2291 (16th March 1983)

Mar 16, 1983 · 25m

Albert tells the Barlows that he can't cope with any more rows and wants them to move out of No.1 so that he can have the rest of his life in peace. Chalkie agrees to move into Alice Kirby's house. Brian gets fed up with coping alone at the garage, as Ron Sykes is never around. Deirdre and Ken both feel that they can't leave Albert alone. Emily says she'd take care of him. She points out that Albert doesn't want them to go - he just wants them to have a happy marriage. She advises them to prove to him that their marriage is stable. Mike calls at the shop whilst Ken is there and tries to be pleasant. Deirdre tells Ken that he'll have to start trusting her again. Bert tells Ivy about his mini-stroke. He tries to convince her everything will be alright, even though he can never work with machinery again. Phyllis hears that Chalkie is moving in with Alice Kirby. She calls him a hypocrite. The Barlows tell Albert they don't want to leave him and convince him that they love each other and he's part of their family. Brian loses customers as he's so busy. He decides to sort Ron out.

E23. Episode 2292 (21st March 1983)

Mar 21, 1983 · 25m

Eddie pushes Stan to work. They do the windows together. Brian tells Ron Sykes that he can't run the garage single-handedly. Ron refuses to work as a mechanic and offers to buy Brian out. Stan is annoyed when Eddie doesn't let him clean Clara Regan's windows at 19 Inkerman Street. Gail urges Brian not to sell his share of the garage. Brian agrees to let Ron buy him out but is annoyed when Ron only offers him the £2,000 he originally put in. Brian refuses to sell for that so Ron suggests that Brian buys him out. After a night at The Roxy, Fred picks up Maureen Slater and agrees to drive her home to Warrington.

E24. Episode 2293 (23rd March 1983)

Mar 23, 1983 · 25m

Gail encourages Brian to get a bank loan to buy Ron Sykes out. The Faircloughs visit Sharon in Sheffield on her eighteenth birthday. Fred shows Maureen Slater the Rovers, telling her that he's the pub's manager. Mrs. Lowther calls on Hilda, she is out so Stan - in his string vest - invites the Lowthers to wait. Stan and Mr. Lowther discover they were in the Western Desert together. The bank agrees to give Brian a loan. Ron toasts the future with him. Hilda is horrified to find the Lowthers waiting in No.13 as it looks a tip. Maureen gets Fred to drive her back to Warrington where she refuses to let him into her flat. The car runs out of petrol and he is stuck.

E25. Episode 2294 (28th March 1983)

Mar 28, 1983 · 25m

Suzie's workshy attitude gets to Marion. Fred skives off work to retrieve the Rover. He finds it has been taken from where he left it. PC Maskall informs him they had to impound it as it was in a bus terminal. He has to pay £43 to get it back. Marion finds it impossible to have any time alone in No.11. Mike wines and dines Alf and Len, telling them that he's bought the old warehouse on Rosamund Street with Alec Yardley and is going to turn it into a wine and disco bar. He knows there's going to be opposition and asks for their support. Marion is annoyed when Suzie wears her clothes and tells her that she's sick of living in a tip. Suzie refuses to change. Alf and Len agree to support Mike's club venture. Marion tells Elsie she can't cope with Suzie in the house and wants her out.

E26. Episode 2295 (30th March 1983)

Mar 30, 1983 · 25m

Elsie suggests that one of the girls moves into the front parlour of No.11. Hilda sees plans of the Street at Mike's flat. He tells her that he's building an ice rink there. Marion agrees to move into the parlour as it hasn't been used for years, leaving Suzie in the spare bedroom. Bet finds Fred is keeping a list of how much he's spent on Maureen Slater. Marion tells Eddie that she's decided to return to Bury and stay with her mum. Alf warns Mike that the Town Hall may cause trouble because of parking. Mike is confident that no one will oppose him. Fred takes Maureen for a meal at the Lord Nelson pub. Eddie turns the front parlour into a love nest and proves to Marion that they'd be happy in the room. Suzie celebrates having a room of her own but soon becomes jealous of the cosiness in the parlour. Maureen tells Fred that she has a twelve-year old daughter. When he drives her home, she asks him to drive her babysitting aunt home, eight miles out of Warrington. Maureen tells him not to bother returning. Fred tells her that she's too expensive for him and dumps her. The Barlows don't like the idea of having a disco in the Street. Ken feels the business has been kept too quiet.

E27. Episode 2296 (4th April 1983)

Apr 4, 1983 · 25m

Mike gives Len the plumbing contract at the new club. Eddie gets a roll of carpet for Marion's new room. She refuses to have stuff he's found on the bin round. Annie is horrified to hear of the planned disco. Chalkie shows the Cheethams around No.9. Annie, Mavis, Hilda and Emily descend on Ken and ask him to help them fight the disco. They want him to put their case to the council. He agrees to help all he can. They decide to protest about the noise, cars and people in the Street at night. Ken tells Deirdre his main objection is that it's Mike's venture. Eddie puts a bolt on Marion's door for added privacy. Ken tells Alf to warn Mike that he's going to oppose the disco. Alf refuses to represent the opposition. Phyllis tells Chalkie she doesn't want him to sell the house as Craig will never return if he does. She breaks down.

E28. Episode 2297 (6th April 1983)

Apr 6, 1983 · 25m

Emily starts a petition against the disco. The Cheethams decide they want to buy No.9. Ken annoys Alf by putting a disco protest poster in his shop window. Annie phones Douglas Cresswell at Newton & Ridley to talk about the disco. Mr. Cheetham offers Chalkie £10,500 for the house, including fittings. Chalkie agrees. Annie is furious to discover the brewery is backing the disco; it's going to sell Newton & Ridley beer. She realises her trade is going to suffer. Phyllis meets the Cheethams. She puts them off buying No.9 by telling them about the planned disco. Mike offers Hilda a job as cloakroom attendant so she withdraws her name from the petition against the disco. Mike tells Ken he's going to lose this battle.

E29. Episode 2298 (11th April 1983)

Apr 11, 1983 · 25m

Mavis is depressed on her forty-sixth birthday. Victor cheers her up by saying that he'll visit her. Len lends his tools to a keen lad, Roy Valentine, who does jobs for his mother. Victor tells Mavis he's taking her on a camping holiday in the Lakes as a birthday treat. Ken is interviewed by the Gazette, telling them that the councillors have lost the residents' views. It's obvious he's getting at Alf, accusing him of being more concerned with business profits. Alf is furious to read Ken's interview. He tells him that he'll not stop him supporting the disco. Mavis feels that Victor's tent is very small and worries about the sleeping arrangements. He puts the tent up in her flat. Radio Weatherfield invite Alf and Ken to talk about the disco on air. Mavis and Victor try out the tent for size. Mavis doesn't like the idea of sleeping in the open.

E30. Episode 2299 (13th April 1983)

Apr 13, 1983 · 25m

Alf refuses to be interviewed on the radio. Len offers Roy Valentine an apprenticeship at the yard. Roy isn't sure if he wants to make a career of plumbing. Victor organises Mavis's rucksack and clothing. She feels uneasy with the discomfort of it all. They set off for Windermere. Roy agrees to work with Len. Emily has seventy signatures on her petition. Ken is stunned to discover that work is starting to convert the warehouse into the club, before the council has passed the plans. Ken decides to hold a public meeting at the Community Centre.