Season 44

E1. Wednesday, 1st January 2003

Jan 1, 2003 · 24m

As the residents gather in the Rovers to see in the New Year, Gail struggles with her emotions, while Deirdre's attempts to reunite Tracy with Robert backfire.

E2. Friday, 3rd January 2003

Jan 3, 2003 · 24m

Steve's financial woes have an unfortunate knock-on effect for the Grimshaws. Aidan takes advantage of Sarah's good nature and love-rat John two-times Toyah with Maria.

E3. 5th January 2003

Jan 5, 2003 · 24m

Fiz tells Maria that if she doesn't tell Toyah what's been going on then she will tell Toyah herself. Maria is very worried. Sunita admits to Deirdre that she's still hung up on Dev. A prospective buyer, Eddie Hall, views No.11. Todd and Jason turn their music up to wind Vera up. She comes round shouting and yelling and the prospective buyer is put off the house. Todd and Jason are delighted. Shelley is upset to find that Ciaran is still working in the cafe. Peter suggests that they should have a look at buying No.11. Shelley likes the idea.

E4. 6th January 2003 - Part One

Jan 6, 2003 · 24m

It's the day of Ken's court case. Deirdre and Tracy are going to support him. Tracy tells a horrified Deirdre that she knows about her affair with Dev. Maria is relieved when Fiz says that for Toyah's sake she's decided not to tell her about Maria and John having sex. It's Sarah's first day back at school since the accident. Peter tells Ciaran that he's wasting his time trying to rebuild their friendship.

E5. 6th January 2003 - Part Two

Jan 6, 2003 · 23m

Tracy tells Blanche that Deirdre slept with Dev and that she told Ken just before he went into court. Blanche slaps Tracy across the face. Tracy says she's disgusted that her boyfriend Dev has slept with her mother. Dev tells Karen that he's offered to buy out Vik's half of Street Cars. Karen can't believe that Steve hasn't mentioned this. Joe looks round Vik's old flat above the taxi office and tells Karen that he wants to rent it. Deirdre and Ken arrive back home with Ken devastated at Deirdre's revelation. Deirdre and Tracy have a blazing row over what happened and Deirdre throws Tracy out of the house.

E6. 8th January 2003

Jan 8, 2003 · 23m

Ken has spent the night on Peter's sofa. Deirdre has spent all night crying. Blanche gives her a stiff talking-to. To Maxine and Ashley's horror they find out that whilst drunk, Doreen and Fred got engaged to each other. Now sober neither wants to marry the other but neither dare admit it. Blanche tries to talk to Ken for Deirdre's sake but he won't listen. Norris finds out that Toyah will be spending the day at No.3 studying on Friday, so thinking that Emily will be safe in her company, he accepts a place on a passport course in Liverpool for that day.

E7. 10th January 2003

Jan 10, 2003 · 23m

Ken and Deirdre are doing their best to rebuild their relationship. Sarah agrees to help Todd plan something for his eighteenth birthday. Norris leaves for his passport course in Liverpool. Sarah visits Aidan in his squat again and tells him the outcome of Ken's court case. Peter offers £20,000 for No.11 but Steve turns it down but he doesn't know that it's Peter who's made the offer. Ashley and Maxine desperately want Fred and Doreen to call off their engagement but Fred and Doreen each think the other will be upset. Deirdre calls to see Dev, saying that she needs some time off. Dev is angry with her thinking that she confessed to Ken about their affair.

E8. 12 January 2003

Jan 12, 2003 · 24m

Richard bludgeons Maxine to death with the crowbar, taking steps to ensure the crime scene looks like that of a failed burglary. Ashley, having discovered Maxine's body, is arrested and taken in for questioning, while Richard learns that Emily is still alive.

E9. 13th January 2003 - Part One

Jan 13, 2003 · 23m

Richard mixes some of Audrey's sleeping pills into a bottle of vodka. He puts the bottle into a carrier bag with some other goodies and then drops it round to the squat while Ade is out. Eileen is delighted when Steve tells her that he's no longer selling No.11 now that Dev has bought half of Street Cars. . Richard slips out of the pub whilst no one is looking, goes to the squat and checks that Ade is unconscious. He puts on Ade's trainers, hat and jacket and takes the crowbar. He goes round to No.4 and breaks in through the back door. He bludgeons Emily over the head with the crowbar but as he's doing so the door opens and Maxine walks in. She's come to check on Joshua. Maxine sees Richard standing over Emily's body holding the crowbar.

E10. 13th January 2003 - Part Two

Jan 13, 2003 · 23m

Richard realises that he has no option but to kill Maxine too. He bludgeons Maxine to death with the crowbar as she tries to run. He then makes a mess of the room to look like a burglary that's gone wrong. He steals a few items which he then plants on Ade back in the squat. He returns Ade's clothes and disposes of the empty vodka bottle in a bin at the back of the Rovers. Richard then slips back into the pub as everyone sings Happy Birthday for Doreen, nobody having noticed his absence.

E11. 15th January 2003

Jan 15, 2003 · 23m

The police interrogate Ashley over Maxine's death. Rita and Norris keep a vigil by Emily's bed. She's still critical. Police and reporters swarm all over the street, questioning everybody. A distraught Fred and Doreen look after baby Joshua. Richard does his best to behave as normally as possible. Dev tells Roy that he's not going ahead with the amusement arcade. Steve tells Peter that he's taken the house off the market. Gail and Richard are interviewed by two detectives; Richard mentions Aidan and his scuffle with Ashley at the Rovers on the night. Fred closes the pub for the day as a mark of respect. Audrey is devastated to hear of Maxine's death.

E12. 17th January 2003

Jan 17, 2003 · 23m

Ashley is keeping himself busy looking after Joshua. Ade is in custody. He keeps protesting his innocence. Emma tells him that because he's only sixteen he needs an adult representative. He asks for Ken Barlow. Norris is delighted when Emily regains consciousness. She can't remember anything about what happened. The police question Sarah as she is a friend of Ade's. She tells them that she doesn't believe he's a murderer. Richard enjoys telling the police that he witnessed Ade having a row with Ashley in the Rovers earlier in the evening of the murder. Ken agrees to be Ade's representative despite all that's happened as he feels that Ade is telling the truth for once.

E13. 19th January 2003

Jan 19, 2003 · 23m

The police let Ashley know that they've charged Ade with Maxine's murder. Blanche points out to Ken that if he represents Ade the locals won't like it. Ken says that he has to as something is telling him that Ade is innocent. Doreen and Audrey reminisce about what a lovely girl Maxine was. Emma calls round to the Rovers where Ashley is staying and gives him Maxine's rings back. Ashley breaks down. Richard gets a call to tell him that one of his clients died almost two weeks earlier and he will get £23,000 from the equity release scheme. He is guilt-stricken as he realises that he need never have tried to murder Emily. Gail is confused as to why Richard is so upset since this will solve his financial woes.

E14. 20th January 2003 - Part One

Jan 20, 2003 · 23m

Derek Heavey turns up at the Rovers. He's in a state of shock having just learned about Maxine's death. Ashley is completely distraught and finding it hard to cope. He worries that Joshua will be affected by all that's gone on. Emily comes out of hospital. Norris fusses round her. Peter tries to talk to Shelley about the holiday in Mexico but she's still very frosty with him. Maria confides in Betty that she's pregnant. Ken visits Ade. He tells Ken that he's being moved to a young offenders' unit and he's scared. Richard sees Emily arrive home and feels sick. He's wracked with guilt. Emma tells Fred and Ashley that the pathologist has finished with Maxine's body so they can now arrange the funeral.

E15. 20th January 2003 - Part Two

Jan 20, 2003 · 23m

Maria tells Toyah that she's pregnant. Toyah has no idea that the baby is John's. Peter calls to see Lucy. She tells him to leave as she can't bear to be hurt again. Norris fusses round Emily. He tries to fit a safety chain to the door. Sunita gives Ciaran a piece of her mind regarding Shelley but later she apologises and invites Ciaran to her flat for supper. They get on really well, Sunita asks him to stay and they kiss. Betty is shocked when Maria says she's going to have a termination. Sunita persuades Shelley that she's been a bit hard on Peter over his friendship with Ciaran. Shelley agrees and tells Peter that although she doesn't approve, he can still be friends with Ciaran. Gail and Richard call to see Emily. Richard is relieved when Emily says she can't remember a thing about her attacker.

E16. 22nd January 2003

Jan 22, 2003 · 23m

Ciaran has spent the night with Sunita. He arranges to see her again and she's delighted. Toyah tries to talk to Maria about the baby's father but Maria refuses to discuss it. Richard receives the cheque for £23,000 from an equity release scheme - he knows that this money could have saved Maxine's life. He pays it into the bank. Ken continues to protest Aidan's innocence. Gail is appalled. Roy tells Ciaran that he's got cold feet about expanding the cafe and going into partnership. Ashley asks Martin, Kevin and Curly to be pallbearers at Maxine's funeral. Norris overhears Ken talking about Aidan and how he reckons that Aidan has been set up and is actually innocent. Norris thinks Ken might be right. Ashley visits Emily. She tells Ashley how she wishes that she had died rather than Maxine. Ashley tells her that she mustn't think like that. Sarah tells Ken that she also thinks Ade is innocent and that he was far too drunk that night to have killed someone.

E17. 24th January 2003

Jan 24, 2003 · 23m

Shelley refuses to speak to Sunita. She thinks that Shelley's being childish. Ashley receives a sympathy card from Matt Ramsden. He rips it up. Toyah goes with Maria to the clinic where she has an abortion. Maria tells Kirk what's happened and he's both kind and supportive. Peter tries to talk Shelley into making up with Sunita but Shelley is adamant that Sunita is in the wrong and convinced that Ciaran will hurt her in the end. Norris asks round for lodgings. He is appalled when Les says he can share Kirk's room in No.5 for £50 per week but he is forced to accept. Audrey agrees to do Maxine's hair for the funeral. Archie is grateful. Emma tells Ashley that the police have finished at No.4. She returns his house keys. Emily calls round to see Ken and Deirdre.

E18. 26th January 2003

Jan 26, 2003 · 23m

Ken tells Deirdre that Ashley has asked him to stay away from the funeral. Toyah continues to look after Maria. Fiz hates Maria for the way she's treated her mate and Maria wallows in self-loathing. Gail tells Emily that she and Richard will give her a lift to the funeral. Ciaran tells how he once put a worm in Peter's drink when they were in Mexico for the day on leave from their ship. Ken goes to see Bob Critchley to try and persuade him to visit Aidan and listen to his side of the story as he tells him how his son is out of control and broke up his marriage with his behaviour. Ashley takes Joshua with him to visit Maxine in the chapel of rest. She looks beautiful. Ashley talks to her and breaks down sobbing. John is worried that Fiz is going to tell Toyah what's been going on. He suggests to Toyah that she should move in with him. Shelley and Sunita make up and they agree to disagree over Ciaran.

E19. 27th January 2003 - Part One

Jan 27, 2003 · 23m

Richard is dreading the funeral. He keeps trying to make excuses to get out of going but Gail insists he attends. After overhearing Rita on the phone, Kirk gets the wrong end of the stick and tells Norris that Emily wants him to move back in. Norris is delighted and tells Les what he thinks of his house. Norris is appalled when he sees Spider arriving at No.3 and realises the mistake. Ken doesn't attend Maxine's funeral but places some flowers on the doorstep of No.4 instead. Spider escorts Emily to the funeral. They get a lift with Gail and Richard. Martin, Kevin, Curly and Derek are the pallbearers at the funeral. Maxine's funeral takes place. Richard finds himself sitting just behind Ashley, Fred, Beryl Peacock and Doreen. He's sweating profusely and is on the point of cracking up.

E20. 27th January 2003 - Part Two

Jan 27, 2003 · 23m

Richard manages to regain his self-control and simply makes a nice speech about supporting Ashley in his time of need. Audrey is frustrated - she was convinced that he was about to confess to Maxine's murder. Ade is frustrated that his own father doesn't believe him. He takes his frustration out on Ken and tells him that he doesn't want to see him again. Maxine's burial takes place at the cemetery. Whilst the vicar is committing Maxine's body to the ground, Audrey suddenly flips and shouts across the grave calling Richard a murderer and saying that he killed Maxine. Archie calms her down. The funeral tea takes place in the Rovers. Ashley insists that Richard and Gail attend. He assures Richard that no one believes Audrey and her extraordinary accusations.

E21. 29th January 2003

Jan 29, 2003 · 23m

Everyone is shocked by Audrey's outburst. Doreen tells Audrey that she spoiled the funeral. Ken feels very low and decides he's going to resign from teaching before they sack him - his hearing is on Friday. Kevin is suspicious when David tells him how Craig wrote his name as "Craig Harris" on his school exercise book. He remembers the wallet incident with the name "Tommy Harris". Ashley and Doreen go across to No.4 to clear out Maxine's clothes but Ashley can't face it. He can't even bring himself to go inside. Harry is auctioning off a signed Manchester United football to raise funds to buy something in commemoration of Maxine. Doreen decides that she will move back in with Derek and give their relationship another try. Gail accuses Audrey of trying to wreck her marriage. Audrey is in tears.

E22. 31st January 2003

Jan 31, 2003 · 23m

Doreen and Derek leave to go back home. They suggest that Joshua should come with them to give Ashley a break but Ashley refuses. Sarah decides she's going to have two birthday parties, one for family and one for her mates. Ken goes to see Miss Johnson and hands in his resignation. He doesn't even turn up at the hearing as he thinks it's a foregone conclusion. Toyah tells Maria and Fiz that she's decided to move in with John Arnley. They are gutted but daren't say anything. Harry draws the raffle for the signed football. Tommy wins it. Ashley pours his heart out to Fred and tells him of Maxine's one-night stand with Matt Ramsden and how Joshua could be Matt's son. Fred is shocked. Ashley goes on to tell Fred that his biggest fear is that now Maxine has died Matt might insist on a paternity test. Should the test prove that Joshua is Matt's and not Ashley's, he could take Joshua away from Ashley.

E23. Sun 2nd February 2003

Feb 2, 2003 · 23m

Maria has another one-night stand. Fiz is disgusted with her. Toyah is still oblivious as to what's going on. Norris has discovered the Shopping Channel on Les's TV. Norris finds himself doing all the housework and the cooking. Les keeps calling him "Doris" which annoys him. Tommy comes clean with Kevin and explains why he had to change his name. Kevin promises to keep it to himself and gives Tommy his job back at the garage. Les is appalled when Fiz tells him that Toyah is moving in with John. Ashley tells Martin about the question over Joshua's parentage.

E24. Mon 3rd February 2003 Part One

Feb 3, 2003 · 23m

Hayley tries to persuade Roy to take up the offer of a partnership with Ciaran. Fiz reveals to Toyah that she thinks it is too soon for her to be moving in with John. Fred confides in Betty that he is worried about Ashley. John, getting nervous, asks Toyah to move in straight away, and she accepts. Ciaran offends Roy and his pride in the cafe whilst talking about ideas for improvements, which leads Roy to finally make up his mind and reject Ciaran's offer. Ashley tells Fred that he has booked the DNA test for next Monday. Joe tells Mike that the Fletchers order was finished two days early, and is annoyed at Mike's indifferent response. Sarah suggestively reveals her plans to get some time alone with Todd that night. Candice asks Jason if he is still going to Sarah's party. Toyah tells Fiz that she is moving out today, and Fiz is taken aback.

E25. Mon 3rd February 2003 Part Two

Feb 3, 2003 · 23m

Toyah confronts Maria about John. She admits that it is true, and manages to unknowingly imply to Toyah that he forced himself on her. Maria confronts Fiz about the fact that she told Toyah everything. It dawns on Maria that she has led Toyah to believe that John raped her. Toyah enters John's classroom and reveals she has found out about his antics with Maria. Sarah and Todd coyly decide to have sex and retire upstairs. Toyah tells John that she thinks he raped Maria, and, when he denies it, she savagely attacks him whilst spilling the details of her own rape. Toyah eventually calms down and John forces her to see that Maria never actually said that he had raped her. Joe catches Karen in the corner shop, bunking off work, but goes on to tell her in his anger about his trouble with Mike and the offer from Stuart Fletcher.

E26. Wed 5th February 2003

Feb 5, 2003 · 23m

Janice tells Toyah that she can move in for a while so as to avoid having to see Maria. Roy is still upset about Ciaran's betrayal, and Hayley decides to have a word with Ciaran. Fiz and Maria see Toyah on her return to the salon flat and she refuses to accept Maria's apology. Candice discusses party outfits and tactics of getting Jason off Katy to Sarah. Spider sees Toyah and asks her what is wrong. Toyah decides to go with Spider to London. Toyah tells Janice that she is leaving. Though Janice puts on a brave face, she is upset. Eileen reveals to Todd that, following a hint from Jason, she has worked out that he and Sarah are having sex. She gives him her blessing. Toyah tries to tell Les that she is leaving, but he convinces her to think about it for a week. Hayley does indeed talk to Ciaran, who confirms that he is setting up a rival cafe.

E27. Fri 7th February 2003

Feb 7, 2003 · 23m

Norris tells Emily that he is still miserable about having to live with Les. David admires Tommy's signed ball. Richard asks Martin to keep an eye on Sarah's party. Tyrone tells Kevin that he is keeping close watch of Tommy after the disappearance of the wallet. Hayley tells Joe that Mike is not coming into Underworld that day. Emily confides in Rita that she misses having Norris around the house. Candice tells Sarah about her plans to ensure that she gets Jason that night. Joe takes the Underworld girls out for a drink to celebrate the end of his time with Baldwin. Joe tries to buy Mike a drink, but he refuses. He tells Joe that he has been spending the day sorting out his replacement. Dev is pleased to see Joe seething. Tommy gives the ball to Harry, saying that he has no use for it and that David would appreciate it a lot more. At the party, Sarah and Todd sneak upstairs.

E28. Sun 9th February 2003

Feb 9, 2003 · 23m

Joe tells the girls that he is staying. Karen is more than a little pleased. Joe sacks Hayley from her position as supervisor. Sarah sees Audrey and tells her that one of Richard's home schemes paid out. The Underworld girls are shocked at Hayley's dismissal. Angela is elected to confront Joe. Dev hints to Steve that Joe and Karen have a "close" relationship. Infuriated that Angela will not talk to Joe, Karen confronts him herself. He gives her Hayley's old job. Todd and Sarah tell Gail that they are sleeping together. She is offended that they didn't tell her before it happened. Roy sacks Ciaran from the cafe believing him to be trying to woo his future clientele. He also tells Ciaran that he wants him to move out of his home.

E29. Mon 10th February 2003

Feb 10, 2003 · 23m

Karen starts her new job as supervisor at Underworld. Janice makes her life hell. Hayley is quietly pleased that Karen is having such a tough time. Peter and Shelley arrive back from Mexico. Shelley is put out to hear that Ciaran has moved in with Sunita and is thinking of opening his own cafe. Against Fred's advice, Ashley goes to the clinic with Joshua to have the DNA test. Angela is feeling happier and more accepted by the factory girls. Janice and Fiz bitch about Karen, their ex-friend, who's crossed the management line. Shelley becomes suspicious about the amount of leave Ciaran seems to have from the navy. Janice announces in the Rovers that Maria got herself pregnant by Toyah's boyfriend.

E30. Wed 12th February 2003

Feb 12, 2003 · 23m

Karen's new job as Underworld supervisor is getting her down. She feels an outcast from her mates. Janice continues to give her stick. Karen threatens to sack Janice but they both know she hasn't the authority. Angela suggests to Janice that she should report Karen to Mike. Angela and Janice start to warm to each other. Deirdre decides that she doesn't want her job back at the corner shop. She tells Dev. Ken is relieved. Tracy teases Dev, playing hard to get. Dev is frustrated. Les has a go at Maria for her affair with Toyah's boyfriend. Shelley sticks up for Maria. Les makes a point of letting Mick know that Janice got drunk and threw a pint of bitter all over Karen. Mick is unimpressed at her behaviour and tells Janice that as a copper he can't be seen to be mixing with violent, drunken people. Janice takes this on board. Richard slips Todd £20 to take Sa