Season 22

Nisha is convinced that Gary is going to stay with Gabby. Marty plans to mend the hole in his wall. Ron has plans for the shop Tim wants, but Jacqui wonders why he is only selling tea and peas. Debbie goes for a walk with old friends, Rachel feels ashamed at Beth's birthday party, and someone is going to regret calling Emily a vegetable.

Max faces a tough interview panel at the golf club, including Nic, with whom he has recently argued on the Parade, and Ron, who threatens to blackball him. Sean tries to make Ruth realise that she has no right to dictate who he should and shouldn't see. Marty and Adele are missing Diane, and Jimmy returns to the Close - as does one of his long-lost relatives.

Tim decides against selling the drugs, makes a deal with Nic, and attends Anthony's court hearing with Steve. Dan is looking forward to going to a wedding reception with Ruth, but Luke doesn't want to go and stay with Sean. Rachel and Mike are approved for a mortgage, and Mike wants to start spending straight away.

Back from the Maldives, Gabby is shocked to hear the news about Anthony. Brigid shows Adele photographs of herself, Diane and other relatives when they were younger. Tim has two young ladies chasing after him, and Ruth and Sean are not able to agree on anything in court.

Nisha feels that Gary is making promises to both herself and Gabby which he won't keep. Debbie is concerned about Luke's well-being. Rachel and Mike extend their credit further, Kirsty doesn't want to claim compensation for her ordeal, and Steve and Tim steal a car.

Steve and Tim kidnap Mozza in order to find out where Terry lives. Debbie is not impressed when Ruth goes to a hairdresser instead of a solicitor. Rachel wants to spoil Beth for a change. and Nisha intends to finish with Gary - but she is not prepared for what he tells her.

Adele wonders if Diane's clothes should be given to charity, and Brigid helps her sort through them. The contents of Alan's locker are returned to the Gordons, including a possible lead on his whereabouts. Jimmy searches the internet for legal precedents to help Marty, and Gabby tells Nisha that their holiday brought her and Gary back together.

At her session with the family court advisor, Ruth finds out that Debbie waylaid Sean on his way to his session and battered him. Rachel wants to go and look at houses, and discovers that Mike has bought a car without telling her. Ali and Steve want to go and visit Alan's hypnotherapist, and Nisha encourages Gabby to come to the surgery for a pregnancy test.

Ron plans to use a golfing challenge to wipe out the debt he owes Max. Nisha and Katie are both becoming more confident that Gary will leave Gabby - but there's something they don't know yet. Debbie and Ruth try to find out from Luke whether Sean has been hitting him, and Steve has to resort to extreme measures to prevent Tim from making a big mistake.

Ruth resents Debbie's interference, and can't stand being around her. Nisha pressurises Gary to tell Gabby that their marriage is over. Tim finally has the nail-bar ready for Emily, and Max commits Jacqui to a dinner she would rather not go to.

Nisha packs her bags, but when she realises that Gary has still not told Gabby he is leaving, she gate-crashes the Parrs' dinner-party with the Farnhams. Rachel and Nikki discuss Anthony's forthcoming court appearance, and Marty and Christy try to reassure him. Ruth doesn't want to talk things over with Sean.

Gabby wants to know how long Gary and Nisha have been making a laughing-stock of her, and sends him to finish with her for good. However, Nisha has already decided to resign, and is wondering why she ever though he was a man worth loving. Dan has an offer of a holiday which he is sure Ruth will want him to turn down, and Anthony's barrister discusses with him whether certain evidence should be admissible.

Detective Sergeant Casey, Mrs Clough and Anthony give their evidence at his trial for Imelda's murder. Katie wonders what the official reason for Nisha's departure will be, gives Gary some advice about what he should keep in his trousers in future, and reveals to Sammy that Nisha has moved out.

Anthony is cross-examined by the prosecution barrister, and Adele, Brigid and Marty speak up in his defence. Max has lunch with Gabby, and encourages her to put Gary's affair behind her and try to rebuild her marriage. Nikki is tormented by her memories of the past and feels alone at the bungalow, but Jimmy invites her to move back in with him.

Anthony is convinced that the jury are going to find him guilty of murder, but is he right? Jimmy reflects on the arrival of Autumn, and discusses with Tim whether it is possible to have female friends without sleeping with them. Ruth prepares herself for a visit by the family court adviser, and is disturbed by one of Luke's drawings.

Now that Anthony's trial is over, Steve wants to concentrate on getting revenge on Terry. Jan admits that she has lost her job, and goes to visit Imelda's mother to talk about the verdict. Tim begins to lose hope that Emily will recover, and Marty is not impressed with the attitude of the school governors.

Tim tells Kerry he doesn't want to see her any more, in case he can't resist the temptation to rip her clothes off. Ruth wants Ali and Stuart to tidy up the house, as the family welfare officer is on his way - and that includes getting rid of Ray's coffin. Marty feels that no-one will ever forget what Anthony has done.

Jan wants the Murrays to move to Salford, but Adele is determined not to go, and Steve isn't sure either. Christy unveils his new Easter gimmick - chocolate boobs and willies - and Tim gives into temptation and goes to bed with Kerry, turning off his mobile phone. Unfortunately, he needs to be reached urgently.......

Tim wants Emily's funeral to be a celebration of her life, and Nikki agrees that this is what she would have wanted. Margi regrets putting her career ahead of her daughters, and is uncomfortable about Jimmy's relationship with Nikki. Bev worries that she will end up alone, and asks Lance to move in with her. The police contact Debbie with a development about Alan's disappearance.

Tim wrecks the nail-bar, and resolves to start looking for Terry straight away. Debbie reveals that Alan's car has been found in Hull, and thinks that he must have crashed and lost his memory - but not everyone is as convinced that he is still alive. Josh tidies the living room, by moving a lot of his toys into the bathroom. Margi tells Nikki that Jimmy has admitted that he fancies her, but she doesn't believe her.

Tim and Steve discover from Mozza that Terry was seeing someone behind his wife's back, so they return to Jenny's to investigate. Dan insists that Luke finishes his tea before he is allowed any more food. Debbie is determined to go to Hull in search of Alan, and Jimmy tells Nikki that she can come and stay with him whenever she likes.

Laura tells Marty that grief manifests itself in different ways, but he's not pleased that Tim's way is to play an "Atomic Kitten" CD all day. Jan and Marty go to see a new school for Anthony. Nikki doesn't want to be alone at the bungalow, and asks Jimmy if she can come and stay with him.......in his bed.

Jimmy is anxious not to spoil a good friendship, but wonders if Nikki has been dreaming about him. She is keen to stay with him again - if he'll have her....... Adele has her sights set on Tim, and believes her stars reveal she stands a good chance of convincing him to be with her.

Jimmy can't think straight after what he has done with Nikki, and doesn't think he knows how to be around her any more. They agree that they can't sleep together again, but still want to live together as best mates. But Marty and Tim are shocked when they see them kissing in the back garden.

Nikki wants to check that everything is still okay between her and Jimmy. Bev reminds Ron that he needs to take things easy, but she also wants him to look after Josh - and his robot, Bart - for a while. Marty wants Jan to move back in with him, even if this means Adele will move out.

Jan wonders if Marty has learned nothing from recent events, but he is determined that Adele should leave. Going next door to seek shelter with Tim, she admits how she feels, and one thing leads to another. After they argue, Adele finds Tim's drugs....... Ron leaves Beth with Josh and his robot, and they all vanish. Gary is sick of Gabby punishing him.

As she waits anxiously at Adele's hospital bedside, Jan reflects on how difficult the children were to bring up, and how she almost abandoned Adele even before walking out on them all. Rachel and Mike panic, and telephone the police when Josh comes home without Beth. When she is brought home by the police, Bev realises that he left her at the shops and lied about it.

Bev plans to rent the bungalow from Nikki, but Lance is not convinced that he should move in with her. She is glad that Josh has been keeping out of trouble - but is then told that he has been suspended from school. Gary shows no recollection of, or interest in, the pregnancy scan Gabby is having.

Josh promises to be good, but he soon starts getting on Bev's nerves again, and announces that he hates his father and grandfather. Bev asks Gary for advice, but he is fed up with listening to them arguing through the walls, and only suggests that he needs therapy. Then she discovers that Dan and Ruth have already arranged to rent the bungalow for themselves and Luke.

Josh comes home from school covered in paint, claiming that bad lads chased him. But it emerges that he has been excluded from school for striking a teacher. Bev feels that she has had enough, but Lance is not going to let her turn her back on her son the way his own father did. Ruth and Dan move into the bungalow, but it may not turn into the happiest home Luke has ever known.......

Gabby is sick in more ways than one, and Gary is fed up with her continually bringing up his affair with Nisha. After he goes to visit his parents, she gets drunk, smashes a photograph, trashes his guitar, and flashes her breasts at an embarrassed, but appreciative, Max. When Luke won't eat his cold scrambled egg, Dan tries to teach him a lesson.

Mike carries Rachel over the threshold of their new home. Dan ropes Stuart and Ali into helping with the garden while he paints the bungalow - and when they soak Luke with a hose, someone is going to regret it. Gary tells Gabby that his parents are pleased he has been offered a partnership, and about the baby, of which her mother has told them - and Bev wonders if Gabby's plans to have a termination are mainly to punish him.

Gary admits that he made a huge mistake, and offers to give up the partnership and leave Liverpool if Gabby will have the baby. But can they agree to put their problems behind them? Ruth wonders how Dan forgot to mention Luke's scalded arm to her. Mike gets Rachel a widescreen television and video recorder, but then they discover that they need to make a much higher initial mortgage payment than they expected.

Dan turns down a job in Devon, and wants Ruth to give him more of a say in how Luke is disciplined. But Sean is not pleased with what he sees, and a brawl breaks out between them on the Close. Meanwhile, Rachel wants Jacqui to get her a bus pass so that Mike doesn't have to miss out on fares by driving her to work.

The Gordons react in a variety of different ways to the news that Alan has been found dead. Debbie goes to talk to him at the chapel of rest, but Ruth can't bring herself to. Kirsty is relieved that the uncertainty is over, but Ali can't believe it and goes drinking again. Dan thinks he needs some of the same discipline as he is giving Luke - including leaving him outside in the rain when he refuses to eat his dinner off the floor.

On the day of Alan's cremation, Debbie is getting grief from Ali and Stuart as well. Ruth finally realises that Dan is mistreating Luke, but will she be able to forgive him? Mike suggests that he and Rachel might let out their spare room to a lodger - but Rachel isn't keen on the idea of having a stranger in the house, and believes they are going to need the spare room for another reason.

Jacqui and Max go out for an expensive meal to celebrate Mother's Day, leaving Rachel to babysit - but she spends most of the evening chatting to Katie, unsure that Mike is really happy that she is pregnant. Meanwhile, Mike discovers that a passenger has left a purse of money in his taxi - but will he take the opportunity to ease his financial worries by keeping it?

While Jacqui and Max plan a lavish holiday, Mike's taxi-driving experiences go from bad to worse, and Rachel fears that they will lose their new house and will have to move back in with Ron. Will she take the opportunity to ease their worries by dipping into the weekend's takings that Max has asked her to pay into the bank for him?

Rachel shows Mike that the fridge is full, and tells him he doesn't need to sell their television, because Jacqui has paid her a month's wages in advance. But Max has discovered that she has removed &pound

Mike is determined to work as hard as he has to in order to heep himself and Rachel afloat. Lance tells Bev he is moving out to be with his new boyfriend, but Ron makes it clear that he will still be around to come and depress her. Jacqui discovers that Max has put their house up for sale - but can he persuade her that moving away from Brookside Close is a good idea?

When Jacqui reveals to Max that Ron desperately wants Bev back, Max takes steps to try to bring them together. Meanwhile, Ron does his best to make Jacqui feel guilty for wanting to desert him, then finds a way in which he believes he can prevent her and Max from buying the house they want.

Steve visits Jenny again in the hope that she might tell him where to find Terry. Ron reminds Bev of some of the good times they had together in the past, and she reminds him of some of the bad times. Max and Jacqui discover that someone else has made a higher offer on the house they want - and the identity of the mystery bidder.......

Steve encounters Terry when he least expects to, but will he recognise him? Marty asks Jan to move in with him again. Josh wonders why Mike is his father when Bev was living with Ron when he was born. But can Ron persuade Bev to move back in with him?

Tim and Steve set off for Salford in search of Terry, but Steve wonders if Tim would really be capable of killing him. Josh suggests that Bev moves in with Ron, and proudly shows her how he can abseil off the balcony. Marty and Jan go shopping together.

Tim has Terry at his mercy, but leaves him alone with Steve while he goes to retrieve the drugs from the van. Terry tries to convince Steve that he killed no-one in cold blood, and offers to give himself up to the police and compensate him - will Steve be tempted?

Steve and Jimmy help Bev to move back in with Ron. Jimmy realises that Ron wants to get Bev back into his bed, and advises him not to make himself look too desperate. Josh is keen to know whereabouts Uncle Max's other wife landed when she fell down the stairs.

While Josh distributes leaflets promoting the new Mobile Moby, Brigid tries to discover just how old Ron is. Meanwhile, Bev is visited in her new home by Jimmy, and then by Lance - who gives her a few things to think about.

Josh wants to make Bev a bright red boiled egg for breakfast before their Easter Egg hunt, and Ron turns down customers to be with his family. But then Lance turns up, heartbroken because his boyfriend has dumped him - and so does Brigid, distraught at hearing the news that Jan and Marty are to remarry.

Ron outlines to Bev the advantages of sleeping in the same bed. Jan is concerned with what people will think of her decision to remarry, while Adele and Laura can't decide what to wear. Steve wonders if Marty is having last-minute doubts, and Brigid can't come to terms with the wedding coming so soon after Diane died.

Jan seeks Anthony's reassurance that he wants her to remarry, and Brigid agrees to come to the wedding - but Tim is still sulking over Terry. Marty reminds Christy that he never used to leave Jan alone with him because of the way he used to put it about - and his brother confesses to him that he once slept with Jan during his previous marriage to her.......

Jan and Marty discuss Christy's revelation, and Jan confesses that she led Christy on. Christy wonders if Marty will still want him to be best man, but Steve doubts that there will still be a wedding. Meanwhile, Sean installs Freeview channels for Jimmy, and the impression he makes on Nikki is seriously at odds with the way Ruth has described him to her.

Nikki goes out for a drink with Sean, and Tim is as surprised when she suggests that he should see more of Kerry as he is when he hears that Christy is engaged. But he can't help Jimmy to urgently find &pound

Tim is feeling guilty, disturbing Nikki's concentration, and is concerned by a silent phone-call. Jimmy's boss tells him that there will be a manager's job up for grabs soon - but Ron reveals something Jimmy didn't tell him at his interview. Ruth feels that she is having to do everything at home, as Ali and Stuart aren't helping - and she is worried about her mother.

Tim warns Jimmy not to tell anybody any more of his business. Nikki decides to move out of Jimmy's, because there is too much dishonesty there. Steve is becoming paranoid over Terry, Gary challenges Jacqui to a swimming race, and a strange internal audit takes place at a Southport pizza parlour.......

Gabby is worried about her unborn baby, but Gary is fed up of listening to her talking about pushchairs, and thinks she is never going to forgive him for his past affair. Meanwhile, Jacqui is having doubts about whether she wants to move away from the Close - but Max seems keen for them to have another child. And Katie, with toilet problems, wishes she had told Nic of her doubts earlier.

Katie is in a foul mood, as she finds out she may become homeless just as she is about to give birth. Gary has lost his car keys, and Gabby confronts Jacqui when she tries to return them, convinced that Gary is a serial adulterer and habitual liar. She then goes to see Max, to allege that his wife is having an affair with her husband - and has a furious argument with Jacqui at the top of a staircase.......

When she hears about Gabby's fall, Katie wonders what Jacqui has done. Max also subjects her to serious questioning - and Gary, unwilling to accept that his marriage is over, is wanting to know exactly why she pushed a pregnant woman down the stairs. Meanwhile, Debbie advises Stuart and Ali not to rush into having sex for the first time.

Debbie gives each of her children a &pound

Nic wants to buy a house to do up for Katie, who considers telling him the truth about the baby - but Sammy thinks she would be risking losing him. Ali is not in the mood to celebrate his 17th birthday when Stuart reveals what he has found. Ruth doesn't believe that her father was having an affair - but Kirsty searches for more evidence, and soon finds it. By a majority vote, they agree not to tell Debbie.

On Ali's 17th birthday, he tries out his new car, and wrecks Steve's van - and Ruth is annoyed to find Sean and Nikki enjoying each other's company. When the lads hold a contest to see who can lose their virginity first, Sammy seizes an opportunity to earn an easy &pound

Jimmy insists on planting an Alan Gordon memorial tree for Debbie, and she does to it what she would like to do to Alan. Gary is rude to Rachel, as he lets his personal problems interfere with his work. Jacqui tries to persuade Gabby to try to save her marriage, but she may just be making things worse.

Nic is driving Katie mad, while Max is becoming increasingly suspicious of Jacqui, but can't find anything that confirms his worst fears. Sean invites Nikki for a walk in the park, but brings Luke too. Gary confronts Gabby at her office, and brings all her belongings home - but when he turns violent, Gabby is even more sure that their marriage is over.

It is Katie's last day at work, and it looks as if it will also be Gary's, as he can't convince her that she didn't see him beating up his pregnant wife. And Rachel reports him to his partners, unwilling to be bribed into retracting her complaint. But although Gary does his best to see that Jacqui and Max's marriage is also wrecked, Max finally realises that Jacqui wasn't having an affair after all.

Katie is sick of waiting to give birth and forever going to the toilet, but Nic wants Sammy's opinion about whether he would cheer her up if he asked her to marry him. Gary discovers that his new practice is a very different environment from what he is used to, and the incumbents are not particularly convinced that he is going to be able to adapt to his new surroundings.

Sean agrees to install a satellite dish cheaply for Marty, and they make a bet regarding the sex of Katie's unborn child. Katie has to be rushed to hospital to give birth - and when they arrive there, Nic discovers that her bag has dropped off the roof of his van. Then she refuses to allow him to be with her while she gives birth, and tells him why.......

Nic needs to know if the baby is his or not, and wants a DNA test. Jacqui encourages Katie to fight for Nic - but when Sean questions his motives, will Nic allow the result to influence his decision regarding whether to stay with her? Meanwhile, Josh is sent home from his new school, for altering other pupils' paintings because they were rubbish.

Sammy can't believe that Katie doesn't want to know the DNA test results, and requests another copy. Stuart discovers that his father's ashes are missing from his urn, and decides to replace them with cat-litter. Ali owes Steve for repairs to his van, and suggests that Kirsty repays him in kind. Sean wants to take Nikki for a night on a town, but sees her "angry face".

Stuart and Ali agree to act out one of Sammy's sexual fantasies, but things don't go the way either of them expect. Luke walks in on Sean and Nikki when they are naked in bed together, and Sean is furious.......when he finds out about some of the things Dan did to Luke. Tim thinks Jimmy needs a change of direction.

Sean asks Nikki to look after Luke while he confronts Ruth about Dan, and explains to his ex-wife that she is not seeing her son for a few days. Debbie visits Sean to plead with him to re-think, but he is even more annoyed to find out that she also knew what Dan had done. Bev believes that a role in the school play could be the start of something good for Josh.

Bev needs to make Josh a detachable arm, and Josh wants to learn his lines so that he knows them off by heart. But then he realises that he has left the script behind at school. Ron has plans to cheer Bev up on her birthday, but faces a dilemma when she tells him that he will not be allowed to sell from the Moby outside the school unless he donates the proceeds to the school fund.

Ron apologises to Bev for taking her for granted, and Bev apologises to Brigid for giving her the wrong impression about her relationship with him. Lance discovers that everything that Ron is donating to the school is past its sell-by date - and, after seeing his performance in the play, becomes even more concerned about Josh.

Lance tells Josh that he left the play before the end because he was ashamed, and Josh's teacher advises Ron that Josh has behavioural problems, and should see an educational psychologist. But Bev is not convinced that he needs specialist care - can Ron persuade her? Steve is short of money and bored to death, but has Tim any ideas?

Ron tries to convince Bev that Josh's behaviour will improve if he sees the psychologist. Making a delivery of furniture to a strip and lap-dancing club gives Tim some money-making opportunities, but Jimmy reminds him that any robbery will need to be carefully planned. Steve is willing to help - but then discovers that the plan involves him and Tim becoming lap-dancers.......

Candy offers to be Tim and Steve's dancing teacher as they need to prepare for their audition in front of Dirty Don. But Steve is not convinced that he can cope with wearing a thong, or taking his clothes off in front of women. Jimmy walks in on the pair as they apply fake tan to each other, and doesn't believe their story that this is only a career change for them.

Steve and Tim find that they need to rely on help from Candy to steal the takings from the lap-dancing club. But Dirty Don discovers that the money is missing, and no-one is leaving until it is found - even if this means opening up and searching through every bag of garbage. Meanwhile, someone else has already discovered and claimed it.......

Tim is frustrated that he still needs to continue lap-dancing, although he suspects that Steve is actually enjoying his new career. Jimmy starts up a gardening services business, and soon gets his first customer. As he needs help, Debbie volunteers Stuart to be his assistant - but Stuart wants to be suitably rewarded.......

Jimmy needs to raise &pound

Jimmy urgently needs to off-load the fish he has stolen when he finds out exactly how valuable it is - but he isn't able to find a willing buyer. Eventually, a plan forms in his mind - but Steve and Tim need to be persuaded to dress up, and unfortunately Stuart is only capable of providing the stupidity.......

Jimmy and Debbie have both received letters from a company offering to buy their houses. Jimmy is keen to discover more, when Stuart reveals that he has stolen a theodolite from some surveyors in the woods. But none of Debbie's children have any intentions of moving with her - Ali is particularly keen to move out - and the decision to sell isn't one that she is ever going to have to make anyway.......

Ruth regrets not being more helpful to Debbie at times of need, and arguing with her on the subject of showing good judgement when it comes to relationships. Debbie is certainly correct about one thing - she has left it too late to help Ali with his drinking problem.......

Stuart regrets buying vinyls that Debbie specifically told him he couldn't have, and Kirsty regrets planning to travel again, as the Gordons realise that they will have to make more of an effort to look after each other from now on. Meanwhile, Anthony tries to persuade Adele and Steve to go out, so that they don't discover something he hasn't told them about his friend Jonesey.

Adele discovers why all her baby oil has been going missing, as Laura reveals what Steve's new line of work is. Marty is more concerned that Anthony now has a girlfriend, and believes that he ought to have a chat with him about the facts of life. But after a chat with Jan about keeping secrets in relationships, Anthony tells Elena the worst thing he has ever done.......

Elena wants to know all the details of how Anthony killed Imelda, promises not to tell anyone, and assures him that she still wants to go out with him. But soon everyone else in the school knows....... Adele finds something incriminating in Jan's wardrobe, which leads to a furious row between Jan and Marty. Jimmy discovers that the incinerator builders now only want to buy two of the houses on the Close.

Marty feels that Anthony will probably have to change schools again. Anthony dumps Elena, and blames Jan for giving him bad advice - and, although Marty withdraws his objections to her past promiscuity, she is still not happy. Mike's teacher-training information arrives, but he is more keen to sleep than read it - and Rachel badgers him to fix a dripping tap.

Jan leaves Marty, although Mike, her taxi-driver, tries to persuade her that she is doing the wrong thing by walking out on her family. Then she discovers that he is in the process of doing exactly the same thing. They both feel guilty, but end up in a B&amp

Marty apologises to Anthony for letting Jan come back and walk out on them again - while Jan and Mike talk about the mad ideas everyone gets from time to time, and he agrees to drive her on to Salford. But a shock awaits him when he returns to their bedroom in the B&amp

Mike tries to persuade Jan to go away with him - but she won't let him walk out on his young family, as his approach of taking the easy option is how she ended up missing out on eleven years with her children and husband. Jimmy reveals to Nikki new information he has discovered about Cinerco, but finds that Ron is not the only one who may take the company up on their offer.

Staying with Ron after Rachel throws him out, Mike is missing Beth - but Jan is back home with Marty. Jimmy discovers that Cinerco plan to demolish two of the houses on the Close and built a through-road. Nikki is getting ready for her graduation, but Margi is not pleased when she finds out that her new boyfriend has a child whose mother lives next door, and that Nikki has been sleeping with someone else.......

Ruth wants Sean to miss Nikki's graduation by looking after Luke while she goes to the dentist - not that she is being deliberately obstructive, of course. So Sean sends Jimmy to attend in his place, despite Margi's objections. But both Jimmy and Nikki try to assure her that he never led her on, and he would never ever do anything to hurt her - will Margi be convinced?

Jimmy holds a residents' meeting, which goes better than he expects in creating a greater understanding of the threat facing the Close. Ron, however, is accused of splitting the community down the middle by remaining keen to sell. Can Jacqui, visiting the Close to collect Matthew and Emily's trees and take them to their new home, persuade him to think again? Meanwhile, Margi meets Sean, and reveals something he didn't know about Nikki.......

Tim and Steve feel that they must undertake another job for Hookey - the clearance of a dead woman's belongings. But they are interrupted by a next-door neighbour, alleging that the woman's niece mistreated her. Tim fancies the girl, but Steve is not convinced that she is to be believed.

Kirsty doesn't want to stay at home to go through her mother's things, so Steve, wondering if Tim will be able to keep his mind on the house clearance job, invites her to join them. But Gladys's niece is not pleased, especially when she discovers that she has been left nothing in her aunt's will. Abby suspects, however, that Gladys may have hidden her money somewhere in the house.

Kirsty, Abby, Timmy and Stevie must solve the mystery of the missing money, and prevent Moaning Joan, the nasty niece, from getting her hands on it. But they are not going to be able to save the day without a little help from the ghost of Gladys.

Ruth is surprised to find that Ali and Stuart have gone out early in the morning, and even more surprised when she discovers what they have stolen and brought home. She decides to give them the family allowance money they ask for, but tells them that unless they pay for their board and food they will have to sleep in the garden. So a tent goes up.......

Luke wrecks Ali's attempt to steal sausages from the kitchen, while Sean sees the irony in Ruth having two brothers in the garden wanting to come in, and a sister inside wanting to leave. Jimmy catches Ali and Stuart attempting to steal the Farnhams' toilet, then has to make his escape with them because Ruth has called out the police.

Kirsty wonders whether all men are as deceitful as her father, Ali spents the last of his money on drink, and Ruth decides that it is time that she did something to address Stuart's toilet problem. Then the girls discover that they will need a favour from Jimmy, because something has disappeared from the bathroom.......

While Josh is keen to find out about sexually transmitted diseases and wind, Ron encourages Mike to go and see Rachel. However, she believes they should split up, she has already spoken to a solicitor, and she is resigned to being a single mother. Will sending Jan round to try to convince her that nothing happened between her and Mike help to change her mind?

Josh wants to get an allotment so that he can invent a new rose for Bev, but bringing manure into the house might not help to persuade Ron that he is serious. Mike goes to make his peace with Rachel, but finds the house empty. By following her, he discovers that she has moved to a council flat, and is more intent on divorcing him.

Rachel is admitted to hospital, and Mike isn't going anywhere until he is sure that she is all right. But will she think again about their future together? Christy is wanting to borrow money from Marty for a stag night, as he and Leanne are getting married - but Marty is not sure that his brother is doing the right thing.

Christy is preparing for a small, low-key wedding to Leanne - but there are going to be even fewer people at the registry office than he anticipates. Adele goes to find out her "A" level results - and Marty, about to start a new job, worries that if they are good, she will want to leave home to go to university.

Adele doesn't want the Murrays to move to Leeds so that she can still live at home when she goes to university. When Marty comes home in the morning, he finds Christy drinking - and wonders why Jan didn't stop him. . But Christy wants Lance to tell Leanne something important that she doesn't know - he is dying of leukaemia.

Brigid has made a collection for Christy, and Adele offers him her share of Diane's insurance money. But, although he persuades both Marty and Adele to re-think their plans regarding her going to university, Christy feels that he has achieved nothing over the years, admits that he has lied to everyone, and plans to commit suicide.

Nic is disappointed that he and Katie never seem to be able to find time to talk, sleep together, or have a night out, because Sophie is always crying and Sammy is always poking her nose in. He buys a breast pump so that they can go out for a meal for once, leaving Nikki to baby-sit. However, someone from Katie's past turns up at the restaurant, and Nikki has more bad news for them.

Nic gets a baby monitor for Katie, so that she can hear Sophie burp and fart from anywhere. But she regrets taking a break from Sophie to spend time with him, and he begins to feel that working on their new home is all he is good for - then discovers that she has apparently obtained another set of the DNA test results. Jimmy notices that a security camera has appeared on the Close, and Josh convinces Ron to think again about selling to Cinerco.

When Nic confronts her, Katie believes that he is just looking for a reason to leave. Sammy is forced to admit that she obtained the copy of the DNA test results, and Katie can't believe that her sister put her relationship with Nic at risk just to satisfy her curiosity, probably because she has never had as good a relationship with anyone herself. But will she put the pair out of their misery?

Stuart is keen to beat Ali and Tommo in a race to lose their virginity, but wearing aftershave that smells like disinfectant may spoil his chances, leaving the way clear for Ali....... Ruth asks Sean to have a word with Ali to try to convince him not to move out - but perhaps it is Sean that she needs more. [ Includes sex scenes and sexually explicit language ]

Ruth insists that Stuart cleans up the mess in the garden. Ali urgently needs to find a condom, but discovers the one he had earlier is already in use elsewhere. Kirsty tells Steve she is not ready to have sex yet. But 16-year-old Stella is - and then alleges that she has been raped. The lad accused panics and runs, and needs to be found....... [ Includes sex scenes ]

Sean's actions remind Ruth of why she originally loved him, and she tries to convince him to stay around. But he still wants to be with Nikki, who thinks Kirsty ought to consider the possibility that Stella is telling the truth. When Kirsty talks to Stella about her own experiences, Stella admits that she was not raped. But will she retract what she has told her mother and the police?

Josh wants a Viking sword, and is keen to have Mike as a father - but Mike's mind is on other things, and Ron thinks he is being too harsh on Josh. Jimmy tells Nikki he has enlisted Margi's help with his campaign against Cinerco, and holds a barbecue to foster community spirit. Sean is in for a tough time as he tries to get himself back in Nikki's good books.

Josh has a temperature, and Bev is worried. The doctor prescribes steroids, and Mike wants to follow her advice - but Ron supports Bev's opinion that they should only use them as a last resort. Rachel is concerned that the DSS will catch her and Mike out if he spends too much time at her flat. There is a proposal of marriage on the Close - but from whom?

When she discovers that Katie has asked Jacqui to be matron of honour at her wedding, Sammy wonders if her sister was even going to invite her to be there. Josh feels that Mike never has any time for him, and thinks that Bev and Ron will also ignore him if they get married and have other children. Could the solution be for Ron to adopt him and become his father?

Bev and Ron discover that they need Mike's approval in order to adopt Josh. Mike is nervous about facing a class of pupils for the first time in his teacher-training, and Jimmy offers him some advice. But when he returns to the flat and suspects that Christy is doing more with Rachel than teaching her to drive, it looks as if his marriage is over.

Rachel tells Christy that she and Mike are finished, as he doesn't want her to better herself. Christy is horrified to hear that Mike almost ran away with Jan, but promises not to tell Marty. While Mike finds it difficult to concentrate on his teaching, painful memories are reawakened for Rachel when she finds Jimmy digging up his patio.

Mike tries to tell Rachel how he is feeling, but she would prefer to revise for her driving theory test, and is determined that he will not mess up anything else for her. While Mike is appalled to discover Bev and Ron's adoption plans, Rachel confides in Christy about the abuse she has suffered in the past.

Katie and Nic try to sort out their wedding plans, and Katie feels depressed that she has only a few friends to invite, while Nic has dozens. Hearing that Jessie and Ray are now intent on selling the bungalow as soon as possible, Sean invites Nikki to move in with him. But it's a commitment that she isn't ready for - and, irritated by Ruth's jealousy, she tells him they are finished.

Sean blames Ruth for Nikki breaking up with him, and, following well-intentioned advice from others, his attempts to win her back become increasingly unsuccessful. When she finally finds him collecting her underwear for a surprise trip to Paris, she panics and seeks shelter at Jimmy's. Sean feels like a failure - and there happens to be one nearby, ready and willing to throw herself at him.......

When Sean falls off his ladder, suffering concussion and a broken arm, Ruth agrees to let him move in to recuperate. Although she is not impressed to hear that he was apparently beginning to work his way through all the ladies of the Close, soon she is remembering the good times, and even considers postponing a hot date with an imaginary boyfriend to stay in with him. Sammy has a peace offering for Katie, but will she accept it? Let's hope so, as it's the last time we'll see them!

Jimmy visits a pub, discusses the perils of smoking with another drinker who is prepared to defend it, and tries to make others aware of the effects of "passive smoking" by spitting his drink over them. But they don't entirely appreciate his efforts. Meanwhile, Margi goes shopping for clothes, and Nikki guesses that she is trying to impress someone. [ Contains strong language ]

Margi plans a romantic holiday abroad with Jimmy, but there is something he wants to talk about. Nikki and Margi believe he is going to propose, but they end up hating him when they finally hear what he has to say. Meanwhile, Bev is looking forward to marrying Ron, but wonders what kind of new neighbours they will be getting.

Nikki confronts Jimmy and hopes he is feeling guilty, but then discovers that he has received some devastating news which has changed his outlook on life. A new neighbour arrives, and their initial encounters with him make Sean and Ruth even more convinced that it is time for them to move away from the Close. [ Contains strong language ]

When Marty is not keen to chain himself to a bulldozer to protest against Cinerco, Jimmy wonders if there is any point in fighting on, and isn't sure that he even has any dignity left. Can Nikki reassure him? Stuart comes home to find Ali and Tommo smoking drugs, and Anthony has a new friend who seems likely to lead him into trouble. [ Includes strong language ]

Suzie convinces Anthony to join her in smoking dope. When Jimmy catches them, he tells Jan, who forbids Anthony from seeing the girl again. Sean and Ruth study details of some amazing houses with amazing prices, and Ali and Tommo believe they have found a handy new drug-dealer closer to home. [ Includes strong language ]

When Jimmy sabotages one of Cinerco's bulldozers, the owner of the company pays him an unexpected visit at home and warns him that he also knows how to fight dirty. Ali tells Ruth and Sean his cannabis smoking is just an "every-now-and-then" kind of thing, but they suggest it becomes a "never-again" type of thing. Bev is planning an exotic wedding, but Ron worries that it is becoming too expensive. [ Includes strong language ]

Michaelson discovers that Suzie has been smoking dope, believes that Anthony is a bad influence on his daughter, and makes his feelings known to Jan with his fists - so Marty, Christy and Steve miss Ron's wedding to Bev so that they can discourage him from a repeat performance. Stuart discovers that Ali has stolen money from him to buy more drugs - but there is a more devastating discovery for Ruth and Sean. [ Includes strong language and violent scenes that some viewers may find upsetting ]

At Bev and Ron's wedding reception, Jacqui and Bev attempt to wipe the slate clean, and Mike reminds Rachel of their own wedding, telling her he still loves her. But soon she has to be rushed to hospital to give birth....... Jan is concerned that violence never solves anything, and worries that Marty, Steve and Christy have made things worse - and Ruth and Sean anxiously await news of Luke.

On their way home from their wedding reception, Bev, Ron and Josh witness horrifying scenes of violence on the Close, as a Santa outfit is not a good enough disguise to prevent Michaelson from recognising Christy - and Bev is convinced that the Dixons need to leave the Close. Ruth fears that Luke will be taken into care, Steve spoils his chances with Kirsty, and Sean is determined to succeed where the Murrays failed. [ Includes strong language and violent scenes that some viewers may find upsetting ]

Jan discovers that Anthony has been admitted to hospital after overdosing on crack cocaine with Suzie, and convinces Marty that the Murrays need to leave the Close. Ruth also wants the Gordons to leave, and tries to persuade Sean to forget about Michaelson. And Lindsey wants Jimmy's blessing for another marriage - but where is he? [ Includes strong language, and scenes of violence that some viewers may find distressing ]

Lindsey thinks Jimmy will come and live with her in Newcastle, but he doesn't want to be driven out of his home by Cinerco or Michaelson. And Barry returns to the Close. Although he doesn't want to be involved in ridding the residents of their troublesome neighbour, he does have a thought-provoking story to tell Tim....... [ Includes strong language, and some violent goings-on ]

In a 38-minute extended final episode, Michaelson is dead - but none of the other residents seem to have seen or heard anything that might give the police any clues as to who was responsible. Christy and Anthony are both out of hospital, and the Murrays reflect on some of their unhappy times on the Close as they prepare to leave. The Gordons are also on the move - but Stuart has something to return to Jimmy, who feels that he should return it to Ron before the Dixons also depart. Tim agrees to drop Nikki off at the airport on his way to his new flat, and a new home also awaits Jimmy.......