Tue, Dec 31, 1963
Elsie determines to see Laurie before he returns to London. Val gets tired of Dave's presence and asks Ken when he's going to go. She snaps at Dave when he tries to be pleasant to her. Walter feels sorry for the way Dennis has been treated and offers him his salary from a gig but it's refused. Laurie tells Elsie that Dennis had to go because he didn't open the office over Christmas, losing them eleven bookings. Annie overhears Joan on the phone telling Gordon she can't return because Annie is ill and might have to go into hospital. Frank notices that Annie is distracted after the call. Val asks Frank to show Dave around the flat above his shop and let it to him once it's finished being done up. Annie gets annoyed when Elsie talks about Linda once leaving Ivan and thinks she's dropping hints about Joan. Annie tells Jack what she overheard and breaks down. Jack thinks she's got it all wrong. Elsie rips into Dennis for messing things up again. He tells her he has plans but Elsie isn't pleased to hear that the dole is one of them. Ena, Minnie and Martha wonder what 1964 will bring. Dave tells Frank he likes the flat but doesn't like the idea of cleaning it himself. Ken sees through him and tells him that Val will find him a cleaner. Annie determines to stay up late and have it out with Joan when she returns from seeing her friend Barbara Stock. Jack orders her to bed but Annie comes down when Joan comes in at 1.05am. She tells her what she overheard. Joan tells Annie she's left Gordon and is not going back to him but refuses to discuss the matter further. Annie starts to fret.
Sun, Jan 5, 1964
With a new roundabout being built, all the town's traffic is diverted down Rosamund Street. With Emily away, Myra helps at Gamma Garments. Elsie puts pressure on Dennis to get a job. Jack thinks Joan should be sent home. Joan tells Concepta that Gordon is against them having children and won't let her work. He treats her like a child. Dennis plans to open a club but no one will back him. Jack tells Joan she must stand against the Davies' and makes her see that her marriage will not be a bed of roses. She agrees to return to Gordon. Elsie is shocked when Dennis agrees to go for a labouring job at Amalgamated Steel in the despatch department.
Tue, Jan 7, 1964
Lucille is delighted when Harry tells her she can go to Walter's concert at the Palais. Ken goes after promotion as Head of English on an extra £150 a year. Dennis gets the job at Amalgamated Steel. The Hewitts worry that Christopher's coughing will get worse living in the Street. Ken argues for a crossing on Rosamund Street. Val thinks he's putting his promotion in jeopardy.
Sun, Jan 12, 1964
Dennis starts work in the loading bay at Amalgamated Steel. After the concert, Walter has a load of screaming fans outside No.11. Lucille is furious when Jennifer Knott is photographed in the paper as President of Walter's fan club. Walter's fans kiss Elsie's front door. Elsie is amazed when Walter's record sells 100,000 with him getting two and a half pennies for each one. Walter doesn't think he can cope with success. Len gets annoyed when the Barlows keep chasing him to get the flat ready for Dave. Laurie tells Elsie he's planning to open a nightclub in Elliston's basement and asks her to be a croupier.
Tue, Jan 14, 1964
Lucille is so concerned with Walter that she forgets Concepta's birthday. The fans hold fort outside No.11. When they chalk "I love Brett" over the Vestry, Ena demands their removal and is shocked when Lucille defies her. Florrie puts an application in for a sub-Post Office. Lucille prepares for battle against Jennifer Knott. Ena opposes the club venture. Swindley tells Laurie he will fight him over the plans. Harry is horrified when Lucille has "Brett Falcon Fan Club President" tattooed on her arm.
Sun, Jan 19, 1964
Walter has a photographic session for publicity pictures. Harry continues to rage at Lucille for the tattoo. He throws the Photographer out of his house when he asks for permission to shoot pictures of Lucille in her position of president of Brett Falcon's fan club and threatens Walter with violence for the bother he's causing. Walter is distraught and subdued with Dennis. He is unable to go anywhere without being chased by screaming girls. Concepta worries over Lucille. Val rows with Ken when he and Dave write to the papers over the lack of a school crossing. She tells him that if he gets the sack she'll leave him. She asks him to tear the letter up and finds out it's already been sent. Frank is annoyed when he sees the published letter. Ena is annoyed that Myra won't sign Swindley's petition against the nightclub and makes Minnie sign it. Martha makes her displeasure at Lucille's tattoo plain. Dennis finds the hard work at Amalgamated Steel is getting to him. Walter gets a phone call from London offering him a European tour with the group. Ken tells Val and Albert the head is snubbing him at work. Dave moves into Frank's flat but Val still finds his presence annoying. Ena makes Martha sign the petition and she and Swindley form a friendly allegiance to fight Laurie. Walter feels trapped in his room by the constant chants and screams.
Tue, Jan 21, 1964
With the national papers reporting the news of Walter's tour, the Street fills with screaming fans. Walter doesn't want to go as he'd rather stay with the Tanners. Laurie makes him realise if he wants success he must accept his fans and do the tour. Florrie plans to change the Corner Shop round, moving the door to stop the draughts. Dennis smuggles Walter out of No. 11 and off to Cannes dressed in his old window cleaning clothes. Walter gives him money to have a bathroom installed in the house.
Sun, Jan 26, 1964
Ken is summoned to the Education Officer. Val tells Dave he's not wanted in her house. He tells her how lonely he is and they are puzzled by the fact that they are talking for the first time. Susan Schofield is knocked down outside Bessie Street School and is rushed unconscious to hospital. Dave blames himself as he was getting the children across the road. Whilst Ken gets angry with the Council, Val tries to comfort Dave. Susan dies in hospital.
Tue, Jan 28, 1964
Ken gets a television producer friend interested in the crossing story. Laurie offers £750 to Len to sort out the alterations for the club. Len wants the work but doesn't want to run around Laurie. Dave refuses to do the television interview so Ken agrees to do it, but without the school's permission.
Sun, Feb 2, 1964
Dennis can't sleep during days after his night-shift work at Amalgamated Steel. Walter sends him a letter from the south of France telling how well he's doing. Dennis worries that he'll be fired if he's late for work again. The club is granted a licence, depressing Swindley and causing Ena to tell him he's useless. He tells Emily he's not giving up. Ken tells Dave he's not been given the job of head of department because of the television interview. He dreads telling Val. Dennis goes to work thinking he's on time but the clock in No. 11 has stopped and he's half an hour late. Foreman Mick comes down heavy on him. The others ostracise him. Joyce Lennox joins Len for a drink in the Rovers. Laurie tries to buy Swindley a drink but he refuses. Swindley tries to drum up interest in a public meeting of protest, saying that Alderman Langton will be there but no one is interested. Val is short with Ken over the failed promotion. Dennis sends a load to Glasgow which should have gone to Leeds. He nervously starts to explain the error to Mick.
Sun, Feb 9, 1964
Frank tells Ken he doesn't blame Val for walking out. Dave is alarmed when Val tells him she should have married him, not Ken. She tells Frank she intends to stay with Dave. Len takes up with machinist Joyce Lennox, to Elsie's amazement. Ken confronts Dave and Val. When Dave tells him he doesn't want Val, Ken takes her home.
Tue, Feb 11, 1964
Frank gives Dave a week's notice to vacate the flat - he's closing it up. Elsie refuses to ask Laurie for a job for Dennis. Frank realises Dave didn't lure Val away but Dave refuses to let him retake the notice. Val agrees to go away on holiday with Ken. Laurie promises Dennis a job when the club opens. Annie tells Swindley that Emily has sold Laurie one hundred metres of velvet curtains for the club. Swindley refuses to believe her.
Sun, Feb 16, 1964
Eddie Thomas starts as Len's apprentice. Lucille falls for him. Emily has to cancel the velvets from the warehouse without Swindley knowing about them. She is too late and the order is processed. When she tells Swindley he stands by his principles and refuses to hold the order. Len shocks everyone by taking Joyce Lennox out.
Tue, Feb 18, 1964
Swindley tells Laurie his curtain order is cancelled. He will not handle Laurie's tainted money. Laurie throws him out of the club. Swindley accuses Emily of being against him and lying to him. Laurie offers Martha a job as cleaner at the club. Harry warns Len that Joyce Lennox is just after his money. Mr Papagopolous refuses to cancel the order. When Swindley shouts at Emily, Ena stands up for her. Swindley realises he has to apologise to Laurie.
Sun, Feb 23, 1964
The Barlows return from their holiday reconciled. Len is amazed to discover Joyce Lennox is a friend of Eddie's. Laurie gets hold of some cheaper curtains, to Swindley's horror. Emily breaks down when Swindley tells her she is completely lacking in judgement and sense. Swindley has twenty-four hours in which to get rid of the curtains. Emily begs Laurie to take them back but he refuses. Lucille agrees to go out with Eddie.
Tue, Feb 25, 1964
Swindley misses a PPOP meeting and is dropped as candidate for the elections. Emily is shocked when he comes to work dressed scruffily. Jerry and Eddie work in the Corner Shop as Len organises the work at the club. Elsie tells Len everyone thinks he's a dirty old man but he tells her to mind her own business. Swindley frightens Emily by showing signs of a breakdown. Ken and Val try too hard to be nice to each other. Harry and Concepta are pleased when Lucille ask their permission before going out with Eddie. Emily goes in search of Swindley when misses a meeting with Mr Papagopolous. Swindley is nearly knocked down by a bus as he wanders the street, crying.
Tue, Mar 3, 1964
Dennis plans a party for Elsie's birthday. Emily summons Swindley's sister Hilda Barrett to take care of him. Martha agrees to clean the club. Dennis shows Elsie her present - a bath, paid for by Walter. Elsie decides to turn Linda's bedroom into the bathroom. Ena starts a collection for Swindley. Mr Papagopolous sends him flowers and fruit. He is taken home by his sister. Dennis presents Elsie with a birthday cake with forty-eight candles when she is only forty-one.
Sun, Mar 8, 1964
Florrie gets flustered as the opening of the Post Office nears and she gets Len to fix some last-minute snags. Eddie arranges to go out with Lucille again. Myra orders some furniture from Frank. Jerry worries that she's spending too much money. Laurie tells Martha that he's appointing a manager to look after the running of the club. He refuses Dennis an advance on his wages. Florrie can't open tomorrow until she has an assistant - Myra agrees to have the job. Emily struggles alone at Gamma Garments. Lucille asks Elsie's advice as to what to wear on her date. Emily also asks Myra if she wants to be her assistant. Ted Ashley is back in Weatherfield after forty years in Australia and buys a drink in the Rovers. Cleaning the floors, Martha overhears him talking about Bessie Street School and remembers him. She sneaks out of the pub without being seen. Harry embarrasses Lucille by telling her to be sure that she does her homework before she goes out with Eddie. Martha gets her best dress and coat ready and makes an excuse as to why she isn't going to the Luxy with Ena and Minnie. Florrie has to think quickly when Len makes the joke suggestion that she employ Dennis in the shop. Emily and Florrie bicker as to who is to employ Myra and they leave the decision to her. She asks Jerry who says that he doesn't want her working at all - she's a housewife. Riled by Laurie's manner, Len drops work at the club to fit the bath in No. 11. Ena and Minnie are shocked when Martha turns up in the Rovers dressed to the nines. Len and Elsie argue over her relationship with Laurie. Laurie tells him to keep out of his business. A despondent Florrie has no choice but to give Dennis the job in the shop. He passes out at the turnaround in his fortunes.
Tue, Mar 10, 1964
Florrie's new look shop/post office opens and Martha is her first customer. She draws her pension and buys a tin of best salmon. She invites Ena and Minnie to tea and they realise she is up to something. Dennis is late for his first day in the shop. Jerry is shamed in front of Myra into agreeing to the new furniture from Frank. Dennis turns up for work but can't remember where anything is stored and has to be reminded by the customers. Len winds him up by changing his order. Laurie and Len almost come to blows in the Rovers when Laurie insists the contract to work on the club is adhered to and Harry has to step in. The Rovers regulars are surprised when Martha buys a bottle of port. Martha dolls herself up and puts out her best china for tea. Ena and Minnie realise what she's up to when Ted Ashley arrives. Florrie is worn down by Dennis as he nearly wrecks the shop. Lucille is upset when Eddie becomes evasive about taking her out again. Ted is embarrassed by Martha's attention as he barely remembers the three ladies from his days at school. While Martha's back is turned, Ena invites him to the Rovers. Harry asks Len to keep Eddie occupied so as to stop him spending so much time with Lucille. Ena and Minnie also dress up for Ted. Albert introduces Ted to the regulars which keeps him away from the ladies in the snug. Len is stood up when Joyce and Eddie go off together.
Sun, Mar 15, 1964
Eddie is late for work and relieved that Len isn't there. Len takes his temper out on Dennis in the Corner Shop. Florrie has sacked Dennis eight times in two days but she still can't get rid of him. Albert makes arrangements to meet Ted. Annie gets annoyed when Ted disparages the area. Albert invites him to see his allotment. Having heard from Ted all about Australia, Minnie decides she wants a koala bear. Martha follows Ted to the allotments and finds out his farm is 30,000 acres large. She is also delighted to discover he is a widower. Ted tells her she should join him for a visit to his sister Alice in London as she's homesick for the north of England. Eddie tells Len he didn't know Joyce had stood him up when he took her out. Len grows unhappy at the age gap between him and Joyce. Val is amazed when Ken takes her out for a meal. Ena questions Martha and is amazed to hear about the size of Ted's farm. Ted and Albert go to an old haunt, The Grapes, where Ted is despondent to see how it has changed into a trendy bar. Ted tells Albert he'll never marry again. Elsie flares up at Laurie when he assumes that she'll want to work for him in the club. She tells him she will only work for him if he keeps to his promise to give Dennis a job and he agrees but she demands it in writing. Len wonders why Ken is in such a good mood. Martha tells a shocked Ena she's going to London with Ted and no one can stop her.
Tue, Mar 17, 1964
Ken is hung-over after his and Val's night out but remains coy about what he is celebrating. Albert also has a hangover after his night out with Ted Ashley. Martha tells the Walkers she's going to have a few days off as she's going to London. Laurie is impatient with the amount of time Len and his lads have taken over the club conversion. Laurie tells Len to tell Joyce Lennox there's a job for her at the club. Len sarcastically passes the message on to Eddie. Dennis's work at the Corner Shop has improved. Martha withdraws her savings for her fare to London though she is shocked to hear how much it is. Dennis advises her to go by bus instead. Ted takes Albert for the hair of a dog. Ted is surprised that Martha is going to London as he didn't think she'd take him up on the offer. Ken gets a letter from the Lancashire Education Committee and tells Val he's got a new job as Head of English at Horton Technical College. Martha calls in her debts from Ena as she needs the money for her trip. Dennis adds items he likes to Elsie's order. Martha questions Ken about Australia and demands her club money off Val. Ted goes to the Vestry for tea where Ena questions him about home. He tells her that she'd like the place and she takes the opportunity to interpret the comment as a "proposal" that she duly refuses. Jerry worries as more furniture arrives at No. 13. Minnie falls for Ena's ruse and tells Martha about the "proposal" but as far as Martha's concerned, she's still going to London.
Sun, Mar 29, 1964
Elsie returns from Blackpool having watched the croupier tables there and had her hair done. Dennis is stressed about the Viaduct Sporting Club opening. Elsie is annoyed when Laurie doesn't notice her hair. Myra wants to go to the club opening but Jerry refuses as he wants to do nothing for Easter Monday. Ken asks Jerry to put up some shelves but he lends him his tools to do the job himself. Ena and Minnie drops hints to Annie that Martha won't be returning from London but marrying Ted Ashley and going to Australia. Martha returns alone from London and hides at home. Laurie insists she turns up at the club to clean it tomorrow. Gus tells Dennis to bring the stock of drinks in from the delivery van. Jack is annoyed to hear that the club will be serving the first drink free on its opening night. Len has caught a cold after the run. Laurie is horrified as the ceiling in the bar collapses and threatens to sue Len as the opening will have to be postponed but then discovers that Gus used the room above as a liquor store, thus causing the collapse. Gus apologises to a smug Len who tells him the fix is a twenty-four hour job. Jerry refuses to join Len in starting the job until Myra forces him. Elsie is annoyed at the postponement. Annie spreads the news of Martha's marriage but Frank tells everyone he saw her returning home earlier in the day. Ena refuses to go and see her. Len is angry when a riled Jerry tells him he threw the race. Annoyed at Laurie's low offer of pay, Len and Jerry drop a load of plaster from the ceiling on him.
Tue, Mar 31, 1964
The ceiling is repaired and the club is readied for opening. Annie thinks the days of the Rovers being busy are over. Ena and Minnie can't get an answer from Martha. Elsie and Dennis gets smartened up for the opening. Dennis tries to give her tips as to how to handle the customers for a portion of her tips but she's dismissive of his efforts. Ken and Val ask Jerry and Myra to go to the club opening with them but only Myra accepts. Unseen, she dips into the housekeeping money to fund the night. Martha finally lets Ena and Minnie into her house. Ena guesses that Martha made a fool of herself. She admits that Ted Ashley didn't ask her to marry him and that she spent her time sight-seeing alone. Annie is furious that Martha cleaned at the club but didn't turn up for her job at the Rovers. The clubs opens and a lucky black cat is the first to enter. The Rovers is almost empty of customers. Annie takes Martha to task for disloyalty. The club is packed with Elsie in charge of the roulette table. Myra starts to lose all her money. A smart woman turns up and buys £10 of chips. Jack admits he's worried about the lack of custom. The smart woman loses £15 on the table. Myra suddenly wins. Martha wonders if she's wasted her life. The smart woman is cleaned out and looks for her husband for more - she approaches Laurie. Elsie is stunned.
Sun, Apr 5, 1964
Ken starts teaching at night school to get ahead of his pupils. Elsie decides to leave the club. Rosemary tells her that Laurie has lots of other women and she doesn't mind but Elsie refuses to play their games. Myra wants a foreign holiday and thinks of taking a job at the club. Dennis fears that he will be sacked over Elsie. Emily tries to get the residents to boost the congregation at the Mission. To the residents' delight, Elsie throws all the presents Laurie has brought her at him in the Street.
Tue, Apr 7, 1964
Elsie refuses to listen to Laurie's excuses. He tells Dennis he's not blaming him. Myra's fitted furniture arrives to Jerry's horror. He refuses to let her take a job. Irma starts work for Florrie. The Frazers leave the Street and return to London, with Gus Lowman running the club. A man called Stuart Hodges will be taking over the Mission of Glad Tidings from Swindley. Emily worries that the low turn-out at services will cause him to recommend the closure of the Mission.
Sun, Apr 12, 1964
Ken starts at Granston Technical College. Emily discovers that Stuart will be arriving to give his first sermon on Sunday. Myra tries to put the furniture together but bodges it. Ken finds it hard teaching teenagers after the Bessie Street kids. Florrie warns Myra that her slate is nearly £2. Gus refuses to give Elsie membership of the club. She tells Dennis that she's thinking of going to live in Canada with the Cheveskis.
Sun, Apr 19, 1964
Myra only pays Frank back £20. Stuart tells Emily he plans to see the Mission of Glad Tidings bursting, not close it. He wants to brighten up the Mission. Myra puts the £5 down on a deposit for a holiday. Val thinks of joining the congregation when she sees Stuart. The Representative from the hire purchase company tells Jerry that Myra hasn't paid the last two months' instalments. Martha finds it hard work coping with two jobs. Jerry discovers Myra has not paid the mortgage for three months. She tells Jerry she is pregnant.
Tue, Apr 21, 1964
Martha goes to Lily's to look after the children and Minnie stands in for her at the Rovers and the Viaduct Sporting Club. Stuart wins Ena over by helping her wash the Mission walls. Jerry is horrified when Myra continues to spend on hire purchase. Myra tells Jerry the £20 she paid Frank was from her dad. He tells her they owe £85. She breaks down and he tells her that he'll take over the payments to sort them out. Gus leaves Minnie on her own at the club where she has an accident whilst cleaning the stairs.
Sun, Apr 26, 1964
Stuart and Dennis find Minnie at the bottom of the stairs, having fallen through the bannisters. Len grows annoyed as Laurie doesn't pay him for the work at the club. Minnie is taken to hospital, Ena plans to sue Laurie. Jerry refuses to do foreigners to get more money, not knowing that the electric bill has arrived. Gus gives £10 to Dennis to bribe Minnie with but then discovers that it's Len's fault, not theirs.
Tue, Apr 28, 1964
Minnie convalesces with Ena with her torn ligament. Jerry asks Len for a rise but Len tells him he hasn't been paid by Laurie yet. The Booths' electricity is cut off for not paying the bill. Stuart arranges a holiday for Minnie at the seaside. Len lends Jerry £3 to pay the electricity. Stuart calls in a solicitor to sort out Minnie's claim. Wormold is annoyed that Len vouched for Jerry over the mortgage.
Tue, May 5, 1964
Jerry refuses charity from the neighbours. Elsie tells Irma she's welcome to use their bath. Jerry rows with Len when he tells him Myra wears the trousers. He asks Jack to lend him £80 but is turned down. Dennis walks in on Irma's bath, to Elsie's amusement. Frank gets drunk and breaks the news that he has won £5,000 on the premium bonds.
Sun, May 10, 1964
Frank starts throwing his weight about the Street. Martha is invited to Spain with the family for a holiday - her first trip abroad. Len is sued by Minnie's solicitor. He has no orders coming in and has to sack Eddie and Jerry. George Dickinson agrees to pay the Booths' debts if they'll live with him. Myra blames it on Jerry not earning enough. Jerry gives up and agrees to everything George and Myra says. Len settles out of court and gives Ena £50.
Tue, May 19, 1964
A wreath is delivered to the Vestry where within Ena readies the funeral tea with Emily and Minnie's help. Frank shows off his riches by buying an expensive wreath. Ena forces Florrie to assist with the preparations. Annie swanks around in her new black outfit for the funeral. Concepta works in the Rovers to enable the Walkers to attend the funeral. Annie thinks Elsie's new funeral outfit with black hair veil is overdone. The residents go to the Glad Tidings Mission Hall for the funeral and Ena and Minnie gather their courage for the service which Stuart is to conduct. Emily and Swindley look after Minnie. Two workmen from the Dick Street Furniture Market clear out Martha's house at 7 Mawdsley Street. Len looks in and hears that the contents have been bought outright after being sold by the Haddons and that new neighbours are moving in tomorrow. The Corner Shop is closed and the street is deserted as the service takes place. Afterwards, the three-car cortege winds its way through the Weatherfield streets to the cemetery where Swindley conducts the committal as Martha is buried with her husband. At the funeral meal, Ena gets annoyed by Frank's financial boasting but it's Lily and Wilf's high-handed manner which starts to grate on her. She is kind to Jerry when he apologises for not making the funeral but shouts at Lily's hypocrisy when she voices her regrets that Martha never made it to Spain with them, accusing her of preparing to use her mother again as she had always done. Wilf takes a crying Lily home. The neighbours sympathise with Ena's views. They retire to the Rovers. Charlie Moffitt and his dog Little Titch arrives on the street, ready to take up a position as resident comic at the Viaduct Sporting Club. He introduces himself in the pub as Jerry and Myra come to say goodbye to the neighbours. The menfolk enjoy his patter while Ena and Minnie sit silently together in the snug.
Sun, May 24, 1964
Annie is in a somewhat maudlin mood as she sweeps outside the Rovers but is cheered up when Albert tells her she's in the prime of her life. Elsie is in a similar mood but doesn't receive any such compliments from Dennis. Swindley returns to Gamma Garments. He approves of how Emily has run the shop in his absence and she is euphoric that he is back. Charlie moves his belongings, including his pigeons, into the street on a handcart and leaves it outside the Rovers while he takes Albert in for a drink. Albert recalls seeing Charlie's act at Platt Fields. Charlie has been told by Gus Lowman that Dennis will find him digs but the regulars tell him not to expect too much from him. Dennis accidentally lets the pigeons loose and they fly off. Emily bemoans her single state to Val. Charlie tells Dennis that the pigeons are not homing ones and that they are worth £48 in an attempt to force him to give him digs at No.11. Dennis falls for the con and tells him that his mum will be very amenable to the idea of him being a lodger. Charlie makes him move his belongings into the house. Emily tries to point out to an uncomprehending Swindley the similarities between them. Lucille mentions to her that as it's a leap year women can propose to men, giving her pause for thought. Elsie finds the handcart outside No.11 when she returns home and wonders what Dennis is up to. She is not pleased to find Charlie in residence and tells him to leave. She erupts when he criticises her size and goes for him and Dennis, who both hastily retreat. Charlie insists that he carry out Gus's instructions and finds him alternative digs. Swindley admits to Emily that he is lonely now he no longer has his sister's company.
Tue, May 26, 1964
Emily is prim towards Len when he slaps her bottom when she is up a ladder in the shop. She asks for an explanation and is told that he wouldn't do the same to Ena. She feels insulted, thinking that he looks on her as being a frump but he manages to cheer her up. Annie worries about Minnie as she hasn't seen her since the funeral and Albert agrees to check on her. Charlie has spent the night on three chairs at the club. Both Annie and Albert refuse him digs but Annie thinks it would be a good idea for him to lodge with Minnie. Frank calls into Gamma to say his goodbyes as he's bought a detached house in Wilmslow. He suggests to Swindley that he should also settle down. Swindley doesn't know what he means. Minnie refuses Charlie a room but he manages to talk her round with his charm and hard-luck stories. He takes her to the Rovers to celebrate. Stuart and Swindley are sure that they will work together well at the mission. Emily is upset when she realises that she's forgotten to order some new gloves that Annie wants. Minnie is thrown when Charlie brings Little Titch into the house but is assured that he won't chase Bobby. Charlie tells Albert that the lost pigeons aren't worth anything while Dennis tries fruitlessly to catch some replacements in Albert Square. Gus Lowman warns Charlie about Dennis letting him down at the club. Ken returns as soon as he can from work to say goodbye to Frank but Val tells him he left half an hour ago. He's not too bothered, pleased the two of them can now be on their own together. They shut the door on No.3. Emily delivers Annie's gloves and asks her advice. Emily tells her that she feels that her life has been wasted and asks her if it would be right for her to propose to Swindley.
Sun, May 31, 1964
Val and Concepta lament how little they see of their husbands. Minnie finds it hard to cope with Charlie's dog, Little Titch, who doesn't seem to like her. She looks through things that used to belong to Martha and starts to get maudlin. Elsie comes home from work sick. Exotic dancer, Pip Mistral, calls on Charlie and invites him to a party on Sunday for the birthday of one of her friend's at their flat. She asks him to supply the men. Emily asks Swindley round for a meal under the guise of making a meal for a competition she has entered. Len happily agrees to join Charlie at the party. He then calls on Harry and asks him to join them. Lucille tells Val that her headmistress has demanded that her tattoo is removed. Emily makes an appointment with Val for a new radical hairstyle in the style of Dusty Springfield. A nervous Harry agrees to join Len and Charlie. Val starts to decorate and Ken reluctantly joins in. Len gets him to come out for a drink but it's a ruse to tell him about the party. Ken agrees to go as well when he sees a picture of Pip. The four men try to think of an alibi to get past Val and Concepta. Charlie suggests a Territorial Army regimental do to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Balaclava. Charlie plays a trumpet call to mark the on-coming festivity as they raise their glasses in a toast.
Tue, Jun 2, 1964
Len and Harry buy new clothes for the party. Concepta and Val have fallen for the story about the regimental do. Elsie gets in some new dresses for Emily to try on to compliment her new look. Ken feels guilty about going to the party. Concepta doesn't realise that Harry has dosed himself with aftershave and thinks it's Lucille's cheap scent. Lucille finds it funny when she realises that Harry has used her Christmas present on himself. Emily invites Swindley round for a meal on Monday. He reluctantly accepts. Len collects Charlie so the menfolk can have a few drinks first at the Rovers. Hearing where her dad has gone, Lucille looks up the date of the Battle of Balaclava and finds out that it took place on 25th October. Concepta is puzzled. The four men arrive at Pip Mistral's flat, Charlie bringing his trumpet and Little Titch. Concepta tells Val they've been lied to and they determine to do something about it. Charlie is left out at the party as the three women and the other men pair up, Len with Monique and Harry with Bettina. Ken tries to make Pip see that she's wasted as a dancer and she should use her intelligence instead. As he makes a move on her, she guesses that he's married and pulls away. Charlie puts on a cabaret for the party. Val tells Concepta that she's had an idea. The party ends as Val and Concepta wait for their husbands to arrive home. A tipsy Harry and Ken try to sneak into their houses but their wives are waiting up and interrogate them. They demand to know about the names of the soldiers and other guests that were there and the menu they were served. Harry and Ken stumble through their respective lies. Val drags Ken to No. 7 where the stories are compared but don't match. They desperately try to convince their wives by repeating the song they sang at the party: "Bless 'Em All".
Tue, Jun 9, 1964
Charlie's act doesn't go down very well at the club. Emily resigns from Gamma Garments as she feels she can't work alongside Swindley. She tells everyone she's leaving the district for good. Len is amused that Emily is interested in Swindley and advises him to go for it. Val is hurt that Ken had an intelligent conversation with Pip Mistral - she'd have rather he'd kissed her. Jack shows Irma the ropes at the Rovers. Charlie tells Dennis he won't make it in show business. Swindley has a drink with Jack and decides to accept Emily's proposal. He calls at Emily's flat late at night to tell her of his change of mind.
Tue, Jun 16, 1964
Concepta is summoned to Ireland when her father falls ill again. Harry and Christopher go with her and the Barlows take Lucille in. Jack refuses to sack Irma just to please Annie. Len is paid for the work he did at the club. Ena feels pushed out by Charlie. Elsie discovers Dennis has given up his job. She tells him to pack and leave but he tells her that he's written off to get a trade in ladies' hairdressing.