MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 1st Episode
PAUL LASHES OUT AT THE WORLD Summer’s thrilled that Paul stayed over but Billy explains he just needed somewhere to crash. Paul calls at No.5 and showing Kel the photo, explains how Billy reckons he’s a victim of sexual grooming. Having assured Paul that was never the case and they loved each other, Kel urges him to tell Billy that nothing happened between them. Billy’s concerned to find Paul drowning his sorrows in the Rovers. Paul makes it clear he doesn’t want to discuss it. A drunk Paul confronts Kel in the ginnel and tries to kiss him. Kel pushes him away and Paul realises with horror that Kel only fancied him as a young boys. Seeing red, Paul punches Kel, knocking him unconscious.
SARAH REALISES THE EXTENT OF ADAM’S OBSESSION Adam offers Ryan a wad of cash to come clean and admit Gary beat him up. Although sorely tempted, Ryan sticks to his story. Sarah arrives back from Milan and is horrified to hear that Ryan’s been beaten up and Adam suspects Gary is the culprit. Sarah confronts Ryan but he sticks to his story, claiming Adam offered him money to pin it on Gary.
EVELYN SUSPECTS JADE As Jade serves breakfast Evelyn eyes her suspiciously. A delighted Fiz tells Tyrone that she’s accepted Gary’s offer of a job at the furniture shop. Meanwhile Evelyn quietly lets herself into No.9 and catches Jade rifling through the drawers. What is Jade up to?
ELSEWHERE Asha begs Dev for some extra pocket money but he tells her it’s time she earned her money. Dragging a reluctant Asha into the kebab shop, Dev tells Cathy that Asha will be doing some shifts. Paula calls at No.13 and presents Sophie with a leather satchel and a new laptop for her first day at college. But when her phone pings with a photo from Kate on a sunny beach, she gazes at it wistfully, unaware Paula’s watching.
MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2nd Episode
PAUL ADMITS THE ASSAULT BUT WITHHOLDS THE REASON Leaving Kel unconscious in the ginnel, Paul hurries away. Gemma spots his bleeding knuckles but Paul covers that he trapped his hand in the van door. As Kel’s found and taken to hospital, Paul admits to Gemma that he was lying and gave Kel a beating. Gemma begs Bernie not to grass up her own son, while Paul confesses to Billy that he’s left Kel in a coma. Billy implores Paul to go to the police, admit his crime but explain how Kel abused him.
SARAH TALKS ADAM DOWN Adam’s unwavering and insists Ryan is covering for Gary. Fed up of his obsession with Gary, Sarah heads out in a huff. Ryan calls at the furniture shop and tells Gary how Adam tried to bribe him into telling the truth but he stuck to his story and lied to Sarah, Ali and Maria. Adam apologises for obsessing over Gary and kisses Sarah passionately.
EVELYN BEGINS TO SEE JADE’S SPARKLE Jade tells Evelyn all about her terrible marriage, how if it weren’t for Fiz she would never have survived and how she was searching for a photo she could get framed to say thanks. Fiz returns home and is taken aback to find Jade pouring her heart out to Evelyn about her abusive ex husband.
ELSEWHERE Sophie pours over her textbooks but it’s clear her new course isn’t really for her. Asha starts work in the kebab shop. When Amy calls in with a lad from school called Riley, who asks to meet her after rehearsals, Asha’s smitten. Desperate to buy some more skin lightening cream, Asha steals Dev’s bank card and orders some on the internet.
WEDNESDAY 2ND OCTOBER 1st Episode
PAUL IS RELUCTANTLY DRAGGED INTO A SHOWDOWN In the hospital, the doctor reveals that Kel suffered a bleed on the brain but should make a full recovery. The police quiz Kel about the attack but he lies, making out he was jumped by strangers. Back from the station, Paul admits to Billy he couldn’t bring himself to report Kel to the police as it would mean raking up the awful past. Billy offers him a comforting hug. Meanwhile with Kel claiming he couldn’t grass Paul up as he’s Bernie’s son, Bernie asserts she’ll never forgive him and rounds on Paul demanding to know what their fight was about.
KEVIN RECONNECTS WITH HIS PAST Kevin’s disappointed when old friend Martine fails to show up for their date. When Debbie (Kevin’s sister) then calls at the garage looking for him, Abi mistakes her for Martine and gives her a mouthful for standing Kevin up.
DEV’S LITTLE GIRL IS GROWING UP Dev’s concerned when he receives a text from Asha telling him she’s got a date with a boy after school. Asha’s mortified when Dev and Mary sit her down for a chat about sex and boys.
ELSEWHERE Secretly dreading the thought of seeing Ray, Michelle tells Robert she’s not sure
her new job is worth the effort. When Maria realises she’s forgotten her purse, Gary steps in and pays for her shopping. Maria’s touched and later offers to help look after Jake while Gary’s working.
WEDNESDAY 2ND OCTOBER 2nd Episode
PAUL IS TOUCHED TO REALISE HE’S NOT ALONE Desperate they shouldn’t find out the truth, Kel makes out their fight was his fault as he made a homophobic jibe. To Paul’s humiliation, Bernie forces him to apologise. Once alone, Kel threatens Paul telling him that if he breathes a word about their relationship he’ll grass him up to the cops for assault. Beaten, Paul packs his bag and heads to the tram stop. Summer begs him not to leave without talking to Billy first. As Paul breaks down in Billy’s arms, will Billy be able to stop him leaving town?
DEBBIE MAKES KEVIN AN OFFER HE CAN’T REFUSE Debbie breaks the news to Kevin that their Auntie Vi has died and has left her £200k. Kevin’s gobsmacked when Debbie says she wants him to have the money.
ASHA’S INSECURITIES GET THE BETTER OF HER Asha goes on her date with Riley. However when he accidentally knocks her arm causing her skin to bleed, Asha rushes off. Back at home Mary realises Asha stole Dev’s credit card. Asha makes out she used it to order make up but angry Dev tells her she’s grounded.
ELSEWHERE When Ryan and Ali bemoan the fact Michelle’s disapproving of their girlfriends,
Robert suggests they throw a dinner party to sort out their differences. As Gary thanks Maria for looking after Jake, there’s a frisson between them which is clocked by Sarah.
FRIDAY 4TH OCTOBER
DEV REALISES HOW DAMAGED ASHA IS At her school theatre rehearsal, Pastal-Blue launches herself at Asha, accusing her of stealing her boyfriend and calling her rank and ugly. Asha hurries out humiliated. Having heard about Asha’s crisis of confidence from Mary, Dev’s taken aback. When a parcel arrives in Asha’s name, Dev tears it open and is stunned to find a bottle of skin lightening cream. Ordering Asha to roll up her sleeves, Dev’s shocked at the sight of Asha’s red raw skin. Dev rips down Asha’s posters of light-skinned Bollywood stars asserting that nobody looks like that in real life. Mary discovers that Asha has taken her things and gone. When Asha tells Amy she’s leaving, Amy secretly texts Liz who offers Asha a sympathetic ear and assures her that her Dad loves her. As Asha admits she despises how she looks, can Liz convince Dev and Asha to talk over their differences?
MICHELLE ADMITS HER FEARS Michelle opens up to Robert and tells him how Ray made a pass at her, she turned him down and now he’s making her life hell. Robert wants to confront Ray but Michelle implores him to let her fight her own battles. However Robert secretly phones Ray’s hotel company and applies for the chef vacancy in a different name. Ali, Maria, Ryan and Alya go for dinner at Michelle’s. Will the two girlfriends make a breakthrough with Michelle?
DEBBIE QUESTIONS SOPHIE’S CHOICE Kevin tells Debbie that he can’t accept the money. Debbie’s frustrated. Sensing that Sophie’s not enjoying her new course, Debbie urges her to follow her heart.
ELSEWHERE Paul remains intent on leaving. Billy tells Gemma of Paul’s plans and begs her to try and talk him out of it but Gemma refuses, making out she doesn’t care. Fiz comes up with some ideas to bolster trade at the furniture shop. However when Gary discovers she’s been using his private ledger to make notes, he’s furious. Offended Fiz tells him to stick his job and walks out. Jade persuades Gary to reinstate Fiz at the shop, in turn securing her own job. Kevin tells Debbie he intends to share the money equally.