There's trouble in paradise as Rana doesn't want to go to Aidan's birthday Bistro brunch with Kate, who stomps off self-righteously. The Connors celebrate both Aidan's special day and the re-opening of the factory (and a potential new client). Aidan is so excited by
It's boxing day and it looks like Josh is an equal opportunities creep as he is starting to charm/target Alya. Meanwhile, the super-efficient Weatherfield NHS has got an appointment for Hope, which coincides with the match and David steps in to take Tyrone's place. At the offscreen meeting, Hope takes a doll from the psychiatrist's office. To be honest, none of Hope's behaviour seems particularly bad, just a tad naughty. And it feels that instead of dealing with said behaviour with discipline and reward charts like every other parents in the world, the Dobbs-Stapes pathologise their child. Anyway, Ty and Fiz bonding over Hope brings them a step closer to getting back together.
First up at the boxing bout is Shona "The Rampage" Ramsay vs Maria "The Maneater" Connor. Shona gets the win now and seems to be quite pally with Maria, which is quite sweet. Next up is Robert "The Punisher" Preston vs Zeedan "Zorro" Nazir. Robert's about four inches taller and four stone heavier than Zee, and he wins, but we know that he persuaded Tyrone to do a second urine test because....there's a new storyline coming up.
And finally...it's Gary "The Warlord" Windass vs David "One Man Crimewave" Platt. Gazza has David on t he ropes and knocks him to the ground before Josh makes a comment about the rape and then David knocks Gary out and keeps knocking, even when the bell rings. Josh does nothing to pull them apart so the ring is invaded by Ali and an official and Gary is taken to hospital, beaten and bloody. Josh confronts David backstage but David tells him that now he has seen what he, David, is capable of, Josh should watch his back. The police turn up and take David to the copshop just as Gary is being wheeled into the ambulance. Shona, forgiving David for all he's done, goes to enlist Imran as David's brief but Sarah's not in a forgiving mood, telling her brother that she will get him for what he's done, especially when she finds out that her boyfriend has a swelling on the brain. It's Gail I feel sorry for in this latest instalment of the drama that is La Vie En Platt. Maybe Rosemary the medium was right about the curse after all!
As Jenny Bradley says: "It all goes on 'round here, dunt it."
Mary, complete with vuvuzela, tries to cover up Jude's nonsensical fake career, suggesting that he tell Angie that he wants to leave the world of fish/crustacea because his colleagues are bullying him. Jude says that he is being bullied by Seth and Philippa in the gift shop. Maybe they make him wear the hat out of hours? Angie suggests killing them with kindness and Jude should invite them to tea, even though Mary's mother's friend Frances almost bankrupted herself with a string of impromptu buffets (I'd forgotten how wonderfully Jonathan Harvey writes for Mary).
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