Brookside Guide.....Season Forty Seven.....

by the "Brookside Expert "

BROOKSIDE - SEASON FORTY-SEVEN (40 episodes)
[Episodes 1872-1911]

The episodes:

Episode 1872 (M 07-04-97 "Nothing We Could Do") Written by Chris Webb - Max's wine-tasting session with Jacqui has to be interrupted, as some very bad news awaits him at the local hospital. ("Viewers may find some scenes upsetting")

Episode 1873 (T 08-04-97 "Terrible News") Written by Julie Rutterford - Bel tries to convince Ollie to change his views about Nat and Georgia. News of the accident spreads around the Close, and a policeman with a breathalyser turns up at the hospital.

Episode 1874 (W 09-04-97 "Malicious Rumours") Written by Maurice Bessman - Jimmy wonders if Jackie should have her baby at home. Cassie finds out that Gladys has refused her treatment, and blames Mick. There is another sad development at the hospital.

Episode 1875 (Th 10-04-97 "One Last Chance") Written by Maurice Bessman - Cassie insists on finding out what can be done to help Gladys, but will she agree? Ron reminds Bel of the benefits of all things great and English. Ollie has a change of heart, and Max discovers that Susannah has disappeared.

Episode 1876 (F 11-04-97 "No Family Any More") Written by Maurice Bessman - Bel tries to make Ollie accept that Nat and Georgia are gone forever. Jacqui finds Rachel and Christian kissing behind the bar. Cassie finds it difficult to accept Gladys's decision. Matthew and Emily are cremated. ("Viewers may find some of this episode upsetting")

Episode 1877 (T 15-04-97 "Delicacy") Written by Joe Ainsworth - Jimmy has an unusual present for Jackie. Bel and Ollie try to explain what has happened to Nat and Georgia. Ron wonders where David is going with three different-coloured biros. Susannah is discharged from hospital, but reacts badly to what Jackie is wearing.

Episode 1878 (W 16-04-97 "Overheads") Written by Joe Ainsworth - Fearing that he will lose his livelihood, Ron isn't speaking to David. Mick has bad news for Jimmy and Lindsey. Max discovers that Susannah has put the house up for sale.

Episode 1879 (F 18-04-97 "Life Class") Written by Nick Saltrese - Gladys wants to help Mick with his bills. Max feels that things still aren't getting any better. Katie asks Christian to take it easy with Rachel. Lindsey agrees to go to Jackie's art class with her, and a major surprise awaits them.

Episode 1880 (T 22-04-97 "Pretending") Written by Barry Woodward - Mick's idea on how to resolve his financial problems depends on Jacqui. Mike discovers that the publishers want him to pay for his book to be published. Jimmy tries to persuade Lindsey to enter a talent contest Ron arranges at the Legion. Susannah locks herself in the toilet.

Episode 1881 (W 23-04-97 "Forgetting") Written by Barry Woodward - Danny is the only one who remembers Bel and Ollie's wedding anniversary. The Johnsons suffer a setback during the pub quiz. Susannah doesn't feel that she can cope with driving again. Mike is asked to work part-time at "Bar Brookie".

Episode 1882 (F 25-04-97 "Living Will") Written by Barry Woodward - Jacqui and Katie realise that Christian and Katie want the house to themselves for an evening. Gladys has another fall at home, but doesn't want to summon a doctor or an ambulance, and asks Mick to witness a document for her. Lindsey enters Ron's talent contest.

Episode 1883 (T 29-04-97 "Morphine") Written by Peter Cox - Max dismantles the playthings in the garden, and Susannah continues to blame herself for Matthew and Emily's deaths. Rachel is suspicious when Jacqui and Katie bring her breakfast in bed. David receives some bad news from Patricia, and Gladys's doctor tries to ease some of her pain with morphine.

Episode 1884 (W 30-04-97 "Treasure Trail") Written by Peter Cox - Max finds the treasure trail which Emily left for him before she died. Ben tries to chat up Jacqui. Elaine finds out about Gladys's "living will".

Episode 1885 (F 02-05-97 "Last Clue") Written by Valerie Windsor - Sinbad has a date with a mystery lady, a face from Jacqui's past returns, David receives more news from Patricia, Gladys needs to see her solicitor, and Max eventually finds the last clue in the treasure trail - but can he solve it?

Episode 1886 (T 06-05-97 "The Way Forward") Written by Barry Woodward - When Gladys finds out what Cassie has been saying, she plans to put her straight. David's uniform arrives, and Ron is suitably unimpressed. Bel tries to reassure Susannah about Max's motives regarding Thomas and Alice. When Tinhead returns to cause more trouble at Sinbad's shop, Sinbad blames his parents.......

Episode 1887 (W 07-05-97 "Sandwich Survey") Written by Barry Woodward - Ron sends Cassie to spy on David while he carries out a sandwich survey. Susannah's sister returns to the Close with a new job. Rachel helps Christian to move into his new flat.

Episode 1888 (F 09-05-97 "Small World") Written by Barry Woodward - Mick confides in Sinbad about Gladys's thoughts on mercy-killing. Max tries to convince Susannah to come with him, Thomas and Alice to spend a week in the Cotswolds. Jacqui, Katie and Rachel plan a girls' night out. David receives an unbelievable proposition.

Episode 1889 (T 13-05-97 "It Must Be Love") Written by Chris Webb - Max prepares to go away on holiday without Susannah, but will she force a last-minute change of plan? Katie encourages Rachel to ask Christian if he wants her to move in with him. Ron puts David's rent up, and Carmel is concerned when Tinhead disappears.

Episode 1890 (W 14-05-97 "Different Wavelengths") Written by Chris Webb - Rachel tells Sinbad she is moving in with Christian. Susannah finds it difficult to cope with Thomas and Alice. Jacqui gives Mick another severe telling-off. Tinhead needs help to sell a washing machine.

Episode 1891 (F 16-05-97 "Water Everywhere") Written by Barbara Phillips - Susannah moves her things into Emily's room while Thomas and Alice are staying. Tim borrows tools from David so that he can steal a washing machine for Christian. David threatens to tell Jacqui what Leanne is doing, but she manages to turn the tables on him.

Episode 1892 (T 20-05-97 "Deep Trouble") Written by Julie Jones - Will Susannah move back into Max's room? Will Ron accept David's peace offering? Will JC accept any of the blame for the damage to Mick and Elaine's property? Will Rachel agree to stop using condoms with Christian?

Episode 1893 (W 21-05-97 "So Useless") Written by Julie Rutterford - Sinbad tells Mick he has finished with Carmel. Elaine tells Bel the pizza parlour may not reopen. Despite Jacqui and Katie's advice, Rachel agrees to go on the Pill.

Episode 1894 (F 23-05-97 "Lascivious") Written by Julie Rutterford - Max plans to surprise Susannah with a holiday, but she has other things on her mind. Sinbad and Mick try to rexolve their differences. Gladys gives Elaine a cheque, but Mick won't let her accept it. David discovers that Ron has vandalised his banner and tells him what is going on at "Bar Brookie", but will he be believed?

Episode 1895 (T 27-05-97 "You've Had It") Written by Shaun Duggan - It is the grand opening of David's garage, but the residents of the Close are in a sombre mood after hearing that Susannah has died. Sinbad tries to find a job for Tinhead, Cassie is still suspicious of Mick's motives, and Christian is annoyed by how well Rachel seems to be getting on with Mike.

Episode 1896 (W 28-05-97 "Fun's Over") Written by Shaun Duggan - Tinhead starts working at the garage, but will he last? Sinbad tries to convince Mick to accept Gladys's money. Rachel can't stop crying after arguing with Christian. Jacqui tells Mick that another tenant has made JC an offer to take over his lease, unless he reopens within four weeks, but it's Elaine who makes the final decision.

Episode 1897 (F 30-05-97 "Fatigues") Written by Shaun Duggan - Max decides that is time for a holiday, but first there are some ashes that need to be scattered. On Ron's first visit to the garage, Tinhead accidentally fills his car up with diesel. Gladys has a good evening out at David's over-55's Jive Night, and Jacqui comes off badly in an altercation with Leanne.

Episode 1898 (T 03-06-97 "Unforgiving") Written by Maurice Bessman - Sinbad and David are not convinced that Rachel is doing the right thing. Tinhead is told that he hasn't been sacked after all. Mick discovers that fitting out the new shop is going to be expensive, and Ollie is not pleased to hear where Danny wants to do his work experience.

Episode 1899 (W 04-06-97 "Fighter") Written by Maurice Bessman - Max and Susannah discover, from a letter inadvertently opened by Ron, that the police will not be pressing charges. Jacqui hopes that she will be able to go back to work soon, but will she be able to see? Bel tells Ron that she is leaving, and Tinhead thinks Sinbad is trying to move in with his mother.

Episode 1900 (F 06-06-97 "All Packed Up") Written by Mike Stott - Gladys decides that she needs to stay upstairs rather than try to move around. Jacqui comes home, and insists that no-one is taking over her responsibilities. Ollie is not pleased about Bel's new job. Ron admits defeat and lets Cassie go, and Max and Susannah set off on holiday.

Episode 1901 (T 10-06-97 "Up The Valley") Written by Barry Woodward - Christian is still jealous of Rachel and Mike. Katie helps Jacqui to convince everyone that she is still in control. Susannah and Max enjoy a second honeymoon, and Max has a confession to make.

Episode 1902 (W 11-06-97 "Not Even An Option") Written by Barry Woodward - Mick's chip-shop plans suffer a severe setback. Max wakes up and finds that he is alone. Danny is agog with indifference about his forthcoming work experience. Christian convinces Rachel to set a wedding date, and a new woman enters Ollie's life just as Mike thinks he is making progress with her.

Episode 1903 (F 13-06-97 "Going Backwards") Written by Barry Woodward - Gladys gives Mick and Elaine more money, and refuses to undergo readiotherapy. Danny finds a different kind of work experience from that which his parents arranged for him, and "Birdwoman" tells the Farnhams a sad story.

Episode 1904 (T 17-06-97 "Childish Comments") Written by Shaun Duggan - Jacqui sees a solicitor, and continues to lie about her problems. Ollie assures Bel he is not having an affair. Gladys's condition deteriorates, and the pain-killers are not working.

Episode 1905 (W 18-06-97 "Dick Ronson") Written by Shaun Duggan - Jackie wonders if number 10 should be sold so that the bills can be paid. Elaine harangues the doctor when he can't help Gladys. Christian tries to convince Rachel to have a "low-key" (cheap) wedding. Ron has a close encounter of the weird kind.

Episode 1906 (F 20-06-97 "Well-Matched Couple") Written by Shaun Duggan - Rachel plans to choose a best man for Christian, but will he be agreeable? Mike rings the posh girl he slept with the previous night, and gets a wrong number. Bel interrupts another of Ollie's meetings with Eleanor, and the Corkhills try to make a good impression on Sinbad's girlfriend.

Episode 1907 (T 24-06-97 "Going Private") Written by Peter Cox - Bel is anxious to prevent Mike talking about what happened the previous night, but the gossip has already started. Jacqui consults a private specialist about the condition of her eyes. Gladys is in constant pain, but what can Mick and Elaine do to help?

Episode 1908 (W 25-06-97 "Worse And Worse") Written by Barbara Phillips - Jacqui stays off work, and Mike is not feeling well enough to go in either. Gladys is fading fast, so Mick has to take drastic measures. Susannah is determined to find ways of improving her chances of getting pregnant, including the removal of Max's underwear.

Episode 1909 (F 27-06-97 "Peace Initiative") Written by Chris Webb - Elaine wonders whether Gladys ought to go into hospital after all. Ollie returns, but can he and Bel resolve any of their differences? Max worries that Susannah is becoming obsessive, and Jackie encourages Jimmy to obtain some drugs.......

Episode 1910 (M 30-06-97 "Dicing With Death") Written by Nick Saltrese - Ollie and Bel decide to give things another go, but there is something they don't know. Jimmy worries that the Johnsons will get him into trouble with the police. It is Gladys's birthday, but how will she celebrate it?

Episode 1911 (T 01-07-97 "Please Stop Breathing") Written by Nick Saltrese - While Ron apologises for over-reacting to Mike having a sexually transmitted disease, Ollie visits a doctor, and is horrified by what he diagnoses....... Jimmy makes Jackie a strong curry in the hope of inducing her labour, but she feeds it to Cracker. The pain finally becomes too much for Gladys. ["Contains scenes that some viewers may find upsetting, particularly those with very ill relatives"]

The cast:

RESIDENTS:
Julia Brogan (nee Roberts) - GLADYS AMBROSE (1873, 1875, 1876, 1884, 1885, 1889, 1894, 1897, 1900, 1901, 1907)
Jackie Corkhill (nee Walker) - SUE JENKINS (1873, 1874, 1876-1879, 1882, 1887, 1895, 1898, 1899, 1904-1906, 1908-1911)
Jimmy Corkhill - DEAN SULLIVAN (1873, 1874, 1877-1880, 1882, 1886, 1904-1911)
David "Bing" Crosbie - JOHN BURGESS (1872-1874, 1876-1879, 1883, 1885-1892, 1894-1898, 1901-1903, 1906)
Ron Dixon - VINCE EARL (1872, 1873, 1875, 1877, 1878, 1880-1882, 1886, 1887, 1889, 1890, 1892, 1894-1906, 1908, 1910, 1911)
Jacqui Dixon - ALEXANDRA FLETCHER (1872, 1876-1888, 1890-1901, 1903-1905, 1907, 1908)
Mike Dixon - PAUL BYATT (1880-1882, 1884, 1893, 1895, 1897, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1905-1911)
Max Farnham - STEVEN PINDER (1872-1881, 1883-1886, 1888-1897, 1899-1904, 1907-1909)
Susannah Farnham (nee Morrisey) - KAREN DRURY (1872-1881, 1883-1897, 1899-1901, 1903, 1904, 1907, 1908)
Emily Farnham - VICTORIA BENNETT (1872-1874, 1879 VT)
Matthew Farnham - GARETH RYAN JONES (1872, 1879 VT)
Thomas Farnham - KIERAN WARHAM (1889-1892)
Alice Farnham - ANNA NORBURY (1889-1892)
Mick Johnson - LOUIS EMERICK (1874-1911)
Elaine Johnson (formerly Davies, nee Charlton) - BEVERLEY HILLS (1874, 1877-1889, 1891-1898, 1900, 1902-1905, 1907-1911)
Gemma Johnson - NAOMI KAMANGA (1874, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1910)
Leo Johnson - STEVEN COLE (1874, 1876, 1882, 1890, 1892, 1910)
Rachel Jordache - TIFFANY CHAPMAN (1876, 1879, 1882, 1883, 1886-1893, 1895-1898, 1901, 1902, 1905-1907, 1909)
Katie Rogers - DIANE BURKE (1876, 1879, 1882-1884, 1887-1890, 1892, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1906-1908)
Bel Simpson (nee Pattison) - LESLEY NIGHTINGALE (1873-1877, 1879, 1881, 1882, 1886, 1890, 1893, 1894, 1898-1900, 1902, 1904, 1906-1911)
Ollie Simpson - MICHAEL J JACKSON (1873-1877, 1879-1882, 1884, 1891, 1893-1895, 1898, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1906, 1909-1911)
Georgia Simpson - HELEN GRACE (1874-1876)
Nat Simpson - JOHN SANDFORD (1875, 1876)
Danny Simpson - ANDREW BUTLER (1876, 1877, 1880-1882, 1898, 1902-1906)
Lindsey Stanlow (nee Corkhill) - CLAIRE SWEENEY (1878-1880, 1882, 1883, 1900, 1905, 1906)
Kylie Stanlow (1905)
Sinbad (Thomas Sweeney) - MICHAEL STARKE (1875, 1878, 1880, 1883-1899, 1902, 1906, 1910)
Christian Wright - PHILLIP DOWD (1876, 1879, 1882, 1887-1893, 1895, 1897, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1907, 1909)

RECURRING CHARACTERS:
Cassie Charlton - EBONY GRAY (1874-1876, 1878, 1880, 1885, 1887, 1895, 1899, 1900, 1903, 1908-1911)
Gladys Charlton - EILEEN O'BRIEN (1874-1883, 1885-1889, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1899, 1900, 1903-1905, 1907-1911)
Cracker - KELLY MALONE (1907, 1908, 1911)
Tanya Davies - HEATHER TOMLINSON (1874, 1878, 1904, 1908, 1910)
Carmel O'Leary - CAROL CONNOR (1883, 1885-1889, 1891-1893, 1898, 1906)
Ben O'Leary - SIMON PAUL (1872, 1880, 1884, 1891, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1900, 1907, 1909, 1910)
Tim "Tinhead" O'Leary - PHILIP OLIVIER (1886-1891, 1896-1899)
Leanne Powell - VICKIE GATES (1885, 1888, 1890, 1891, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898)
Quiz Master - JACKSON KAVANAGH (1881)
Snowy, rabbit (1875, 1890, 1900)
Vicar - MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER (1876)

NEW CHARACTERS PLAYED BY RETURNING PERFORMERS:
BJ - CARLEEN LUMDON (1877) [ Joanne Wright (467, 468, 471, 473, 477, 479, 500, 519, 522]
Dr Burton - DAVID FLEESHMAN (1872, 1873) [ Model Agent (417) / David Hurst (1057) ]

NEW CHARACTERS WITH FULL NAMES:
Dr Clive Barnett - EAMONN RILEY (1911)
Bob Downey - MATTHEW DUNSTER (1880)
Eleanor Kitson - GEORGIA REECE (1902, 1904, 1906)
Lisa Morrisey - AMANDA NOLAN (1875, 1876, 1887)
Janice Newcombe - SUSAN SANDS (1876)
Melanie O'Leary - ELIZABETH LOVELADY (1891)
Dawn Peters - STEPHANIE MARTIN (1905)
Dick Ronson - BILLY COOKSON (1905, 1906)
Melanie Taylor - FIONNUALA ELWOOD (1872)
Hilary Wainwright - MATYELOK GIBBS (1901-1903)

NEW CHARACTERS WITHOUT FULL NAMES:
P.C. Bennett - DAVID KANGAS (1872, 1873)
Nurse Brown - CAROL HARVEY (1872)
Mr Dawson - STEWART BEVAN (1899)
Dr Harding - NIVEN BOYD (1875)
Dr Miller - RUSSELL DIXON (1883, 1903, 1910)
Quentin - PETER JOHN (1879)
Dr Williams - VINCENT DAVIES (1877)

UNCREDITED CHARACTERS WITH NAMES:
Black Country Beth, a singer (1882)
Brenda, a customer of Dick Ronson (1905)
Carlo, a ceiling installer (1901)
Carol, a cook (1872)
Clackie, a mate of Tinhead (1889)
Emma, a "Grants" employee (1880)
The Heskine Boys, a country duo (1882)
Jessie Holmes, a "Moby" customer (1904)
Lorraine, a waitress (1909)
Lynn, a prostitute (1895)
Markland, a morose hotelier (1901-1903)
Nigel, an executive of the oil company (1891)
Paula, a prostitute (1895)
Paula, a waitress (1872)
Shirl, a waitress (1872)
Stacy, a waitress (1872)
Mrs Walters, a patient (1875)

Unusually, the closing scenes of episode 1871 are repeated after the opening titles sequence of episode 1872.

Matthew and Emily's appearances in episode 1879 are only on the videotape of them with Susannah that was originally "premiered" in episode 1770.

An updated (seventh) opening titles sequence is used from episode 1895 onwards - it is very similar to the previous one, but features the new-look petrol station, through which, from two different angles, a man can be seen walking.

Although the Magic Rabbits can be seen on the Corkhills' television a couple of times in episode 1910, this time their music can't be heard!

The storylines:

Despite the misgivings of others, Nat and Georgia leave the Close for a life together elsewhere, Sinbad sees a possible future with Carmel, and Rachel and Christian prepare to get married. But these are depressing times indeed for the residents - a sexually transmitted disease spreads from Mike to Bel to Ollie, David's rebranding of the petrol station puts Ron's "Trading Post" out of business, some mischief by Tinhead destroys the pizza parlour, and Jacqui's desire to prevent Leanne from offering sexual sevices at "Bar Brookie" leads to her being blinded. And there are three episodes whose content requires specific advance warnings to viewers, as young Matthew and Emily both die following a car crash, and Mick and Elaine help Gladys to end her life rather than continue to watch her battle against terminal cancer.......

The dates:

Based on dialogue in episode 1884, when the [general] election is tomorrow, it is Friday in episode 1885; based on dialogue in episode 1888 and the poster seen and vandalised in episode 1894, it is 27th May 1997 in episode 1895; and, based on dialogue in episode 1889, it was Friday in episode 1888. Based on dialogue in episode 1890, it is Friday in episode 1891; based on a poster seen in episode 1896, it is 30th May in episode 1897; and it is a Tuesday in June in episode 1901. There are 20 days until the end of the month, and it is "about six weeks" until July 26th, in episode 1902; and, based on dialogue in episode 1903, episodes 1901 to 1903 all take place during the first two weeks of June! The end of the month is "a fortnight away" in episodes 1904 and 1905; it is Wednesday in episode 1905; and there is a July 1997 calendar on the Simpsons' wall in episode 1911.

Name-checks:

The "Spice Girls" (1874, 1878, 1894); Methuselah (1875); Betty Grable (1875); Yul Brynner (1875); Napoleon (1875); Judas (1877, 1893); the "Old Gits" (1878); Madonna (1878); "Eternal" (1878); "King Rat" (1878); "Hilda Ogden" (1879); Keanu Reeves (1879); Johnny Depp (1879); Leonardo daVinci (1879); "University Challenge" (1879); Space, Garbage, the Bluetones and the Lightning Seeds (1879); Jeffrey Archer (1880); Shakespeare (1880); Brian Clough (1881); Jock Stein (1881); John Conteh (1881); Matthew Sar Mohammed (1881); Mac Franklin (1881); "Wonder Woman" (1881); "New Faces" (1882); Shirley Temple (1882); Whitney Houston (1882); Cher (1882); "Skinny" (1882); Matthew Kelly (1882); Ainsley [Harriott} and Delia "Thingy" [Smith], cooks (1884); Eva Braun (1884, 1893); Richard Branson (1885); Prince Charles (1885); Camilla [Parker-Bowles] (1885); Tony Blair (1886); Charles Dickens (1886); the "Marie Celeste" (1887); "Jack and the Beanstalk" (1888); Hitler (1891); King Canute (1891); Mother Teresa (1892, 1908); "Romeo" (1893); Radiohead (1893); "What's My Line" (1894); "Fireman Sam" (1894); "Countdown" (1894); "Alexis Carrington" (1897); Fred Astaire (1897); Ginger Rogers (1897); Jackie Onassis (1900); Bill Oddie (1901); Christian Barnard (1902); "Cross Wits" (1903) "Lord Snooty" (1903); "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (1904); "Oliver Twist" (1905); "Tales of the Unexpected" (1905); Liam Gallagher (1905); Patsy Kensit (1905); Jeremy Beadle (1905); "The Price Is Right" (1905); "This Is Your Life" (1905); "Kojak" (1906); Linford Christie (1908); Lady Di (1911); Alf [bloody] Garnett (1911); and "Coronation Street" (1911).

Locations:

While there is nothing in any of the dialogue that reveals where the Farnhams are holidaying in episodes 1901 to 1904, there are a few fleeting on-screen clues - outlined more fully in "Trivia" below" - which enable the location to be identified as Grange-in-Borrowdale, Cumbria. The rest of the action in this season takes place in or near Liverpool - the furthest afield that anyone else travels being Birkenhead Market, in episode 1885 - with the possible exception of the undisclosed location at which Nat and Georgia are seen arriving at their new home with Bel, and meeting their new neighbour, Janice, in episode 1876.

Births:

None, although Jackie is seven months pregnant in episode 1887, and her baby is due "at the end of next week" in episode 1906; it is Leanne's mother's birthday in episode 1894; and it is Gladys's (last) birthday in episode 1910. We are also told that Emily is / was 10 (1872, 1875, 1884); Matthew was 11 (1875); Gladys is 52 (1885), and ten years older than Jackie (1810); Ben is 21 (1885); Tinhead is 15 / 16 (1885 / 1895); Melanie is 13 (1885); Ruth is 2 (1885); Rachel is 18 (1887, 1898); Tania is "teenaged" (1889); Elaine is 34 (1894); Max and Susannah are both in their thirties (1896); Leanne is 20 (1896); Tony would have been 16 now (1904); Eleanor is ten years younger than Bel (1908); and Jacqui is 21 (1908).

Marriages:

None, although Rachel and Christian plan to marry on July 26th / in six weeks' time (1902). It is Bel and Ollie's anniversary in episode 1881, after which they have been married for 25 years (1906, 1908, 1909). Gladys married "30 years ago" (1887); David was "about 20", and had completed National Service, when he married (1898); it has been 12 years since Max and Susannah's first honeymoon (1901); and Hilary married the unseen Frederick in 1959 (1903).

Deaths:

Three - Both Matthew Farnham, in episode 1872, and Emily Farnham, in episode 1874, die following a car crash; and Mick and Elaine suffocate Gladys Charlton in episode 1811. Unseen and never-to-be-seen characters mentioned who are no longer alive are: Gladys's husband Charles (1876, 1881, 1885, 1888, 1894, 1911); Elaine's auntie Agnes, who died of cancer when Elaine was a toddler (1878); Julia's husband Arthur (1885, 1888, 1894); Ollie's father (1886); Tinhead's father / Carmel's husband (1889, 1892, 1893, 1898, 1899 / 1895), who died "years ago" (1895); and Hilary's husband Frederick, who died in 1963 (1903).

Toilet visits:

Julia (1873); Gladys (1874, 1880 and 1882 - and she wets the bed in episode 1905); Lindsey (1879); Rachel (1879); Mick (1888); Susannah (1893); Ben (1894 and 1895); Katie (1898); Dick (1906); Mike (1908, twice - and he's been "up and down all night" too, and 1911); Ron (1908); and Jackie (1910). Leo intends to go in episode 1882, but has to help Gladys up after a fall instead.

Characters mentioned, so far unseen, but who will be appearing later: None!

Gone but not forgotten - seen previously and still mentioned occasionally, but not reappearing in this season:

Tony (1872, 1890, 1904); Paul Heery (1873, 1874); [Little] Jimmy (1873, 1874, 1899, 1906, 1909); Sharon (1874); Patricia (1874, 1876, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1888, 1889, 1891, 1892, 1895, 1901); Warren (1874, 1875); Barry Grant (1875); Val (1879, 1882, 1885); Bev (1880, 1911); JC Bradley (1883, 1886, 1891, 1892, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1908); Eric (1883, 1886); Fee (1886); Ruthie / Ruth (1886 / 1887, 1902); JC's wife (1886); Leanne's mother (1888, 1894, 1898); Leanne's father (1888); Jean / Mrs Crosbie (1890 / 1898, 1902); Sammy (1902); Peter [Phelan] (1900, 1901); and Jack (1907).

And those that are also mentioned, but are destined to remain unseen forever:

Steve, on an ex-offenders' course (1873); Sharon's sister, a care worker (1874); Mr Devine, the funeral director (1874, 1875); Max's mother and father - who, he tells Susannah, have rung to say they have got home safely from the funeral!! (1877); Steven, a friend of Danny (1881); Richard from Stoke-on-Trent, a radio or television quiz contestant (1881); Angela, a friend of Katie (1882); Janice, a salon employee with whom Jacqui is staying (1882); Ben's grandfather (1886); Sinbad's father (1894); Mick's father (1894); Marjorie Howard, social secretary and organiser of the Jive Night (1897); Marian Fellows, a friend of Bel who works in an insurance office (1902); Graham, a contact of Ollie (1904); Billy, a relative of Dick Ronson's customer Brenda (1905); Dawn's parents (1905); Philip, another friend of Danny (1909); and Nazza, a drugs contact of Jimmy (1909).

Goofs:

It is the "Liverpool General Hospital" to which the Farnhams have been admitted in episode 1872, but in episode 1874 Tanya has heard news about Susannah via a friend's sister who is a care worker at the "Royal"!

A scene included in part one of episode 1873, in which Ron tells Jackie that "Little Matthew Farnham was killed yesterday" should have been in part two, or omitted entirely! David only learns of Matthew's death in the hospital together with Julia, who recalls that "I saw him just this morning having his breakfast", towards the end of part one, all of which is meant to be set later on the same day as the accident. It is not until part two, all of which is set on the following morning, that David and Julia mention that Ron has just been rung, and will pass the word around.......

Sinbad is surprised to discover that Tinhead is Carmel's son when he turns up at her home in episode 1888. But after his shop window was smashed, he had already found out where Tinhead lived from Jimmy, and had gone to find him there, in episode 1858!

Tinhead adds an extra word, "was", in episode 1896: "I was meant to bring them with me.".

Susannah says "I'm" instead of "I've" in episode 1897: "When you hate me for what I'm done.".

Dick replaces the first "as" with "a" in episode 1906: "Now's a good a time as any".

Trivia:

Susannah, who was brought up in Heswall (1903), planned to watch the video "BABE" (1874) with Emily, who loved anything strawberry-flavoured (1890), and Matthew. She and Max, who originally honeymooned in Sardinia 12 years ago (1901), were living in Salisbury Avenue when she found out that he was having an affair with Patricia (1896). Matthew was then 3, and Emily, whose full name, "Emily Jane Farnham", appears on an old drawing (1893), was 18 months old (1896). According to the front-page headline in "The Manor Park Marketplace", they are "CHILDREN IN DEATH CRASH" (1875). Max collects their ashes from the "Myrtle Chapel" (1877), and he and Susannah consider scattering them on Bidstone Hill (1877, 1897), where Matthew was conceived (1877). According to Emily's "last clue", Max's favourite colour - of smartie? - is orange (1885). There is a "Winnie the Pooh" video on the Farnhams' breakfast table (1892). Julia gets corn plasters in "Douglas's" (1888).

In the reception area of "The Leathes Head", the hotel at which he and Susannah are staying while on holiday, Max inspects a mounted stuffed pike which was caught in June 1959 by a Mr F. Wainwright (1901). It later emerges (1903) that it was Hilary's late husband Frederick who caught the fish during their honeymoon; he died four years later in 1963; the couple previously resided in Bromborough, on the Wirral; and Hilary, who has no children, now lives in Didsbury, Manchester, and has returned to the same location in the first two weeks of June every year since her husband died. A menu board (1903) and a distant sign (1904) of another local cafe at which Max and Susannah eat in episode 1903 both identify it as "Grange Bridge Cottage". Lisa has been living and working in Brussels (1875, 1876), but gets a new job in Chester (1887), whereas Patricia and Eric are moving to Quebec, Canada (1883, 1886) in less than a month (1886).

Lindsey once entered a talent contest at Butlin's as Shirley Temple (1882). The first time she had sex was in the back of a car, which crashed into a wall (1883). Jimmy was in jail at the time she was born (1874), and was also absent from the birth of Little Jimmy, with whom Jackie was in labour for sixteen hours (1906). Carmel, who has been a widow for eight years (1885), was in labour with Tinhead for a similar amount of time (1906). Her late husband is buried in Knowsley Cemetery (1885). Tinhead, who years ago was off school for weeks with glandular fever (1893), has posters of "Young Guns II - Blaze of Glory" and "Die Hard 2 - Bruce Willis" on his bedroom wall (1898), and earns £1.80 per hour for his work at the petrol station (1898). Ben has been a fireman for three years (1891) with the North Liverpool sub-division, and attended an accident on the East Lancs Road last summer (1880). According to Sinbad, he is late dropping Tinhead off at the petrol station because there are terrible road works in Queens Drive (1896).

Christian, Rachel, Chris, Tony, Paul, David and Philip are the names appearing on a "Bar Brookie" roster inspected by Jacqui in episode 1876, which looks as if it has been written by an eight-year-old, but was actually prepared by Christian, whose belongings include a book by George Orwell (1887). He has a "Manic Street Preachers" poster on the back of the door of his flat (1891), he is 5'10" tall (1893), and he has no brothers (1905). Mike has loaned Rachel a Radiohead CD (1893). Dawn is a second-year drama and media student, who lives in Woolton (1905). Sammy was on the pill once (1892). Leanne, whose rate for straight sex is £40 (1888, 1895), says she was born in an army hospital in Germany (1888). Ollie reads a newspaper in which a headline is "Dallas Gamble Pays Off" (1900), and has been shopping at Sainsbury's (1909). He offers to order for Eleanor, and later gives her at his own expense, a book which was published after Christmas, "The Wall Street Banquet" (1902, 1906). He and Bel, who used to work for "Niven's" (1881), consider going for a meal at the "High Woods" restaurant in Southport, near their old home (1881, 1882). Georgia won the egg-and-spoon race for four years on the trot when she was at Sandbrook Primary School (1874).

From the signature on the letter received from him in episode 1899, Ron's accountant's surname seems to be "McCafferty". Ron used to visit five estates with the "Moby" (1903), and he and his family moved to the Close from 83 Branthwaite Crescent, which now has a burglar alarm bearing the telephone number 260 6576 (1904). Dick's next gig is at "The Montrose" (1905). Gladys moved to Mick's from 25 Crossways Avenue (1885), won a jive competition in 1961 (1897), and used to work for ten hours a day cutting spam in a meat factory (1911). Her late husband Charles had been to Singapore, New Zealand and South America (1885). She writes cheque number 803790, payable to "Mr and Mrs Johnson", from her account, whose number starts off 58040-, with the Royal Northern Bank, whose sort code is 20-77-45 (1894). Before starting to work at the pizza parlour, one of whose suppliers of pizza boxes are "Millers" (1889), Elaine worked in a biscuit factory (1880).

According to a radio news report heard in episode 1878, water engineers have been called to Prescot Road. Recycling banks seen in episodes 1891 and 1894 bear the names "MPR" / "Manor Park Recycling", and "Cheshire Recycling Ltd", and show the telephone number 0151 356 3213; and the telephone number of the pizza parlour, 0151 269 2434, can be seen on its van again in episodes 1889, 1898 and 1902. A "Fletchers" sign, "Office To Let" can be seen again in the distance in episode 1889, and another "Fletchers" sign, "Shop To Let", has been added to the "Trading Post" in episode 1903, and is still there in episode 1906. Mike (1881) and Jimmy (1886) are left-handed; and Mick (1875, 1879, 1882, 1899), David (1878, 1887), Ollie (1879, 1895), Gladys (1882, 1900, 1903), Elaine (1892), Susannah (1894, 1907), Ron (1903), and Clive (1911) are all right-handed.

"Blink-and-you-miss it" moments:

Ron reflects on his past, and all things great and English, in episode 1875:

Quote:

RON: You see, it was always my intention to be self-employed. So I got this place off Barry Grant, and I kicked off the nineties in fine style. Me own shop! And hey, you know when that little French stiff Napoleon called us "a nation of shopkeepers", I was dead chuffed, me. Not that I was there at the time, like - but I was dead proud to be English. Because the corner shop was the backbone of the nation. It was the thing that set us apart from the rest of the world. Not now, of course. Oh no, not now, now everything's gone the way of flamin' Europe. Massive supermarkets, hypermarkets, out-of-town shopping centres, now these flamin' petrol stations. They're killing us, you know. Do you know what - we ought to stand up and tell the world that we want our English corner shops. We don't want to be Europeans.

BEL: Do you want a coffee?

RON: Aye, I'll have one of them cappuccinos.

When Markland has turned away after silently dumping Max and Susannah's evening meals on their table in episode 1904, they quickly do a switch so that they each have the right one!

The end-of-season cliffhanger:

Gladys writhes in agony on her bed, grabs her pillow and pulls it over her face. Initially horrified, Elaine tells her mother not to do that, tries to pull it away and asks for Mick's help. But Gladys holds on to the pillow, and Mick and Elaine press down on it to suffocate her, and bring her pain and suffering to an end.......

Season Forty Eight.......