CORONATION STREET
Poor Roy. This never stops. When he brings home-made soup to Shona (please, nothing Bernie has been involved in, literally), he is confronted by some bullies who insult him and he falls to the ground.
It’s clear that you’re in pain, and not as a result of a repetitive stress injury caused by your proverbial plastic bag.
Not since he discovered that his girlfriend Hayley was once named Harold had Roy faced such a shock.
First, Agent Plod (or DS Swain for those deluded enough to believe he ever deserved a promotion) put him away for a crime he didn’t commit (oh wait, and without any proof that a crime was committed) and now he’s collapsed and paramedics are performing CPR on him.
How could they have reached him so quickly? The only way they could have reached him at record speed was if they had called BBC1’s Casualty programme, which has more ambulances than patients.
Roy (pictured) ends up in hospital after falling to the ground following a confrontation with thugs.
The hospital also finds him a bed in record time, but as he lies there hooked up to machines, two questions arise: is he going to die, and who is the mysterious visitor who appears at his bedside?
When Roy tells Nina, she wonders if she’s been hallucinating, but who does she think she’s seen?
Throughout this grand drama, one cannot help but marvel at the genius of David Neilson, whose portrayal of Roy, in every situation, is heartbreakingly poignant.
We return to the cheerful Chariot Square Hotel (I so want to stay there! Can you fix it, Debbie?), where the Institute is holding a taster session for new recruits.
Usually the only propositions offered are sexual ones, as Leanne well knows.
Now, he feels better when he sees Amy in the audience. Even though this story is a little out of the ordinary, I love it and it is a disturbing depiction of how some organizations take advantage of the vulnerable.
STUDENTS FROM THE EAST
Lies indeed! Who would? They’re nothing but trouble, as the arrival of Stevie, Teddy and Harry proves. When Stevie shares the story of Val’s death, Billy and Teddy are left shaken.
However, Teddy is determined not to let the revelation come between him and Billy. Will they be able to forgive Stevie? Can Teddy make things right with Phil and the family?
Will Teddy (pictured) smooth things over with Phil and the family?
Teddy continues to snoop around Sharon, and when Harry spills a drink on him, Teddy emerges with a new blouse and wine. How does he manage to figure out what kind of clothes Sharon is wearing, let alone figure out the size of the incredible shrinking woman?
She always looks like she’s been stuffed into her outfits, so good luck trying to get her out of them if you ever get that far, Teddy.
Financial disaster looms for Reiss when he receives a bill for £18,000 for Debbie’s care expenses. That’s probably how much Jenny Meier (Debbie) was paid to just stand there and say nothing.
No wonder she can’t help but smile. She’s probably dreading the day when a script comes along that says “Debbie wakes up” and she has to start working for a living.
A father in more ways than one
While family life may be turbulent on screen, off the set of EastEnders Perry Fenwick, who plays Billy, can’t praise his new co-stars enough.
“I’ve known and admired Alan Ford (Stevie) for a long time. He’s a true East Ender and reminds me of my real-life dad. I was thrilled when he was cast. For me, there was only one actor who could play Billy’s dad. Alan is brilliant. Everyone loves him.”
EMMERDALE
Matty is scared after Amy gets confused
For a woman who has spent most of her life scolding her mother for being stupid, Amy should maybe take a look in the mirror.
After Matty assures her that his cellmate, Les, is happy with him being trans, she speaks to Robbo, mistaking him for Les. Oh my god. Robbo is transphobic and Matty is terrified when the man approaches menacingly.
Amy (left) mistakes Robbo (right) for Les and tells him that Matty is trans, putting her husband in danger.
This story feels very forced and little more than an attempt to jump on the fast-moving trans bandwagon of real life.
Yes, I know that Ash Palmisciano, who plays Matty, came out as transgender in 2012, but this story feels more like a problem than a drama, and as such, it’s as boring as it is unbelievable.
Are Manpreet and Charles on the verge of reconciling when she tells him she misses him? What is it that she misses, exactly? Even if you inhale a dozen tanks of laughing gas, Charles will never be remotely funny, Manpreet.
Ruby and Caleb also make up, but when Caleb says he wants to lure Nicky back, Ruby says they have to let him go. Oh, please, yes. As far away as possible.