Seasons & episodes

In a special 76-minute episode, it looks as if some of the residents may be sharing a big bingo win, it looks as if Max has a lot of explaining to do when Jacqui catches him with a somewhat undressed Sammy, and it looks as if Tim's big job with Christy will be his last.......

Emily is distraught, but Jimmy advises her not to try to contact Tim. Leanne thinks Christy has left her. Nisha wants to know what little difficulties Sammy is having that make her want to stay with Katie, and Helen asks Jerome a few questions about Ray.

On Christmas Day, a despondent visitor turns up at the Murrays', and Emily becomes increasingly convinced that Tim is never going to return. Jimmy is missing the missing, and questioning his need for medication. Sammy doesn't appreciate the perfect expensive present Nisha has bought for her.

On Boxing Day, the Murrays dine at "The Shelf" - but not on dolphin. Jimmy has an ingenious festive solution when he receives a complaint about the old bath in his front garden. Christy returns to the bar with some bad news for Leanne, and worse news for Emily.

Tim wakes up in a hospital bad, and steals an ambulance to make his escape. Jacqui admires a "new" kitchen - and realises it came from her former flat. Max is not convinced that his new wife is coping with looking after the children. Despite Nikki's warnings, Jimmy decides to come off his medication.

Max and Jacqui have their first proper row, as she feels that he doesn't believe she is as capable of looking after the children as his other wives. Christy and Leanne realise that they have no other option than to close the bar down. After Imelda is caught stealing and slapped by Adele, her mother makes a trip to number 9 to insult the Murrays.

In a special double-length episode, Anthony decides to stand up for himself against the bullies, but it leads to a punch-up on the Close when more of the Cloughs and their mates pay a visit. Jessie feels that her friendship with Brigid is becoming strained due to their disagreement over Ray's bingo win.

Jimmy seeks advice from Dr Parr, but ignores his warnings in an effort to regain control of his life. Although Diane has made Anthony a promise, Marty insists that he must go back to school. Sammy wants a job interview, and plans to convince someone to give her one.

Christy decides it's time for a sharp exit when Tim threatens to put him in hospital. Tim also convinces Anthony that violence may be the answer to his problems with the bullies. Sammy wants a job at the health club, and hopes that Sol will give her one.

Brigid confronts Diane and Marty over their decision to stop Anthony going to church. Jimmy tells Nikki that he has stopped taking his medication. While Katie and Louise bond, Sammy decides that she needs an employment contract, and asks Sol to give her one.

A bombshell from the past, which he is totally unprepared for, is about to hit Ray. An educational welfare officer arrives on the Close, and discovers that no-one seems willing to give him any straight answers - but his threats to prosecute Marty and Diane make them reconsider their decision to keep Anthony off school.

Emily wants to build a water-feature in the garden, but Jimmy is adamant that he won't have another pond. Katie discovers why Sammy's husband is so fed up with her. An attempt to economise brings more misery for Mike and Rachel, and Ray confesses to Helen that her suspicions may well be correct.

When Nikki is suspicious of the woman she saw leaving the bungalow, Jerome advises her to ask Ray who she is. But Ray asks Helen not to reveal their secret to anyone else yet. Diane tries to keep calm at a meeting with the headmistress and the educational welfare officer aimed at reintegrating Anthony.

Marty decides that it's time to make a man out of Anthony. Jessie finds out Ray's guilty secret, and doubts that things will ever be the same again. Jacqui returns from her holiday to find unexpected lodgers in her home - but she is much more annoyed when she discovers who Sol has hired in her absence.

Jessie isn't speaking to Ray, and Nikki's plan to help reconcile them goes dangerously wrong. Steve tries to make Anthony understand why he is being picked on. Max and Jacqui make Sol aware of how Sammy has conned him and why she is not welcome as an employee of the health club. Jimmy smells chemicals wherever he goes.

Diane is horrified to discover that Steve risked his life to rescue Jessie and Ray from their burning bungalow. Then a hysterical Nikki realises that Jerome must be trapped in the bathroom....... Jacqui is determined to revoke Sammy's contract and remove her from her job without paying her anything.

Jimmy is warned that he should immediately start to take his medication again. Sol tells Sammy what a difficult position she has put him in. Diane discovers that Anthony has taken down his crucifix, candles and posters. Jessie and Ray need to find somewhere to stay, and Bev is furious to discover the state of her bar - or, as it is now known, "Leanne's Lounge".......

After sacking Leanne, Bev breaks down in front of Jimmy, distressed that her business has been ruined. Katie feels that Sammy is taking advantage of her again. At school, Adele plans to go on a foreign holiday with her friends - but Anthony just feels as if he is walking round with a target on his back.

When Jacqui and Max come out of the shower, they find Ray soaking his feet in a basin downstairs. Bev tries to take steps to resolve a few matters, while Katie pleads the case for Sammy to be kept on at the health club - but will she be heeded? Nikki chooses Jimmy's shoulder to cry on, making Emily wonder what is going on.

Jacqui delegates the decision of whether to keep Sammy on to Sol, but makes it clear to her that any further contact is no longer welcome. Jimmy encourages Jessie to forgive and forget - but then she discovers that Ray has a photograph of Sylvia. Meanwhile, Tim has another cunning plan.......

Tim is convinced that he and Steve are going on to bigger and better things, but Steve wants to stay on the right side of the law. Jimmy tries to prepare himself for any eventuality, and Bev has a couple of willing volunteers. Ron tries to assure Jacqui and Mike that all that really matters is his family - but then Mike tells him what has been going on at home.......

Nikki begins to feel that she will have no option but to drop out of university. Ray is concerned when Jessie is determined that Helen should be invited to visit them both. Emily wants to practise her nail extensions on Tim. Marty and Diane desperately want Steve, Adele and Anthony to leave their bedroom so that they can get on with their.......reading.

Jessie and Ray are beginning to get on Rachel's nerves, and when more secrets emerge during a visit from Helen, a shouting-match wakes Mike up. A reminder of Ron's impending release from prison drives Katie back to the bottle.

Sammy tries to sober Katie up. Jimmy decides to throw a pancake party - but Adele finds it boring. Lance returns to the bar, but not to work. Marty is in trouble when Diane discovers the truth about his insurance scam, and Nikki refuses to accept the &pound