Seasons & episodes

Terry’s worried that Chris means to do something reckless to harvest revenge on his estranged wife. So he’s relieved when Chris reveals that he’s merely planning to divorce Charity on the sly. Meeting with the Tate lawyer, Chris stipulates that the divorce settlement must leave Charity with as little as possible. Meanwhile, ignorance is bliss for Charity, as she plays the attentive wife. It never rains but it pours for Lisa, who is summoned up to Carlisle by Granny Clegg for family business. Marlon is left holding the Dingle fort, including keeping Cain out of trouble and being nursemaid to an ungrateful Shadrach, whose first port of call from hospital is The Woolpack.

Bitter Chris begins to privately discuss divorce proceedings with his lawyer. When she informs him Charity will still get access to their joint accounts Chris makes plans for a major spending spree. Knowing his days are numbered, Chris is determined to bankrupt Charity and begins by buying Debbie a horse. Unbeknown to Charity, Chris has a hidden agenda, just when she thinks he is making an effort with Debbie, he is really planning to make their lives hell.

Louise gets a fright when she spots a mouse in The Woolpack. The sighting forces Diane to withdraw her interest in purchasing Eddie’s double-glazing to concentrate the funds on more pressing issues. Eddie is still trying to keep the wolf from the door as his boss is harassing him to meet impossible targets. The floundering salesman finds trying to flog Betty double-glazing a tough task.

After a romantic night in the bedroom with her husband, Charity feels she is beginning to win back Chris’s affections after her misdemeanours. As the day progresses she becomes increasingly amazed by Chris's generosity as gifts are showered on them including a helicopter, holiday and mystery package. Charity is knocked for six when the lord of the manor announces that the gifts are actually all for him and that he has filed for divorce with the intention of leaving her penniless.

Rodney bites the investment bullet by buying the mill for one million pounds in a property auction. Despite paying over the odds, he assures Nicola that he's set to become a millionaire. The only problem is ensuring that Eric gets planning permission passed within two weeks. Always keen on making a quick dollar Eric accepts the bribe of fifteen grand, but will he be able to deliver the goods in time for Rodney to clench the deal?

Zoe tries to come to terms with the news of her brother's imminent demise. Having filled Zoe in on the deterioration symptoms, Chris makes her promise to leave Charity in the dark. If his wife learned of Chris's terminal illness her solicitor could detest his will on the grounds that his mind was not fit. Chris asks Zoe to stay at Ashley’s place for the time being, fearing that her and Jean may be in danger at Home Farm. Marlon tells Cain, who has been out drinking all night, about Chris throwing Charity out the house.

It's the morning after the night before and homeless Charity wakes up next to Cain in a hotel bedroom. Her heart sinks as she realises her predicament has been worsened with Chris. To further the blow Charity is shocked when her credit cards are refused as she tries to settle their hefty hotel bill. Embarrassed she is forced to leave her designer watch as security. A later call to the bank reveals Chris has spent up to the limits on all of her cards, leaving her practically penniless.

Tempers flare in the Woolpack, and Elaine seeks advice from Siobhan.

Chris is overwhelmed by his hatred for Charity, Steph and Eric join forces to dupe Rodney and Robert is frustrated to find he cannot resist Donna's advances.

The day begins on an emotional note for Chris Tate, having visited Joseph at boarding school in the knowledge that it may be the last time he sees his son before his death. Tearfully, Chris asks Zoe to take care of Joseph after his demise. Reasserting his overwhelming hatred for Charity he says that he’d rather see the bitch dead than get one penny from him. Charity, on the other hand, has high hopes regarding the pending liaison with Chris, even borrowing money from Debbie for the hairdressers in a bid to impress.

As the police forensic team arrives at Home Farm to investigate Chris’s suspicious death, a distraught Charity tries to describe the events leading up to her husband's dramatic and unexpected death. Asked to describe Chris's state of mind prior to his death Charity recalls his weird mood swings from anger to the calmness when he said that killing her would be too easy. Meanwhile, oblivious to the tragic events down the road, the villagers gather in The Woolpack to enjoy the talent night.

Gossip is rife throughout the village as many theories about Chris' death are posed.

The horror of the events at the manor reverberate around the village, as the locals try to get to the bottom of the tragedy and gossip about possible motives for Chris’s murder. Meanwhile, the police continue their investigations and Zoe is surprised at how well Joseph has taken the news. After learning the cause of death from the post-mortem detectives begin to dissect the crime scene and remove the computers from the house hoping they might find some evidence.

As the murder case evidence continues to mount up against Charity so does the pressure on Zoe, who is finding it increasingly difficult coping with the suspicious circumstances surrounding her brother's death. At the police station, Charity is informed that traces of poison have been found in her car. The pleas that the evidence must have been planted there seem far-fetched to the police.

The Dingles are thrown into turmoil when Marlon insists on talking to the police, while Rodney faces financial ruin when his plans for the Mill hit a stumbling block.

Cain is now the prime suspect for the murder of Chris. The manhunt includes a national TV appeal for people to come forward with information of Cain and Debbie’s whereabouts. When the police visit the Dingle household it's Marlon who lets the cat out the bag again telling them that Cain and Debbie had been staying with Chastity. With both Marlon and Charity in the Dingle doghouse they are left to console each other over a bottle of wine. Marlon promises to stick by Charity through her ordeal however he gets more than he bargained for when she makes a pass at him.

It is the morning after the night before for Marlon as he wakes up in bed with another woman by his side and is appalled by what he's done under the influence. He tries to sneak out but trips on the stairs and wakes up Charity. With a guilty conscience, he tells his friend that she seduced him and it was against his will, but Charity tells him to get over it – it was just drunken sex and it happens.

Gloria arrives seeking the truth about what her husband has been up to in her absence. Rodney’s only too pleased to fill her in on Eric’s dodgy dealings and alliance with Steph. Sure that Gloria will persuade Eric to keep his nose clean Rodney buys himself a few more hours with the loan shark

Elaine wishes she had listened to her father's advice when a drive with Robert leads to danger, while Rodney has clearance to pay his debts, and Danny worries for his relationship with Ollie.

The guilt over the accident weighs heavily on Robert's mind, Ollie says goodbye to the village, and Louise saves Ashley from a disastrous date.

Elaine questions Robert about the accident, Eddie's put under further pressure, Ashley and Louise cause a stir when they accompany one another to the Tea Dance, and Andy frets for his future.

Bob promises to stand by his brother as the extent of Eddie's financial worries become evident, while Ashley relishes riding the wave of gossip, and Andy and Katie take the momentous step of setting a date for their wedding.

Bob pulls out all the stops to ensure things turn around for Eddie, Charity is worried when she is informed Cain and Debbie have been found, and Andy and Katie impart some big news.

Eddie breathes a sign of relief, as the villagers agree to rally round and help him out of his sticky situation. Luckily Bob has uncovered a clause in the legally binding contracts. This will prevent anyone from being left out of pocket. Elated Eddie decides to tell Garry where to stick his job. Getting carried away, he decides to give bemused Garry back everything that goes with the job, including his suit, which he strips off and discards at his boss’ feet.