Seasons & episodes

It's the day of the local election and the candidates are all desperate to win votes, no one more so than Eric who is not adverse to using bribery to secure votes. Tricia announces her informal exit pole and declares Alan the winner, but will this result be reflected in the official court? Ashley is torn between his commitment to the church and love for Bernice when he is confronted by the Bishop about their relationship. A letter from Sarah poses a dilemma for Jack; should he show it to the children or destroy it?

Eric is declared winner of the local election and gloats about his success much to many of the resident's anger. None more so than Chris who manages to get the crooked councillor to come to an 'arrangement,' but at what cost? Ashley's dilemma over his relationship with Bernice escalates when Viv accuses him of trampling on family values. Ashley can take no more when Edna calls Bernice a tarty landlady and confronts everyone at The Woolpack.

Edna storms in on Ashley's church service and confronts Sarah about her affair with Richie. Ashley attempts to intervene but Edna accuses him of being a corrupt vicar. Sean and Angie organise a party to celebrate Marc passing his exams, but are devastated when he arrives home only to reveal he's failed. Eric refuses to pay Charity for helping him win the election but soon changes his mind when she threatens to expose his electioneering to Councillor Ecclestone.

The Reynolds are in shock over Marc's exams, but he has a secret; he failed them deliberately and is planning to start a new independent life and move in with Marlon. Jack hides Sarah's letter and tells her the children don't want to see her. This causers her to run home distressed to Richie, but he's quickly loosing patience. Chris and Laura set about orchestrate a scam that will result in Sean taking the rap should Tate Haulage be found guilty in the crash investigation.

Sarah is lambasted by Viv and Edna over her relationship with Richie at the post office where they tell her child benefit is for children, not the cradle-snatching mothers and their toy boys! Later a confrontation in the pub results in a fight between Richie and Jack. Marc enjoys his new independence living with Marlon and the Reynolds attempts to get him to come home fall on deaf ears.

Jack repents over his behaviour towards Sarah and organises for the kids to visit her. However he soon comes to regret this when she tells the kids they will soon live with her permanently! Terry and Carlos are less enthusiastic about Marc living with them so confront Marlon and tell him his friend must move out. Scott is having difficulties getting his garage business off the ground and accepts a dubious loan arrangement from Eric that can only end badly.

Lady Tara hosts a home coming party and Chris unsuccessfully attempts to flirt with her to secure investment in Tate Haulage, whilst Adam turns up with Virginia despite the fact he's dating Tricia! Sean spirits Angie away upstairs, whereupon Chris and Tara walk in to find them in a compromising position. Jack decides the kids should go to Spain whilst he and Sarah battle it out for custody and whilst she is less than certain, he gives her no choice.

Kelly finds out that Roy was chatting up Tricia at the party, whilst Tricia quizzes Mandy about Adam's antics. Whilst Mandy bites her tongue, Marlon is faced with a dilemma; should he tell her what happened? The antagonism between Sarah and Jack is taking its toll on Richie and he confesses to Sarah that he feels they're not as close as they used to be.

Marlon is determined to expose Adam as a love-rat so he persuades Virginia to reveal the truth about him to Tricia. Roy is furious to find out that Kelly has got him a job interview to stack shelves in the local supermarket and this forces him to swallow his pride and accept Scott's offer of a job at the garage. Laura is angry that Lady Tara has lied about her dire financial state, but agrees to help her convince Chris and Zoe to run a stud farm.

Tricia turns up at Adam's for a romantic night in and is shocked to find Virginia there, calling him back to bed! Kelly is distressed to hear about Roy and Scott's new partnership and express her distaste, but Roy tells her she'd better get used to it. Zoe rejects Lady Tara's proposal that she should invest in a stud farm leaving Laura's plans in tatters.

Tricia is devastated after last night's events and has been up all night crying. Meanwhile, Marlon's over the moon and very pleased with himself. Bernice hounds on Marlon for setting Tricia up when he arrives at work looking very happy. Marlon feels terrible, but Bernice refuses to let him near Tricia. Alan has words with Adam, but it's clear he hasn't been hurt in any of this. Finally, Marlon manages to track Tricia down. He confesses that he was responsible for setting her up, but then tells her he fancies her like mad. Tricia's disgusted. Charity spots Chris handing Eric over a handful of cash and decides to take a trip up to Home Farm. She has a proposition for him and they agree to a private arrangement. Sam phones up the radio to speak to Mystic Mandy when he has problems with Arlie the pig. He's pleased with the advice he gets when they turn into good results.

Marlon is concerned that in his efforts to expose Adam he may have destroyed his friendship with Tricia, but Bernice is hopeful he will be able to repair the damage. Tricia regrets a decision to turn down an offer to stay the night at The Woolpack when a shadowy figure breaks into her room. Marc rejects Sean's attempts to persuade him to return home and moves in with Jack.

Tricia is left distressed by last night's burglary and suspicion falls upon Lisa who has a spare set of keys to the house. Angie asks Jason and Lisa to accompany her to the station and clear everything up, but a hungover Jason throws up, so Lisa goes alone. Jason is convinced Cain is responsible and confronts him, causing Cain to admit he has an incriminating piece of evidence; a locket taken from Tricia's room. Jason tells Cain if he takes the stuff back, then he'll keep quiet, but Cain doesn't take too kindly to being threatened and gives him a kicking.

In the aftermath of the burglary Lisa is questioned and it becomes obvious to Zak that she will be blamed. He resolves to clear her name and confronts the real culprit, Cain. Edna confronts Ashley over what she sees as his torrid affair and contacts the Bishop in an effort to get him expelled from the church.

The Bishop is influenced by Edna's malicious stirring and suggests Ashley leave the village. Ashley is faced with a dilemma; will Bernice want to move up North with him? Zak demands Cain return Kathy's belongings and Cain is forced to admit that he has already sold some of the jewellery. Tricia and Marlon's relationship develops and Tricia finally admits that she is considering starting a relationship with him.

Ashley tells Bernice he has to visit a parish in Leeds, but little does she know the real reason for his trip; a new job. Chris unsuccessfully attempts to woo Tara to secure her investment in Tate Haulage, but she is left unimpressed. Cain continues to antagonise the Dingles and things come to a head when he accuses Lisa of being responsible for Butch's death.

Bernice is excited at the prospect of her forthcoming wedding to Ashley whilst best woman Zoe is concerned to hear Bernice knows nothing of Ashley's plans to move up north. Things come to a head when Bernice reveals to Ashley that she has asked the Bishop - the cause of his discomfort - to marry them! Chris has dinner with Tara as part of his continuing attempts to get her to invest in Tate Haulage, but she is more interested in persuading him to invest in the Stud Farm.

Bernice and Ashley's wedding plans are put at stake when Ashley inadvertently lets slip to the Bishop that he hasn't told his soon-to-be wife about his plans to move to Leeds. Ashley's dilemma heightens when Bernice makes him promise that there will be no secrets between the two of them.

Money comes between Roy and Scott when Roy suggests they both take a pay cut for the greater good of the business. Kathy thanks Zak and Lisa for returning her stolen belongings but Zak still refuses to admit that it had anything to do with him. Jack shocks Diane by declaring he will fight Sarah to the bitter end and get custody of his children; no matter what.

The findings of the investigation into the bus crash are finally revealed; Tate Haulage is in the clear! A devastated Emily interrupts Chris's champagne celebration and demands to see the report. He gives it to her and Kathy circulates it around the village, stirring up resentment. Roy refuses to go to Scott's birthday meal and continues to nurse resentment for him in the aftermath of their altercation.

The results of the investigation into the bus crash are made public. Roy refuses to go to Scott's birthday meal. Emily breaks down after reading the investigation's report.

Kathy encourages Emily to fight against the results of the report. Sarah and Richie arrive back in the village. Donna tells Ollie she thinks Roy hit Scott.

Emily receives the offer of an out-of-court settlement from Chris. Donna is determined to find out what happened between Roy and Scott.

Emily is shaken by her anger towards Chris. Richie gets a frosty reception when he turns up at the Woolpack. Ollie lands herself a job working for Lady Tara.