CORONATION STREET
There’s no denying that Glenda has brought a much-needed levity when we’re being hit over the head by racism, diabetes, rape, stalking, an acid attack and, this week, Paul’s possible motor neurone disease. . Her offhand lines about her days as a cruise ship singer hilariously hint at a wilder life away from the cobblestones.
Joining fellow West End star Jodie Prenger (Glenda), Ruthie Henshall arrives as Estelle, who is in Weatherfield to discuss her mother’s funeral and runs into her old cruise mate. Now the co-owner of Little Big Shotz, a children’s performing arts club, Estelle explains that anyone can buy a franchise and open their own branch.
Why don’t I have a good feeling about this? Anything in Corrie that involves a new business venture is always doomed, aside from undertakers when there’s a serial killer like Stephen around.
Glenda, however, is interested. Can we expect more ocean wave stories from this pair? Or even a duet?
The arrival of another newcomer is imminent when the family tree website informs Brian of his Italian cousin, Isabella. With her Naples apartment undergoing renovations, she tells Brian that she will visit him.
Estelle (right, with Glenda) explains that anyone can buy the franchise and open their own branch.
Let’s hope there’s even more levity when Brian discovers his inner Italian. Certainly an opportunity for plenty of ‘Just a Cornetto, give it to me’ style innuendo.
Elsewhere, it’s mostly doom and gloom: Miley and Faye; Aaron and Amy; Paul’s illness
And, somewhere in between the two extremes, the ridiculousness of several other threads: the incompetence of Dr. Gaddas (cross out the woman; hopeless), and now Sarah and Damon, who has come out of nowhere. Maybe Sarah left Adam when he started tying his hair into that silly little bun again.
Stephen’s hilarious goofiness continues, and Rufus refuses to renegotiate with him. Something tells me Rufus’s skull isn’t much to this world.
Or Elaine’s, when she tells Stephen that the lawyer needs proof of funds to buy a house.
emerdale
Nicky’s proposal puts Gabby in control
Kim was never going to react well to the news that Gabby and Nicky were a couple, and she instantly fires the nanny for breach of contract. Isn’t this a bit hypocritical?
Will was the gardener on her property when she began a relationship with him.
To show his love, Nicky gets down on one knee and proposes to her (below). The Hide Inn isn’t the most romantic setting, and Nicky and Gabby aren’t exactly dressed for the occasion.
Nicky gets down on one knee and asks Gabby to show her love (pictured) as Kim fires the nanny for breach of contract
It looks like she just walked in after a hard day at the sheep bath, and Gabby is dressed in what appears to be a second-hand garment from 1972. And what about all the plants in that place? They make the happy couple look like extras in The Day of the Triffids.
Naturally, Gabby agrees. Who does not? A 24/7 babysitter and a granny desperate to please. Now that she has all the cards with Kim, Gabby threatens to take Thomas away unless she supports the marriage.
All this, plus the sprawling mansion that is Home Farm. Talk about landing on your feet. This is an achievement of millipede-foot proportions.
It’s hoodie week again. Has there ever been a show so reliant on hoodies? Did a wardrobe supervisor of yesteryear get the cost price for a lot of work? When Caleb and Leyla get horny, they don’t know they’re being watched by…yes, you guessed it: a hooded figure.
ORIENTAL
What planet would Kim be ‘Influencer of the Moment’ on? Although happy for her victory, you have to wonder who she was up against.
She’s about as influential as Hannibal Lecter trying to win over The Vegan Society. She is so excited about her success that she offers to take Denzel for a ride in the car she won.
Wait… she and Howie just were at the awards show, so you can’t tell me she wouldn’t have had a drink.
When Denise joins her at the hospital, Kim (pictured) is brief with her, revealing that Ravi’s messages on Denise’s phone caused the accident.
This is a woman who celebrates with a cocktail if you turn a doorknob. Anyway, she might have been drinking, because as soon as she gets the car out, she crashes it and she has to call an ambulance to make Denzel unconscious.
When Denise joins her at the hospital, Kim is short to her, revealing that Ravi’s messages on Denise’s phone caused the accident.
Er, so it had nothing to do with you being too excitable to drive? And what is she doing with Denise’s phone anyway?
Kim and Denise join forces to try to break up Ravi and Chelsea’s budding relationship, both fearing Chelsea will get hurt.
Can’t they stop him from making all those furtive glances too? He has the permanent look of a man looking for a joint for a robbery.
Turn a corner, there it is. Mouse Pad. Open a door. There it is again. Mouse Pad. Go to the tavern. Guess who’s there? Mouse Pad. Please make it stop.
Ravi is wrong, Chelsea
The Ravi and Chelsea pairing in EastEnders is more convincing than the Ravi-Denise one.
The turning point is when Chelsea insists that she wants to get to know the real, deeper Ravi because, says Aaron Thiara (Ravi), “I’ve never had that from a woman before.”
However, it isn’t long before his doubts are raised, and Zaraah Abrahams (Chelsea) says Ravi responds by ‘telling him things he wants to hear, talking about commitment and the future, dismissing his past’. He’s a bad guy, Chelsea. She trusts me.