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Max follows his heart straight to Tanya but is stunned when she reveals her news, and Vanessa tries hard to stay on top of her double life and keep her husband sweet.

Stacey reels from the news that Ryan kissed her for a bet. Wandering around the square in shock, she ends up in the park, where she doubles over in pain. Meanwhile, Janine comes clean to Ryan and he鈥檚 furious she could have been so spiteful. Storming out of the house, he calls Stacey.

Hearing her phone ringing round the corner he sees her in the park, just as the heavens open and it starts to pour. They argue, and Stacey tells him to leave her alone 鈥� just as she goes into labour.

Ryan wants to get Jean, but Stacey pleads with him not to leave her. He calls an ambulance, and as Stacey gets bundled in Ryan turns to step out, but the doors close and he鈥檚 there for the ride. At the hospital, Ryan gets dragged into Stacey鈥檚 birth.

He holds her hand through it all, and as it all comes to a head, Stacey passes out. She comes round to find Ryan holding her baby. The three of them together, Stacey looks at Ryan. But the moment is broken by the Slaters arriving. Ryan slips out, and is confronted by an apologetic Janine. Ryan doesn鈥檛 want to hear it, she鈥檚 rotten right through, and it鈥檚 over.

As the Slaters leave, Ryan comes in, and an emotional Stacey thanks him for being there. Ryan kisses the top of her head and leaves, and Stacey is finally alone with her baby girl.

Max is caught out when Lauren and Abi arrive home, and Vanessa turns up on his doorstep 鈥� she forgot her phone. Max pretends she鈥檚 a client, but the girls know better. Lauren tells him it鈥檚 good he鈥檚 moved on, before dropping the bombshell that she鈥檚 going to America for summer camp, and she鈥檚 leaving tomorrow. Max is furious Tanya never told him, and Abi points out he never checks his post.

When Max opens a pile of letters he鈥檚 faced with his divorce papers. The girls get ready to leave for Greg鈥檚, but Max offers to drive them home. They agree, as long as he drops them and leaves. They ride in uncomfortable silence, and at Tanya鈥檚 Max drops them off as promised. He starts the engine and drives off, but has a second thought, and parks outside the house.

When Abi opens the door to Max on the doorstep she鈥檚 annoyed 鈥� he promised he鈥檇 drop them and go. Max barges in, shouting for Tanya and when she finally comes downstairs she鈥檚 taken aback to see him. A heated argument ensues and Tanya tells Max she鈥檚 moved on, she鈥檚 in love with another man. And, she鈥檚 engaged. A stunned Max leaves.

When Vanessa returns home, Harry is full of questions, but she tells him she spent the day with her girl friend, Martine. But Vanessa鈥檚 caught out when Harry tells her Martine called earlier, saying she hadn鈥檛 seen Vanessa all week. He鈥檚 angry, demanding to know if she鈥檚 cheating on him. Vanessa tells Harry she went to the pub and had a drink and a smoke on her own because she couldn鈥檛 bear the thought of wasting another night in front of the tele.

When Jodie comes in Vanessa covers, saying that Harry was telling her off for having a sneaky fag. They act happy families for Jodie鈥檚 sake, but when Vanessa鈥檚 alone later, she deletes Max鈥檚 number from her phone.

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Credits

Role Contributor
Stacey Branning Lacey Turner
Ryan Malloy Neil McDermott
Janine Butcher Charlie Brooks
Max Branning Jake Wood
Tanya Branning Jo Joyner
Abi Branning Lorna Fitzgerald
Lauren Branning Madeline Duggan
Pat Evans Pam St Clement
Peggy Mitchell Barbara Windsor
Jean Slater Gillian Wright
Charlie Slater Derek Martin
Mo Harris Laila Morse
Becca Swanson Simone James
Dot Branning June Brown
Vanessa Gold Zoe Lucker
Jodie Gold Kylie Babbington
Harry Gold Linal Haft
Midwife Helena Cullinan
Director Steve Finn
Writer Simon Ashdown
Executive Producer Bryan Kirkwood

Broadcasts