Main content

Stan takes a turn for the worse and pushes his family away. Martin moves back to Albert Square, but tensions between him and Sonia have surprising consequences.

Stan鈥檚 impatient to make a family announcement but with Mick and Linda away in Dublin, the family鈥檚 too busy to hear it. Eventually, Stan announces he鈥檚 arranged a family outing to the greyhound racing in Romford. Tina worries that Stan鈥檚 not up to it. Nancy and Lee agree and nominate Tina to tell Stan. Meanwhile, Stan beseeches Shirley to come too but she鈥檚 busy at Blades and thinks Stan should face facts - he鈥檚 not up to it. Stan鈥檚 hurt and demands gratitude for funding the salon. On Patrick鈥檚 advice, Stan invites Cora instead. Cora declines, insisting Stan made his choice and fronts she did him a favour - she鈥檚 had too much loss in her life already.

Later, Tina鈥檚 trying to convince a protesting Stan that the trip to Romford is too much when he suddenly panics that he can鈥檛 feel his legs. Shirley rushes over from Patrick鈥檚 as Stan鈥檚 wheeled to a waiting ambulance, ranting he wants back every penny he lent Dean for Blades for a private room in hospital - and family aren鈥檛 welcome. Tina鈥檚 distraught. Spotting a distressed Cora watching, Stan pleads her to come in the ambulance but she can鈥檛 bear it. In hospital, Tina, Shirley, Lee and Nancy wait nervously to see Stan. Shirley鈥檚 anxious to know his scan results, Stan鈥檚 certain she鈥檚 only interested in finding out if she can keep his money. Stan reveals the cancer鈥檚 spread and is pressing on his spinal cord - he鈥檒l never walk again.

Sonia berates Liam for watching TV after claiming he鈥檚 too ill for school. Liam thinks Sonia鈥檚 in a mood about Rebecca; Sonia鈥檚 still irked Liam got her in trouble with Martin and insists he get revising. Later, Sonia鈥檚 surprised to see Martin on Bridge Street; she isn鈥檛 happy to learn he鈥檚 moved into the Beales鈥� to keep an eye on things for Ian. The pair argue about Rebecca but Martin鈥檚 distracted by his ringing phone. Later, Sonia rants to Tina, who thinks she and Martin are as bad as each other. Sonia returns home to find Liam once again dodging revision and snaps at him. Meanwhile, at the Beales鈥�, Martin鈥檚 preoccupied by another phone call and too busy to look over the fruit and veg stall receipts. Sonia arrives, desperate to see Rebecca , but she鈥檚 late home and Martin doesn鈥檛 know where she is. They鈥檙e bickering again when Rebecca enters, in full Goth attire with blue hair.

Donna鈥檚 irked when Fatboy keeps hitting her as he throws out cauliflower. When Martin wants to check the stall鈥檚 wholesale receipts on Ian鈥檚 behalf, Fatboy panics to Pam he doesn鈥檛 have them. Tamwar administers a verbal warning for littering. Fatboy fumes to realise Donna鈥檚 made a complaint. He scoffs at Pam鈥檚 suggestion that he apologise; Pam explains Donna鈥檚 upset because no-one鈥檚 arranged anything for her 30th birthday. Fatboy relents but when his apology isn鈥檛 reciprocated, he storms off. Later, Donna brings Fatboy receipt books as a peace offering and advises him to forge the receipts for Martin. Fatboy鈥檚 grateful. Later, relieved Fatboy reports Martin didn鈥檛 want them after all and wants to buy Donna a drink for her birthday. Donna agrees on one condition - no cards or presents.

Shabnam can鈥檛 face work and hides at home, ignoring her ringing phone. Kush leaves her a desperate voicemail. Masood appears in a suit - he admits he has a meeting at the bank and excitedly shows her an estate agent flyer for the Argee Bhajee. He鈥檚 hurt when surprised Shabnam blurts he鈥檚 already failed once before. Masood answers the house phone when Kush phones and curtly cuts him off. Guilty, Shabnam tries to apologise as Masood leaves for his meeting.

Outside, Patrick hails him, pleading he place a bet at the bookies on a hot tip and suggests Masood take a gamble himself. Shabnam cooks lunch, fills Tamwar in on Masood鈥檚 plan and determines to support him. A dejected Masood returns, having been refused by the bank. He gets a text from Patrick reminding him to place his bet, hurries back out and makes a visit to the cashpoint. Later, Masood presents Patrick with his winnings. Patrick wonders if he made a bet himself. Masood claims it鈥檚 against his religion but smiles to himself as he departs.

Things are awkward between Nancy and Tamwar when he returns her forgotten West Ham scarf.

5 months left to watch

30 minutes

Audio described

Music Played

  • Mark Ronson

    Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)

  • Manjit Pappu & DJ Vix

    DJ Te

  • GURJ SIDHU

    Nazareh

  • Keane

    Wont Be Broken

  • Jack Splash

    I Could Have Loved You

  • Ali Zafar

    Total Siyapaa

  • 罢颈苍补蝉丑茅 & ScHoolboy Q

    2 On

  • DEEP GREWAL & Cloud Nine Music

    Nakhra

  • Arijit Singh

    Suno Na Sangemarmar

  • Pixie Lott

    Break Up Song

  • Kaiser Chiefs

    Good Days Bad Days

  • Kate Bush

    Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)

  • FYA

    Too Hot

  • Fences & Macklemore

    Arrows

Credits

Role Contributor
Stan Carter Timothy West
Tina Carter Luisa Bradshaw-White
Shirley Carter Linda Henry
Nancy Carter Maddy Hill
Lee Carter Danny-Boy Hatchard
Patrick Trueman Rudolph Walker
Masood Ahmed Nitin Ganatra
Tamwar Masood Himesh Patel
Shabnam Masood Rakhee Thakrar
Kush Kazemi Davood Ghadami
Arthur 'Fatboy' Chubb Ricky Norwood
Sonia Fowler Natalie Cassidy
Martin Fowler James Bye
Donna Yates Lisa Hammond
Pam Coker Lin Blakley
Cora Cross Ann Mitchell
Rebecca Fowler Jasmine Armfield
Writer Christopher Reason
Director Dominic Keavey
Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins

Broadcasts