Main content

Stacey offers some advice to Bex. Sharon is forced to make a decision about Dennis's future. Claudette and Patrick struggle with their relationship.

Stacey puts up a banner for Bex鈥檚 birthday party. Lily and Arthur are staying with Jean in Brighton, Kyle鈥檚 making some food and Belinda鈥檚 offered to do Bex鈥檚 nails. Bex is nervous about the night ahead and, when Martin mentions that he caught her boyfriend buying condoms, she decides she wants to cancel the party completely. When Louise asks what time Shakil鈥檚 coming round, then laughs about a girl in sixth form who鈥檚 a virgin, Bex claims Martin cancelled the party. Stacey tries to talk Bex into going ahead with the party but Bex is insistent she鈥檇 rather go to the Chinese buffet Martin likes. When Martin shows Stacey Bex鈥檚 present 鈥� a silver bracelet with a teddy charm - Stacey reminds him Bex isn鈥檛 his little girl anymore. Kush winds Shakil up about 鈥榗ondom gate鈥� and gives him some brotherly advice, mentioning his own first time. When Shakil reveals the party鈥檚 not happening, Kush tells him to talk to Bex.

Meanwhile, Stacey advises Bex she doesn鈥檛 have to do anything until she鈥檚 ready and if Shakil dumps her for it then she鈥檚 better off without him. Shakil visits Bex and gives her a present - a framed photo of the two of them. He kisses her; things become passionate but when Shakil produces a condom and takes off his jeans, Bex stops him, insisting she can鈥檛 do it. She鈥檚 gutted when Shakil calls her frigid. Downstairs, Martin flies off the handle when Stacey tells him Shakil鈥檚 upstairs with Bex. But he鈥檚 impressed when Shakil leaves, politely wishing them a nice evening. Bex cries on her bed but covers when Stacey comes in, claiming her talk with Shakil went well.

When Lauren tells Jane Steven鈥檚 got something to confess (stealing the last breakfast sausage) Jane misunderstands and assumes Steven鈥檚 told her about Peter. The truth comes out and Lauren struggles to process it. Jane insists she and Ian will try to sort some kind of allowance for Peter. When Lauren鈥檚 alone, she repeatedly tries to Skype Peter but he doesn鈥檛 answer. As Lauren and Stacey add sequins to the skirt of Whitney鈥檚 wedding dress, Lauren becomes tearful, remembering that she used to imagine her wedding to Peter. Whitney and Stacey remind Lauren how lucky she is to have Steven 鈥� a man who wants to take care of her and Louie. When Jane comes home, Lauren admits she鈥檚 thinking about going back to New Zealand. Jane tries to talk her out of it, reminding her she has a life with Steven, who lied for the right reasons. Steven鈥檚 heartbroken when he finds Lauren鈥檚 passport. He tells her if she鈥檚 still in love with Peter he won鈥檛 try and stop her going back 鈥� but thinks if she鈥檚 doing it because she feels guilty, or sorry for Peter, she鈥檚 making a huge mistake鈥�

Dot鈥檚 tired - she couldn鈥檛 sleep because youths were letting off fireworks. After arguing with Carmel about the mess around her stall, Claudette quits the market. She鈥檚 annoyed when Patrick refuses to postpone his trip to see 鈥楤rief Encounter鈥� with Dot so they can celebrate. Taking Dot鈥檚 advice, Patrick suggests he and Claudette audition for the Walford Players鈥� Christmas Show. He鈥檚 shocked when Claudette reveals she might not be still be in Walford at Christmas 鈥� Linford鈥檚 moved to Liverpool and it might have more to offer her than am-dram. As Patrick and Dot return from their film, Patrick asks if the seats her were too far back, have noticed Dot squinting at the screen. Dot denies it but, to appease him, says she鈥檒l visit the opticians.

Dennis tries to sneak out with a box of fireworks but hides them behind the sofa when Sharon appears. Sharon says she鈥檚 going to buy him a new video game but his delight is short lived as she reveals it鈥檚 because they鈥檝e agreed on King Edward鈥檚. He insists he didn鈥檛 agree to anything. After finding money and the half empty box of fireworks stashed behind the sofa, Sharon submits the online application for Dennis鈥� secondary school admission 鈥� with King Edward鈥檚 as the first preference school.

Donna鈥檚 sick of everyone complaining about the bins 鈥� adamant that if everyone separated their rubbish properly like her then they鈥檇 have plenty of room.

5 months left to watch

30 minutes

Audio described

Credits

Role Contributor
Lauren Branning Jacqueline Jossa
Steven Beale Aaron Sidwell
Jane Beale Laurie Brett
Kathy Sullivan Gillian Taylforth
Martin Fowler James Bye
Bex Fowler Jasmine Armfield
Stacey Fowler Lacey Turner
Dot Branning June Brown
Whitney Dean Shona McGarty
Patrick Trueman Rudolph Walker
Claudette Hubbard Ellen Thomas
Donna Yates Lisa Hammond
Carmel Kazemi Bonnie Langford
Kush Kazemi Davood Ghadami
Shakil Kazemi Shaheen Jafargholi
Louise Mitchell Tilly Keeper
Billy Mitchell Perry Fenwick
Sharon Mitchell Letitia Dean
Dennis Rickman Bleu Landau
Kacey Broderick Mica Williams
Executive Producer Sean O'Connor
Director Kate Saxon
Writer Laura Poliakoff

Broadcast