2373: Newt returns home

Newt prepares to come home but he is more scared than excited. Darren worries that having Newt around will make it more difficult to conceal Jack being alive and tries to convince Frankie that they would be better off without him there, but Frankie is having none of it. Not ready to face everyone, Newt panics and lashes out at Lauren and Frankie. They manage to convince him that he is part of the family and that they need him home and, scared and alone, Newt finally allows himself to be comforted… Darren arranges to meet the loan shark on Friday to give him the money and Cindy salivates at the prospect that Darren is going to be rich. However, just when he's almost home dry, Darren hears from the insurance company that they are holding off on the money and is petrified when Frankie insists this is Darren's problem – from now on he's on his own.

Steph decides it's time she should be thinking of moving on. Tom's delighted when the plaque for Max's bench arrives and insists that they put it on straight away. With Jack's name also on the plaque, a guilty Frankie avoids sitting on it with them and heads off to the hospital to pick Newt up. Awkward, Steph wants to thank Niall and invites him round for a drink. As Steph relaxes in Niall's company, she reveals she's been thinking about moving on and how she's going to struggle telling Tom when the time comes. However, Steph is shocked to find that she's left her wedding ring off all day without noticing – is she moving on sooner than she thinks..?

John Paul gears up to tell Myra that he and Kieron are getting married. John Paul goes round to Myra's but before he can tell her what's on his mind she tells him he's too young to be settling down and he should be out playing the field. This gives John Paul food for thought and suddenly he's not so sure what he wants any more…

The blood bus is in town and a competitive Malachy persuades Kris to sign up. Mercedes ditches her blind date after spotting him from afar in favour of giving blood with the others. While Mercedes and Malachy are accepted, Kieron and Kris are told they can't give blood because they have an increased risk of infection due to their sexuality. Kris is aghast and vows not to let it go. Having given blood, Malachy milks the situation by pretending to faint and a concerned Mercedes takes him home. However resting is the last thing on their minds…