Ken Barlow (William Roache) is forced to make one of the toughest decisions of his life in a fortnight's time when his other woman Martha Fraser (Stephanie Beacham) gives him an ultimatum - be back at the canal by 4pm or she'll leave without him. With such an agonising choice to make, Ken returns to the Street.

His mind made up, though, Ken bids his unwitting wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) and mother-in-law Blanche (Maggie Jones) a good day as they head on the One O'Clock Club's mystery tour to a local cemetery. After cancelling his papers with Rita (Barbara Knox) and Norris (Malcolm Hebden), Ken heads to The Rovers where he tucks into a final hotpot and chats briefly with Emily (Eileen Derbyshire).

On his way out, Ken pockets a Newton and Ridley beermat as a keepsake, before retreating to Number One to pick up his suitcase. Having written Deirdre a goodbye letter, Ken's about to leave when his son Peter (Chris Gascoyne) and grandson Simon (Alex Bain) catch him. Still resolute on leaving, Ken walks out of the front door and heads for the canal...

Later in the week, Deirdre is seen reading Ken's letter...

Earlier this week, I spent a good while chatting to Corrie boss Kim Crowther about what's to come in Weatherfield through to the autumn. There's some great material and Kim's interview is the second of 'Producer Season 2009', which begins on DS next Friday.






These scenes air on Monday, May 4 at 7.30pm and 8.30pm and Friday, May 8 at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV1.

Stopping by Emmerdale now, where Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) makes the shocking discovery that she's pregnant. Turning to Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) for comfort, Nicola bursts into tears when she admits her predicament and is afraid when her friend suggests that she take a pregnancy test for confirmation.

After taking the test, Nicola's stunned by the positive results and immediately begins reeling off the reasons why she'd make a lousy mum. Adamant that she can't tell Jimmy, Laurel implores her that she has to. However, when Jimmy later makes a derogatory comment about her in The Woolpack, Nicola decides to keep her pregnancy a secret.

Will Nicola decide to keep the baby? And more importantly, when will Jimmy learn that Nicola's carrying his child?


These scenes air on Friday, May 8 at 7pm on ITV1.

Over in Hollyoaks, Nancy (Jessica Fox) finds herself in a slightly tricky situation when Gaz (Joel Goonan) barges into her classroom shortly after her teaching assessment. With a can of lager in hand, he traps Nancy and the situation begins to turn violent.

However, at the last minute, Russ (Stuart Manning) storms in and punches him. Grateful to Russ for saving her, Nancy begins to wonder whether there could be something more between them. And the following day, neither of them are prepared when they wind up in an embrace and head to bed together...

It's not going to last long, though is it? Stuart Manning's leaving the show pretty soon, so how will it all pan out with Russ and Nancy?




These scenes air on Tuesday, May 5 at 6.30pm on Channel 4.

And finally to EastEnders, where Walford's latest mum-to-be Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison) decides to write a letter to the baby's father. However, after seeing how a drunken Phil (Steve McFadden) treats his son Ben (Charlie Jones), Heather believes that she'll be better off without the dad and so burns the letter.

Interestingly enough, the big bosses have only just answered the 'Who's the Daddy?' question themselves! Check back on Friday for my exclusive interview with the soap's leading producer Diederick Santer.


These scenes air on Monday, May 4 at 8pm on BBC One.

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