Not managed to keep up with the going ons in the Dales this week?  Don’t worry, here’s our handy recap for you.
It’s a bad news week for Val
The week starts with Val finally coming clean to Eric about her HIV worries and after his initial anger he steps in to support her as they both go to the clinic to get tested. It is good news, bad news as Eric is given the all clear but Val is confirmed as having the disease.
Having no idea what’s going on in the Pollard household the rest of the villagers throw a surprise party for Val’s birthday, but it’s too much for her and she ends up drowning her sorrows with sister Diane. Just when the pep talk (and the fourth bottle or wine or so) is beginning to help, Diane and Eric inadvertently give the game away that they’ve slept together causing Val to chuck them both out.
Later in the week she vents her anger by telling everyone in the Woolpack about her sister and Eric’s affair.
Bernice gets her revenge
Feeling guilty that her stupidity led to Jimmy and Nicola’s house getting robbed and with the police offering only ridicule, Bernice scours all the internet dating sites until she finds Anton – now named Antony. She conjures up a plan roping in sister Nicola to pose as a wealthy property developer to lure him in to a trap. Nicola dons a black wig and calls herself Bernice (nice touch!)  to lead Antony to a country hotel where he ends up bloody nosed and handcuffed to a toilet in his pants thanks to  the real Bernice. She manages to get him to give back their possessions by threatening to phone his wife and all his contacts and tell them what he’s been up to.
Brenda won’t get help
Bob is fast losing patience with Brenda and her sticky fingers. We’re not talking cakes in the café but her stealing ways of course. Ever helpful Geordie Kerry decides she’s got the perfect plan and takes Brenda shopping, hoping to catch her in the act and stop her. I bit like showing a dog a bone and tapping its nose to make it stay.
Of course things don’t go to plan and the two end up down the cop shop where Brenda puts the blame on Kerry. However, she is later guilted in to confessing it was her to the police. Bob moves out after a blazing row and it’s Kerry who actually brings the two back together and it finally looks like Brenda might be ready to get help.
Jai tries a new tack in his hunt for Rachel
Much to Ali’s annoyance, Jai put an advert in the paper this week for information about Rachel and one man stepped forward. Rishi scared him away with talk of Rachel being wanted by the police but will Jai be able to persuade him and get hold of Archie?
If you only have time for one episode this week
Make it Wednesday’s episode. Worth it for seeing the brilliant Nicola vamp it up at a singles event to lure con man Antony. Replying in her usually blunt way to a perspective date’s question ‘you’re not going to pick me are you?’ by telling him ‘That’s right, which you’re not usually about women so well done!’ Also you’ll see Val on a merry-go-round of emotion including the moment she finds out about Diane and Eric’s one night stand.
Bubbling under
Here’s a look at the coming week.
- Charity finds out Jai has a lead on Rachel and tries to get a leap on him.
- Priya attends her first counselling session about her eating disorder as Layla breaks her silence on the matter to Jai.
- Sean and Belle grow closer causing Gemma to feel left out.
