Coronation Street episode review, Monday 14 January

Double episode written by David Lane and Julie Jones
Ryan's 16th birthday, and the last thing he was expecting was a present from his dad. That would be Nick, the dad he never knew existed previously. Ryan's been well brought up (by someone who isn't biologically his mum) and knew that when a strange man approaches you proffering gifts, you should call the police. "Ryan, I'm your father," Nick said. Naturally this came as something of a shock, and Ryan went home to his 16th birthday party, and told everyone what the strange man had said. Then he saw from Michelle's and Steve's reactions that maybe the man wasn't a nutter after all.

Michelle attempted to explain, Ryan rushed out, and he ended up...

at Nick's house (Nick had given him the address), where Alex (the boy who is really Michelle's son) confronted him outside his own 16th birthday party. Ryan was horrified to see that Alex looked just like Michelle's late partner, Dean. I'm pretty horrified too, because if Dean looked like that, all I can say is that Michelle could have done better. Anyway, there was a touching scene later on in which Michelle attempted to reassure Ryan that nothing had changed between them - he would always be her son. He's not quite convinced, though, and I can't say I blame him.

Meanwhile, Carla was continuing her charm offensive with Liam. Like a moth to a flame, he was drawn to her, hobbling over the cobbles - which looked like a very risky pastime - to t'factory. Tony Gordon is beginning to get jealous of the bond between Liam and Carla, and Maria is deeply aggravated. Maria is making herself less marriage-worthy by the minute, though: she's gone into full nag-mode, getting Liam to do guest lists and so on, and I feel this will be her undoing. She's emasculating him, now he's physically vulnerable. Whereas Carla is approaching him still very much as a man. She's not daft, that Carla. And she has a way with words, calling Maria a "Pregnant airhead. Sorry - 'airdresser."

Sophie and Rosie got into a fight in the school playground. We didn't get to see it, but Sally was called to the school to bring them home, and Rita gave the girls a piece of her mind. Poor sally was at the end of her tether, having just visited Kevin in t'prison. Norris didn't help. He tried to sell Sally some cigarettes "or 'snout' as I believe it's called," he said, for Kevin to exchange for favours in prison, and wondered if Kevin might be having to fend off "some man mountain trying to make Kevin his significant other."

Molly persuaded Tyrone that it would make financial sense to keep Slimy Paul on as a lodger after they buy the Duckworth residence. Dev cautioned them against getting into mortgage debt. "Property PORN, it causes so much TROU-BLE!" he yodelled, before giving Violet and Jamie some ideas for baby names. "Money Pit? Mummy's Little Overdraft?" These were almost as good as Lauren's "Bernard Matthew - after the turkey baster."

Sean wasn't pleased to hear that Jamie and Violet were thinking of baby names without his input. He'd like "Sean" to be in there somewhere. But that's Sean for you.

Sue H