Coronation Street - Maria explodes and Ashley backs out

Monday, 20 July 2009

If you want to know what happens in Coronation Street this week (20th July - 24th July) then don't worry as we have all the gossip you could ever need.

Monday 20th July

Ashley has spent a sleepless night in the hospital's relatives' room worrying about Claire. Lloyd visits to keep Ashley company and Ashley reveals that Claire's had a pulmonary embolism. The doctors eventually allow Ashley in to see Claire but he's sent into a panic when the monitors start beeping and he is asked to leave the room. Ashley is relieved when the doctor confirms that Claire is alive and as Claire opens her eyes Ashley tells her that she is in hospital and that she was pregnant but has lost the baby. He kisses her hand and fights back tears.

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Tensions are running high at number 7 as Maria feeds Baby Liam. Helen disapproves of Ozzy sitting nearby and tells Maria so. Maria has had enough of Helen's interfering and summons Tony to rescue her from her in-laws and he's only too happy to oblige.

As Ashley muses about Claire's unplanned pregnancy, pondering the idea of a third child, Claire looks uncomfortable. Later when Ashley takes Joshua to visit Claire. She asks to see Ashley alone and tells him that she doesn't want any more children and he must have a vasectomy. Ashley is gobsmacked.

Blanche and the Barlows attend Peter's alcoholics' meeting where Ross, a member of the group, gives a long speech about his struggle with booze. Blanche is unimpressed and Peter is mortified when Blanche lambasts Ross for his boring speech. Ken addresses the meeting but is interrupted when Deirdre starts an argument and the whole thing descends into farce when Blanche announces that he recently had an affair, and Tracy is in prison for murder.

Thursday 23rd July

Ashley visits Claire. She assures him that she knew what she was saying when she mentioned the vasectomy and she hasn't changed her mind but Ashley fudges the issue leaving Claire tearful. Back at home Ashley gets a call from the hospital saying Claire has gone missing. Fearing the worst he races to the hospital but as he arrives he spots Claire on the roof. Convinced she is about to do something silly he heads for the roof and tries to talk her down - what is Claire up to, is she planning to jump?

Friday 24th July

Increasingly frustrated with her in-laws Maria is deflated when Helen and Barry say they'll be staying a while longer. Things go from bad to worse when Tony suggests to Barry that Helen's concern for the baby is suffocating Maria. Barry is affronted and challenges Tony on his feelings for Maria. Tony tells him if they don't leave, Maria will push them away and they will lose their grandson.

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Claire tells Ashley that she is leaving hospital later. He reassures her that he will be going ahead with the vasectomy operation. Back at home Claire confides in Eileen about the vasectomy but asks her not to tell anyone but ignoring her wishes Lloyd and Eileen tell Peter about Ashley's operation and Peter accompanies Ashley to the clinic for moral support.

Maria complains to Audrey about Helen's interfering. Audrey tells her to be understanding and to try and keep the peace. But when Barry tells Helen about Tony's warning she storms round to see him at the factory and lays into Tony, accusing him of preying on her sons' widows. Tony snaps and tells her that everyone has moved on and forgotten Liam.

The resulting fall-out sees Helen and Maria have a blazing row about Tony. Helen says that Maria can't wait to have Tony in her bed. It is all too much for Maria who loses her cool and tells Helen and Barry about Liam and Carla's affair. She throws them out of the house. Audrey offers to let Barry and Helen stay with her until Maria calms down. Back at number 7 it seems as though Helen may have inadvertently pushed Tony and Maria closer together as he comforts Maria and they share a tender moment.

Ashley waits nervously at the clinic for his operation but flees the clinic in a panic - unable to go through with the operation. Ashley confides in Peter that the finality of the operation scared him. Peter is sure Claire will understand but Ashley cannot pluck up the courage to tell Claire the truth about his aborted vasectomy.