The Street - Tom and Charlie share a night of lust
Thursday 22 November @ 9.00-10.00pm on BBC ONE. Episode 3/6
Charlie, a demolition man, is going to work away, leaving wife, Roz, at home with their teenage kids, Luke and Leah, as Jimmy McGovern's Bafta and RTS Award-winning series continues.
At the end of a gruelling day, the crew goes out to get drunk before Charlie retires to the room that he is sharing with fellow worker Tom. Charlie is woken when Tom tries to get into bed with him. Affronted by Tom's actions, Charlie states that he's 100 per cent straight, although Tom argues that no one is 100 per cent straight.
The next day, Charlie attempts to change hotel rooms but it's not an option so he's stuck with Tom. That evening, Tom tries his luck again, and Charlie doesn't resist his advances this time.
Back at work, with the job finished, Charlie and Tom go for drinks in a local gay bar before going their separate ways. Charlie is attacked by a homophobic thug and loses his wallet – which contains his wages – and his watch, a present from Roz. Not wanting police involvement, he goes home with no money to show for the week's work.
Charlie lies to Roz about what has happened to him. When the police arrest his attacker and trace Charlie, he refuses to assist but it's too late – his secret is out. Charlie's son, Luke, is taunted at school by Derek, the son of the policeman who interviewed Charlie. Luke responds by beating up Derek.
Charlie is called to the school where the head teacher tries to make sense of the situation. Once alone with Charlie, Luke tells him he knows he is gay.
Charlie's world collapses around him: at work, everyone's talking about him and he's the butt of all their jokes. Having reached the end of his tether, Charlie comes clean to Roz and, even though she appears unable to cope, the family is forced into an uneasy truce, sharing secrets they would rather not share.
Charlie is played by Vincent Regan, Roz by Julia Ford, Luke by Adam Beresford, Leah by Alice Grice, Tom by Will Mellor, Derek by Joel Goonan and the head teacher by Will Tacey.
