The BEST episodes of Coronation Street season 21
Every episode of Coronation Street season 21, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Coronation Street season 21!
Follows the lives of the residents of the fictional Coronation Street, located in Greater Manchester, which is made up mainly of working-class people.
#1 - Episode 1986 (14th April 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 30 - Aired 4/14/1980
Hilda gets the chance of a free lift to Chesterfield to visit son Trevor overnight and takes advantage of it. Gail buys a seascape picture and Ivy lets her hang it at No.5. Bet gets a night off to spend with Dan Johnson. Hilda gives Eddie permission to entertain a girl for the evening at No.13 in her absence as she thinks he means Lorna Ferguson, but he brings Pat Marshall round instead. She frightens Stan. Eddie is put out when she wants to hang round Stan instead of him. Dan assures Bet there was nothing between him and Elsie. Brian and Gail plan to throw their first dinner party for some friends on Friday but Ivy has invited the Duckworths round on the same evening to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Alf and Renee are upset when Dan spends the night with Bet. Hilda returns at 1.00am to find Eddie and Pat in her parlour. She throws them out. Stan hears noises downstairs, thinks Pat has gone to fetch one of her friends for him and expresses his glee to Eddie, but Hilda overhears him.
#2 - Episode 2031 (17th September 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 75 - Aired 9/17/1980
Eddie pinches Albert's Sunday newspaper from his letterbox to save him buying one for himself. Alf tells Deirdre that he can't babysit as he's got council business. Gail lays on a beef dinner to impress Ivy. Deirdre starts work at the Corner Shop. Audrey and her new boyfriend, Les Boden, plan to visit Gail and Brian so Ivy tells them that they're out for the day as she doesn't want the lunch spoilt. Deirdre takes Tracy on her date with Alan Skidmore. He is disappointed. Albert is furious to discover his newspaper crossword has been completed before being delivered. He realises that someone took it from his letterbox. Deirdre refuses to let Alan get too close to her. He tells her that he'll see her again when he's next in town. Ivy and Bert enjoy their lunch at Brian and Gail's house. Audrey and Les call round on the off-chance only to find Bert and Ivy there. Audrey is annoyed that Ivy lied to her. Gail is furious that Ivy told Audrey to keep away. Audrey and Ivy start rowing which upsets Gail. Gail tells Brian that Ivy is no longer welcome in her house.
#3 - Episode 2030 (15th September 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 74 - Aired 9/15/1980
Audrey visits Gail and is envious of her nest-building. Ivy misses seeing Brian all the time. She is annoyed to discover that Audrey has seen them since she has. Deirdre and Tracy settle into the flat. Deirdre hates the smallness of it but is content. Mike's London sales manager Alan Skidmore pays him a visit. He sees Deirdre and falls for her. She lets him help her move into the flat. With Hilda away, Eddie refuses to give his rent money to Stan. Alan asks Deirdre for a date but she makes excuses about not having a babysitter. Brian invites his parents to Sunday dinner. Deirdre talks Alf into babysitting so she can go out with Alan in Wilmslow. Alf worries that this might be a taste of the future.
#4 - Episode 2028 (8th September 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 72 - Aired 9/8/1980
Martin swears he never touched the coupon. Hilda refuses to stand by and let Martin be blamed, but she can't find the courage to tell the girls she is to blame. She confesses to Mike and he agrees to tell the girls. Mike gets the girls to drop their ideas of a lynching mob before telling them it was Hilda. When Ivy and Vera threaten her, Mike tells them that he'll sack them if they touch her; Hilda only meant it as a joke. Annie throws a hen party for Emily. Rita toasts Emily. Arnold has his stag night in the Rovers. His best man George Turner gets him drunk. The factory girls send Hilda to Coventry and refuse to work with her. Mike is forced to sack her. Arnold falls into a drunken sleep in the Snug.
#5 - Episode 2027 (3rd September 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 71 - Aired 9/3/1980
Vera celebrates her birthday with the knowledge she's won £12,000. Mike is furious that production has stopped because of the girls' excitement. The pools company rejects the girls' claim as their coupon did not include a winning line. The girls accuse Vera of copying down the wrong numbers. She makes them see not even she could copy down all the wrong numbers. Alf attends the inquest on Renee. The verdict is accidental death. Deirdre tells Alf she'd like the job as his assistant. He gives it to her and agrees to her having the flat as well. Vera and Ivy accuse Martin of fixing the coupon. Elsie defends him. Hilda overhears and feels awful but Stan tells her to say nothing.
#6 - Episode 2026 (1st September 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 70 - Aired 9/1/1980
Emily and Deirdre close the Coronation Street Secretarial Bureau. Hilda has copied eight score draws onto the factory coupon to let Vera think she's won a little bit of money but Stan tells her there were only ten score draws that week and Vera would have won thousands - suddenly the joke doesn't seem so funny. Hilda tries to get to the coupon but is too late as Vera has checked it. Ivy, Ida, Vera, Karen and the other girls celebrate, thinking they've won a fortune. Mike fears they'll pack up working in the middle of his orders. Vera buys drinks all round at the Rovers. Ivy sends a telegram to the pools company. Hilda and Stan agree to keep quiet about fixing the coupon. Emily buys bridesmaids' dresses for Deirdre and Tracy. Alf tells Deirdre he's hanging on to the shop flat as he wants a resident assistant. Hilda is forced to accept champagne from the factory girls. Vera buys a £60 fur coat, spending her mortgage, electricity and Christmas club money in the process.
#7 - Episode 2023 (20th August 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 67 - Aired 8/20/1980
Ivy uses her machine at the factory to make curtains for Gail in her spare time. Eddie is given a table on his rounds. Arlene Jones realises Fred fancies her and plays him along. Eddie sells the table to Gail and Brian for £5. He feels guilty as they're broke so gives them £2 back. Ivy is forced to tell Mike his machine work is not up to standard. He tells her that he's been waiting for her to spot that - he just wants to keep the girls on their toes. He withdraws from the sewing room and gives the girls overtime. Brian carries Gail over the threshold. Fred gets Arlene to work late "tidying up". The girls finish the big order. Ivy tells Gail the first sensible thing Brian ever did was marry her. Fred is shocked to meet Arlene's husband, Arthur who warns him off her and tells him that Arlene won't be returning.
#8 - Episode 2022 (18th August 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 66 - Aired 8/18/1980
Gail and Brian move into 5 Buxton Close helped by Brian's friend Andy Rowlands. They haven't a bed and don't know if they can take the one at Ivy's house with them. With Annie and Betty away, Fred is instructed to take on a relief barmaid. The brewery sends Arlene Jones. Fred fancies her. Bet kids her that Fred has something mentally wrong with him. When some machinists fall ill, Mike mans a machine himself to get an important order out - the girls are amazed. The Faircloughs return from a motoring holiday to the news of Renee's death. The Tilsleys have a new sofa delivered. Gail is glad to be away from Ivy. Fred feels certain Arlene fancies him. Bert and Ivy give the bed to Brian and Gail as a house-warming present. Ivy starts to cry at the thought of Brian leaving home.
#9 - Episode 2021 (13th August 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 65 - Aired 8/13/1980
Brian accuses Gail of emotional blackmail. He refuses to be pressured. Emily decides she would really like a church wedding. Deirdre tells her to stick up for herself. The NSPCC's Inspector Vaughn tells Betty that she should be proud of what she did. Gail worries when Mr Newton, salesman of the houses on Willow Crescent Estate needs an answer on 5 Buxton Close by the end of the day but she can't get hold of Brian. Alf finds it hard coping with the shop on his own. Arnold tosses a coin to see where they should marry. Gail is furious to find Brian has been drinking in the Rovers. Alf tells Mr. Bannister that he's no longer selling the shop. Emily and Arnold agree on the Register Office. Deirdre steps down to allow Mavis to be bridesmaid with Tracy. Brian signs for the house to Gail's delight.
#10 - Episode 2020 (11th August 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 64 - Aired 8/11/1980
Bert is tired of working nights. Annie tries to keep her birthday a secret. Deirdre agrees to be Emily's matron of honour, with Tracy as a bridesmaid. Ivy goes with Brian and Gail to view the new house. Mrs Fletcher calls on Betty and tells her that Reg Sudworth has left her and she accuses Betty of ruining her life. Annie assures her she did the right thing. Emily is surprised that Arnold wants to marry in the Weatherfield Register Office. She agrees but is upset that he is not a religious person. The Tilsleys look at 5 Buxton Close. Gail thinks it's perfect. Mavis is put out that Emily hasn't asked her to be her bridesmaid. Annie is furious when Hilda sings "Happy Birthday" to her in the middle of the pub. Ivy is against the new house because it is two bus rides away. Gail tells Brian she wants the house and if she doesn't get it she'll leave and live with Audrey.
#11 - Episode 2019 (6th August 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 63 - Aired 8/6/1980
Stan refuses to go to the funeral so Eddie has to. Annie, Elsie, Ivy, Betty, Ken, Mike, Hilda and Eddie attend, along with Alf and Renee's family. Renee is cremated. The Fletchers' "uncle", Reg Sudworth turns on Betty, realising she reported him. He calls her interfering and threatens her. Mike and Eddie walk in on them in the Corner Shop and scare Sudworth off. Ivy takes care of the catering at the funeral tea. P.C. White calls and tells Alf that his blood test was negative. Alf gives Daisy Hibbert a photograph of Renee and him. She tears him off the picture and accuses him of murdering her baby.
#12 - Episode 2018 (4th August 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 62 - Aired 8/4/1980
Alf blames himself for letting Renee drive. He is upset as he can't remember what she looked like when she smiled. Hilda buys a new hat for Renee's funeral and tells Stan and Eddie one of them will have to accompany her. Betty controls her grief by looking after the shop for Alf. Daisy Hibbert arrives and puts a strain on Alf by demanding all the grief for herself. Inspector Vaughn - an NSPCC official - visits Betty. She tells him about the Fletchers' neglect and her fears for the children. She is assured her name will be kept out of the investigation. Daisy discovers Alf was breathalysed and had a blood test. She believes he killed Renee.
#13 - Episode 2017 (30th July 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 61 - Aired 7/30/1980
Police and ambulancemen arrive at the crash site. Renee is rushed to hospital. Alf goes with her and is breathalysed. The crystals turn green. Renee undergoes emergency surgery but she dies in the theatre. Her spleen and her liver were both ruptured. The next morning, the news of Renee's death shocks the residents. Alf doesn't know what to do about anything. P.C. White makes him go over the accident for their report. The driver of the lorry has a broken leg and concussion and Renee's post-mortem is set for this morning. The NSPCC make an appointment to see Betty. The salesman of the houses on Willow Crescent Estate calls on the Tilsleys and tells them he has a cheaper house to offer them for £13,000 with repayments at under £100 a month. Brian doesn't want to know but Gail is keen. The house is vacant but only has the one bedroom. Alf begins to break down. Ken tries to comfort him.
#14 - Episode 2016 (28th July 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 60 - Aired 7/28/1980
Alf refuses to take Renee out in the car again. Betty worries that if she alerts the authorities over the Fletchers their 'uncle' will take it out on them. Gail isn't keen on Peterloo Place. The Post Master tells Alf he can have the sub-post office. The Robertses celebrate. They go to a country pub. As he's been drinking, Alf lets Renee drive home. Betty phones the NSPCC about the Fletchers. Bert and Ivy look at 15 Peterloo Place and think the house is a bargain. Gail tells Brian to make an offer on the house. The Robertses get lost in the country, Renee stalls the car at some roadworks in a narrow lane. Alf gets out to take over but suddenly a lorry comes down the lane and hits the car head on. After the crash, Alf looks into the car and sees Renee lying across the seat, eyes fixed open.
#15 - Episode 2032 (22nd September 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 76 - Aired 9/22/1980
Bert tells Brian how difficult Ivy is making his life. Brian agrees to bring Gail round to No.5. Mavis returns from her break in London. Bet and Rita go to the sales. They return to her flat only to find she has lost her handbag and is locked out. Brian tries to make the peace between Ivy and Gail but Gail refuses to see Ivy, having had enough of her constant interference. Ivy breaks down when she realises they're not coming round. Bert is angry. After hours, Len manages to break the lock to Bet's flat so she can get in. Elsie meets Karen. They get on well together. Rita is furious when Len returns, having spent more time than is necessary with Bet.
#16 - Episode 1970 (18th February 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/18/1980
Brian spends the night on the sofa. Deirdre goes to see Blanche so Mavis is alone again. She tells Len she can't cope so Len tells her to hire someone. Ivy wants to know why Brian and Gail are arguing. Mavis doesn't like Doreen Lovell who is sent from the Job Centre as she's bossy but Len takes her on. Len gets dressed up to go to the new Playmates club in town with Mike but Mike dumps him for a girl. Brian accuses Gail of being a nag. Gail is upset that Brian isn't saving properly. Elsie cheers her up by telling her it'll get a lot worse. A drunk Len tries to get Elsie or Bet to spend the evening with him as he's so lonely. Gail refuses to let Brian off the hook and makes his bed up on the sofa again.
#17 - Episode 1960 (14th January 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/14/1980
Rita gets a room at a theatrical lodging house in Clarence Street, Salford run by Poppy Watts where she meets an old showbiz friend, Ossie Oswald. Len tells the neighbours that Rita is ill. Jim Sedgewick changes the cafe around, getting rid of the old counter and installing the cooking equipment in the shop and a new employee - Mrs. Bolton. Elsie rows with Ivy in the Rovers calling her a "tin pot busybody" and blames her for not getting the job. Rita phones Mavis and tells her that she's left Len for good. Emily tries to make the greasy meals more attractive but the coarseness of the lorry drivers upsets her. Rita only has £10 left after paying her £25 rent. Hilda tells Mike she can't go to France as she hasn't any spending money. He gives her £10 and tells her not to tell the others. Rita feels alone and isolated.
#18 - Episode 1959 (9th January 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/9/1980
Len tells a gullible Hilda that Aspinall's are paying their girls' fares to France. Emily is unhappy when Jim Sedgewick installs a one-armed bandit in the cafe. He tells her that he means to make the place pay. Ivy is livid when Elsie appears in the sewing room to see Mike however he refuses to re-employ her as she walked out on the job. Elsie kids on to the girls that she'll be returning as supervisor. Rita is fed up with No.9 and Len's attitude towards her when he refuses her a new kitchen and structural changes to the house. She tells Len she's had enough. Ivy threatens Mike about Elsie returning - he tells her that she's not but tears a strip off Ivy for her attitude. The jukebox is installed in the cafe, annoying Emily. Hilda tells Vera and Ida about Aspinall's. Vera agrees to confront Mike. Gail tells Elsie that she might have got the job if Ivy hadn't wanted it as well. Rita packs and leaves Len.
#19 - Episode 1958 (7th January 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/7/1980
Rita tells Len she wants a decent home to live in. Len tells her to make a list of alterations. Jim Sedgewick tells Emily and Gail he's bought the cafe off Joe Dawson. Susan returns to Glasgow. Elsie asks Mike for her old job back, promising she'll be reliable. He tells her that he does need someone to help him at the factory. Gail fears Sedgewick will sack her. Rita gives Len her required alterations for No.9, which include knocking the two rooms into one and a fitted kitchen. She accuses him of not caring and rips the list up. She tells him that she's sick of the way they live. Ivy tells Mike she wants to be made supervisor as she's been doing the job in all but name. She warns him that the girls won't stand for Elsie being taken back on. Sedgewick tells Emily the jobs are safe. He intends to bring a jukebox in, telling her that he's turning the place into a transport cafe to take advantage of the new lorry park on Canal Street - Emily is horrified. Mike tells Len that he wants to take Elsie back on.
#20 - Episode 2025 (27th August 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 69 - Aired 8/27/1980
Mavis tells Emily that she can't be a bridesmaid as she's going to be in London. Hilda is adamant she paid Vera her pools money but Vera is equally adamant she didn't. Deirdre asks Alf if she and Tracy can have the shop flat. He is taken aback. He worries what people will say if he takes a woman in so soon after Renee's death. Annie invites him for his Sunday lunch. Emily braces herself and tells Deirdre that she'll have to move out. Deirdre tells her it's alright; she's arranged to take on the shop flat. As an act of revenge Hilda copies the winning pools numbers onto the factory girls' copy.
#21 - Episode 2024 (25th August 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 68 - Aired 8/25/1980
Hilda worries about being short of money with rates due. Mavis decides she doesn't want to be another bridesmaid and decides to be away on holiday during the wedding. Deirdre and Emily agree to finish the secretarial bureau after Emily's wedding. Karen Oldfield applies for a job as machinist at Baldwin's Casuals. Mike makes her wait two hours before seeing her. Hilda asks Annie for next month's wages in advance but she refuses. Mike tells Karen there are no jobs going. She tells him that she'd be a good worker and he'd be a fool not to take her on. She impresses him and he takes her on as a trainee. Deirdre starts looking for somewhere else to live. Emily assures her that she will never throw her out. Martin repairs the water boiler at the factory and takes a fancy to Karen. Vera refuses to accept Hilda's money for the pools syndicate as she missed paying a week. She tells her that she's out of the syndicate. Hilda is annoyed when Stan only gives her £15 house-keeping. She tells him she's tired of making ends meet. Arnold tells Emily there is no way the Langtons can stay in the house after the wedding.
#22 - Episode 2053 (3rd December 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 97 - Aired 12/3/1980
Derek sends Mavis a Christmas card with his new address. She wonders if it's a hint. Mike refuses to back Frankie, he tells him he doesn't think he'll be successful with videos. Frankie is hurt. Dr. Crawford tells Stan he's overweight and he may have an allergy to beer. He tells him not to drink anymore beer until he sees him again. Bert worries that Fosters' may be laying off workers. He fears he'll lose his job. Ivy begins to worry that they won't be able to pay the mortgage. Arnold goes to Birmingham on business to pick up a load of parrots for Christmas. Emily takes over the pet shop. Mavis phones Derek. She hopes they'll get together for Christmas but he's visiting relatives. Stan is devastated that he can't drink anymore although everyone else thinks it's hilarious. Mike tells Fred that Frankie is a dodgy character. Fred asks for his money back but Frankie dodges him. Rita persuades Len to have Mavis with them for Christmas. An insurance man, Mr. Emery, calls at the pet shop telling a stunned Emily that Arnold's wife, Mrs Margaret Swain wants to finish her policy.
#23 - Episode 2061 (31st December 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 105 - Aired 12/31/1980
Martin buys Karen an engagement ring with his Christmas money. Elsie worries that Karen won't accept him. Martin tells Karen they should do something positive and gives her the ring. He tells her he wants to be engaged. She likes the ring and says she will marry him. Ken buys a Volkswagen but an angry Albert refuses to go in it as it's German. Gail refuses to see New Year in at home so the family go to the Rovers. Karen gives Martin the ring back, telling him they're too young to get engaged. She tells him it would be best if they finished. Gail feels unwell in the Rovers. Martin packs and leaves for Birmingham. Elsie is upset to see him so hurt. He tells her he doesn't like it in the Street anymore. Gail goes into labour, Annie lets the family wait in the living room and calls for an ambulance. Gail and Brian go to hospital, through the Rovers' bar. Elsie sees the New Year in alone and in tears. Brian phones the Rovers and tells Audrey that Gail has had a 7lbs 2oz son. She passes on the news to the delighted regulars, Ivy and Bert who all celebrate.
#24 - Episode 2014 (21st July 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 58 - Aired 7/21/1980
Alf tells Renee he doesn't like her driving with another man but she refuses to stop her lessons. Bert works out for Brian how much his weekly outgoings will be. Stan and Hilda decide to invite Eddie to move in as they feel they're the nearest to family he's got. Betty worries about the Fletchers. Ken advises her to report their mother to the NSPCC. Brian discovers they'll have £17 a week left to live on. Gail is sure they'll cope. When Renee spends all morning out on a driving lesson, Alf storms out of the shop and drinks in the Rovers. He worries about money; he wanted £16,000 for the shop and is having to find £28,000 for the new shop. Hilda offers Eddie her front bedroom for £20 a week. He agrees. She makes sure he pays the rent to her and not Stan. Renee tells Alf he's pathetic being jealous of Jim Lorimer. He forces her to make a decision over accepting the Bannisters' offer. She does and they are reconciled. Brian and Gail decide not to buy the house. The Fletchers' "uncle" - Reg Sudworth - tells Betty to keep her nose out of the family's affairs.
#25 - Episode 2013 (16th July 1980)
Season 21 - Episode 57 - Aired 7/16/1980
Eddie has been thrown out of his room at Monkey Gibbons's house and he looks for fresh digs. Hilda refuses to take him in until he has a job. Elsie refuses to buy any more drinks for Hilda. Ken gives Eddie a reference as he goes job-hunting. Ivy is annoyed to discover Gail has been looking into employing a childminder. Eddie gets a job and Hilda agrees to him becoming their lodger before discovering he's a binman. She tells him that she's not having rubbish in the house. Elsie buys Hilda a noticeboard so she can note down when she's out of things and won't keep borrowing off her. When Hilda refers to the fact that she saved her again, Elsie explodes and tells her that next time her house is on fire to walk past. The Bannisters call on the Robertses and tell them they want to buy the shop but only offer them £15,000 - £1,000 below the asking price. Hilda discovers Eddie could be earning up to £80 a week on the bins. Betty is concerned for Wayne and Sharon Fletcher, two latchkey children near her home. When Wayne falls whilst his mother is out drinking, Betty takes them in. Ivy resolves to tell Gail that she's not happy about her plans.