On Monday, Peggy’s furious at Archie’s decision to buy the Car Lot, while Janine spots the new ‘Mitchell’s Cars’ sign. Archie tells her that he may have a job for her, but she replies that she’s not interested. Meanwhile, Ronnie goes to see Joel at his office and learns that Archie gave him a wad of cash to stay away from her…

As they discuss the past, Ronnie’s surprised to learn that Joel did try to make contact with her after Archie forced him out of her life when they were teenagers. Joel goes on to admit that he’s married, but he’s surprised that she already knows. She tells him that she paid him a visit the previous October and saw his daughter at the door.

Joel admits that he wants to be friends with her but feels guilty because he has a family. Ronnie leaves in order to give him some time to think and says that she’ll wait for him at the pub. If he doesn’t turn up, she’ll move on. At that moment, Joel’s wife Stephanie walks into the office.

Back on the Square, Ronnie goes to see Archie and lambastes him for trying to pay Joel off, but he tells her that what he does is for her own good. As Ronnie waits for Joel at the Vic, she excitedly bounds downstairs when Roxy shouts that she has a visitor. She’s shocked though to see Stephanie at the bar with her three children. She pleads, “Stay away from him, please.”

Meanwhile, Bianca’s still annoyed that Ricky ruined her date with Dr Al and asks him to see if Al will agree to another. Bianca heads to the launderette and talks to Heather about pregnancy, before spotting a ‘Two for One’ poster at the Argee Bargee. In the Vic, Ricky awkwardly broaches the subject of Al going on another date with Bianca, but Al thinks that Ricky’s asking him on date instead! Ricky quickly puts him straight but Al declines another date with Bianca because she’s ‘gobby’, which prompts Ricky to stick up for her.

Later at the Argee Bargee, Bianca’s waiting for Al and isn’t happy when Ricky turns up with the news that the doctor won’t be attending. An argument between the pair ensues, and when Ricky suggests that they have a quiet meal together, Bianca storms out.

Elsewhere, Liz finds Dot’s ‘mystery box’ in the bin and returns it to her. Later, a nurse called Leonie from Jim’s care home turns up at the launderette and tells Dot that Jim’s ready to return home, and in a tizz, Dot handcuffs herself to a shelf in the launderette.

Also, Denise and Zainab compete in the celebration stakes and Dawn’s obsessed with cost-cutting for the wedding, but she’s impressed by Garry’s dress suggestion.

Finally, Roxy and Christian have cross words when Christian tells her that she’s the most self-obsessed person he’s ever met and later, Christian invites Syed over to his flat.

On Tuesday, Bianca wanders past the launderette and sees Dot inside, handcuffed to a shelf. Inside, Bianca searches for a key but Dot insists that there’s no point in looking as she has it. She passes the mystery box to Bianca and reveals that it’s a retirement present.

An emotional Dot breaks down at the thought of retiring and tells Bianca that she doesn’t want to leave. In the Vic, Ronnie throws everyone out and closes up when Roxy makes a remark about her. As she stares at her phone and Joel’s contact details, there’s a bang on the door – it’s Bianca and Dot.

Ronnie begrudgingly lets them in and an argument between Ronnie and Bianca soon breaks out as they make snide comments about each other. The final straw for Ronnie comes when Bianca mentions Danielle. With that, Ronnie slaps her and a catfight ensues. Dot returns from the ladies’ and announces that she wants to be left alone, before returning to the launderette.

Later, Dot’s looking at pictures of Jim, Ethel and Pauline, while Ronnie and Bianca continue to argue in the Vic. Bianca soon apologises to Ronnie and reveals that she once lost a child, a baby daughter called Natasha. Ronnie goes on to ask about Ricky and whether they snuggle up together at night, but Bianca insists that he’s ‘just Ricky’.

Ronnie goes upstairs while Bianca helps herself to a drink. She heads across to the jukebox and puts on a song which she and Ricky danced to at their wedding. When she looks at Ronnie’s mobile, she sees it’s full of messages from Joel. When Ronnie returns, the conversation turns to Joel and Ronnie reveals that he’s Danielle’s father.

Ronnie and Bianca continue to discuss who they’d ‘marry, kiss or push off a cliff’ before talk turns to Ronnie’s usual black attire and Bianca’s jacket. Dot returns to the Vic and shows them her retirement clock, telling them that ‘the older you get, the faster it goes’. She also tells Ronnie and Bianca that they remind her of Ethel and Pauline. When Dot disappears again, Bianca breaks down and admits to Ronnie that she let the best thing that ever happened to her slip through her fingers and it’s only ever been about Ricky. Bianca leaves, resolute on coming clean with Ricky, while Ronnie deletes all of Joel’s messages.

Returning home, Bianca’s puzzled to find a note that reads, “Had to go away. Tell Liam I’ll call him. Ricky”. Ronnie goes to Joel’s house and gives him an ultimatum; “If you love me, you’ll come home with me tonight”. And Dot calls Mr Papadopolous to say that she has no intention of retiring and that she’ll be working her normal hours.

On Thursday, it’s A-level results days for Tamwar and Libby. Denise and Zainab are excited and when Tamwar wakes, he’s ushered out of the house to be shown his present – it’s a car. Tamwar initially asks his mother not to go with him to get his results, but he eventually relents and agrees that she can.

Denise and Zainab wait patiently for their children to emerge with their results, and when they do, Libby’s ecstatic that she’s made her grades but Tamwar’s not so happy. Back at home, Tamwar’s uncomfortable as his family fuss about his party. Over at the Fox household, everyone’s happily getting ready for their meal at Fargo’s – until Trina turns up. Denise is incredulous and asks Lucas to get rid of her. He’s suspicious that she’s on drugs again because of her strange behaviour.

At Fargo’s, the Foxes and Masoods are sitting at adjoining tables and everyone urges Libby to make a speech. However, she only says ‘thank you’, which prompts Chelsea to say some heart-warming words about Denise. Zainab’s moved by Chelsea’s speech and she tells Denise that she’s done a marvellous job raising her children. As Zainab walks away, she stumbles slightly. Back at home after the meal, Masood finds Zainab in the kitchen crying that all of her children have left or are about to leave home.

Meanwhile, Liz tells Dot that she’s concerned about her first day on Ian’s stall, however, they’re interrupted by a phone call from Jim’s nursing home asking if they can check the grab rails. Dotty overhears and is excited at the prospect of her granddad returning home. Over tea, Dot tells Liz that Jim’s return may not even happen, so she’s fine staying at the house. When Dot gets home later, Liz announces that she has a visitor who greets her with a smile – Jim’s home.

Elsewhere, Ronnie tells Joel to ignore Roxy’s standoffish behaviour but Roxy confronts Ronnie about her actions and reminds her that she’s splitting up a family. In her temper, she also tells Joel to ask Ronnie about Danielle. This prompts Ronnie to finally tell Joel the truth about their daughter. Knowing how painful it is for her sister, Roxy apologises but at the same time, suggests that Ronnie doesn’t actually love Joel.

Also, Christian reveals to Syed that the police have caught Luke, the man who attacked him. Syed then tells Christian that he’ll spend the night with him if he braves going out, so Christian gets up the nerve for a trip to the Minute Mart, but scrambles back inside when he nears his flat.

Finally, Roxy meets with Dr Al again and Bianca’s confused when Dawn reveals that Ricky’s away because he’s “doing a job” for Phil.

On Friday, Minty’s surprised to find Garry sleeping on the sofa, but Garry insists that he’s merely saving himself for his wedding night. Later, Garry and Minty discuss the stag night but Minty’s frustrated to see Dawn and Phil laughing and joking together. Minty asks Dawn what they were laughing at and an angry Dawn claims she was talking about her future with Garry, before storming off. Minty asks Phil whether he and Dawn are “back on”, but Phil tells him to mind his own business. In the launderette, Garry manages to take the pink fluffy handcuffs.

Returning to the Arches, Garry handcuffs Minty and Phil together until they discuss the stag night. While locked together, Minty asks Phil if Dawn dumped him, before commenting that the best man won. Once inside the Vic, Minty continues to taunt Phil about Dawn’s choice, but Phil snaps and admits that she actually chose him but he didn’t want her.

Meanwhile, Dot’s thrilled that Jim’s back home and tells Liz that she’s more than welcome to stay on the sofa. Heading out, Dot tells Jim that he only has to call her if he needs anything. With Dot out, Liz tells Jim that she’ll “make the call” for him. Patrick soon arrives at the house with some cans of beer and dominoes for the three of them. Dot returns to find Liz and Jim drinking and playing dominoes and talks to them in the kitchen. Dot asks Liz to pack her bags but Patrick shows her the middle room downstairs which now has two single beds so that Jim and Dot can share. Later, Jim agrees that Liz can now stay in Dot’s old room.

Elsewhere, Bianca asks Phil where Ricky’s gone when the kids question her as to Ricky’s whereabouts. Her mood is improved later though when Ian gives her a week off.

Also, Zainab hears Masood talking to someone on the phone in Urdu and Tamwar tries to tell his mother something, but finds her too distracted to listen. Later, Zainab turns up at Christian’s flat, much to Syed’s horror, and everyone’s worried about her when she has a funny turn in the Masala Queen unit. But with Christian now back at work, Masood feels he can reveal his travelling plans to Zainab.