On Monday, Mark wakes in his hotel room only to find Natasha’s gone. He finds her enjoying breakfast and is shocked when – after she notices a call from Faye on his mobile – she throws his phone into a pot of coffee. Mark declares that he sees no way to escape from Faye and that Natasha should divorce him if they can’t mend their marital problems.

Natasha’s shocked by his announcement but states that he may not be worth fighting for anyway. They head home and confront the children, ready to explain that they’re getting a divorce, but Natasha backtracks at the last minute. She tells Mark that she’s decided the only way to make their relationship work is to get rid of Faye and Ryan once and for all. Can the Wyldes unite to silence Faye?

Meanwhile, the doctor tells Lexi at her follow up session that her remaining fallopian tube is damaged and therefore there’s no chance she’ll ever be able to conceive naturally. Lexi returns home and dissolves into floods of tears as her world falls apart around her. Carl gets home from work eager for news and Lexi lies that she was given the all clear.

Carl’s awkward when Lexi tells him there’s no time like the present to start trying for another baby. Despite reservations from Jimmy and Nicola, Lexi vows to give Carl a child no matter what. Will Carl be honest with his wife that he doesn’t want children?

Elsewhere, Gennie’s pride has been sorely wounded by her failed attempt at internet dating. Jamie tries to encourage Gennie to go back to the dating site by rewriting her profile. He reckons that the new profile will bring lots of admirers but Gennie isn’t so sure. When Brenda expresses her fears that the internet is full of weirdos and perverts, Gennie snaps and tells Jamie his experiment is over. Gennie complains that any man she meets will think the same as her other date and her only option is to wait and see if Mr Right finds her the traditional way. Can Gennie find happiness?

On Tuesday, Faye’s shocked when Natasha and Mark arrive and insist she leaves the area but Faye tells Natasha that no amount of money will convince her to leave. Realising Natasha’s worried for her marriage, Faye reminds her that Mark has a son and they’ll always have a bond. Getting nowhere fast, Natasha asks Faye how she would cope with a life behind bars and Mark confirms that he would be willing to go to prison to prove Faye was in on his ‘disappearance’.

Natasha tells Faye that they’ll set her up for life if she leaves and has nothing to do with them ever again. Faye’s still clinging on to the hope that Mark’s being manipulated by Natasha and pleads with him to think of Ryan. Natasha seizes the moment and explains that if she accepts money from them, then Ryan won’t have to join the army. Faye finally explodes and orders them to get out.

On their way out they come face-to-face with Ryan who’s confused and disgusted with Mark for bringing his wife to Faye’s home. Ryan storms off but when Mark defends his son’s anger, Natasha slaps him and reminds Mark that she blames him entirely for their problems. Natasha’s soon relieved though when Faye takes the money and goes. Can the Wylde family get back to normal?

Meanwhile, Nicola can’t believe it when Lexi admits that she can no longer have kids. A distraught Lexi goes on to explain that she can no longer give Carl a perfect life and Nicola realises she hasn’t told him yet. Nicola says that she has to be straight with him, so Lexi visits Carl and work and tearfully comes clean. Carl comforts her but when he fails to show a shred of emotion, Lexi erupts and blames herself for ruining their lives.

Scarlett witnesses the exchange and shares her sister’s despair while Carl feels totally inadequate. Carl leaves to talk to Jimmy who can’t help but criticise his brother’s lack of compassion. Jimmy advises him to let things calm down and then admit his true feelings to Lexi. Will Carl carry on his charade with Lexi?

Also, Pollard’s spirits are lifted when planning permission for his funeral parlour is approved, though Val reminds him that they still have to defeat David‘s opposition. When he visits the old factory site, Lisa asks whether his new venture will result in the closure of Pollard and Pollard’s Interiors and his answer fails to provide her with any comfort. She informs her factory colleagues about the situation and they all fear for their future.

Later, David tells Pollard that he sees no point in pursuing a business plan which could jeopardise both his health and financial wellbeing. Pollard’s thoughtful and later announces to the factory staff that he’s abandoned the funeral parlour idea, however, he also secretly proceeds to make a call about having his factory business liquidated. What is Pollard planning?

On Wednesday, Mark’s hopeful when Natasha tells him that Faye took the money. However, his mood is soon dampened when Natasha rejects his offer to take her for dinner. When the key to Faye’s apartment arrive in the post, Natasha goes to the flat to check she’s really gone. Natasha and Mark are glad to see Faye has gone but it’s clear that it’ll be a long time before their relationship is on the mend. Natasha confesses that she saw Mark’s affection for Ryan the previous day and worries that they’ll always have one foot in his past life. Mark begs her to see past his mistakes but she can’t and tells Mark she’s going away to clear her head. Will Natasha give up on her marriage?

Elsewhere, Lexi explains to Scarlett that IVF is her only chance of having kids. Scarlett suggests that she go for it believing that Carl would do anything to support her. When he arrives home Lexi broaches the subject and asks for his opinion, Carl hesitates. Lexi senses a problem and wrongly assumes he’s worried that IVF will fail. She tries to convince him they can do it together, but will Carl tell her the real reason for his anxiety?

Meanwhile, Pollard’s feeling guilty when, in front of his staff, the liquidation officer arrives. Pollard hesitates before the officer explains that closing down the factory will net him £10,000. The factory girls have no idea what’s happening as Pollard calls them for a meeting and he announces that the factory will close with immediate effect. As the staff sadly accept the inevitable, Pollard’s left alone to contemplate the end of his shattered business. Val’s furious to find out from the factory workforce that Pollard has closed down the factory for good, but cools her anger when she sees how fed up he is. Can Pollard rise from the ashes?

On Thursday, Val schemes when Pollard tells her he’s earned no money from the factory closure. So, Val conspires with Lisa to get the Dingle’s to rob the factory so she and Pollard can claim on the insurance. She arranges a dinner party so Pollard is preoccupied for the evening and the Dingles get the go ahead from Val to break into the factory as planned. However, Val’s guests decide to leave early to escape the culinary nightmare she’s prepared and in desperation, Val rushes the pudding through in order to keep Pollard exactly where she wants him.

Back at the factory, the Dingles are startled when David and Leyla arrive for some adventurous late night passion, but they luckily decide to take their liaison elsewhere. Val gets the all clear from the Dingles and tells a mystified Pollard that everything’s going to be ok. Will Pollard discover what she’s done?

Meanwhile, Mark’s hurt to find out that Natasha’s leaving on holiday sooner than he thought. Nathan’s concerned to witness the unease at Home Farm and tells Maisie about the holiday. Taking the opportunity, Maisie corners her mother and tells her she’s coming on the holiday too. Maisie excitedly breaks the news to Mark who is grimly resigned to being abandoned by his wife. Will Natasha return from holiday with a new outlook on her marriage?

Elsewhere, Lexi’s problems are compounded when she learns she’s lost her job. Back home, Carl is quietly discomfited when Lexi shares the IVF news with Scarlett, and, desperate to buy himself time, Carl asks Lexi not to tell anyone they are looking into IVF. Jimmy pours scorn on Carl’s latest capitulation and urges him to tell Lexi the truth before it’s too late. Will Carl swallow his fears and be straight with Lexi?

On Friday, Pollard arranges to meet the liquidation officer at the factory to dispose of the equipment. A wary Val accompanies him and tries to cover her complicity when Pollard discovers he’s been robbed. Pollard goes ballistic and Val questions why as he’d told her the equipment was of minimal value. Val tries to raise his spirits by suggesting they can make an insurance claim, but he reminds her that he was refused a claim after the factory fire and his chances of succeeding this time are zero.

As Val tries to put a gloss on the situation, Pollard sees through her and Val admits what she’s done. Pollard tells Val she has scuppered his liquidation plans as the equipment was really worth £10,000 and he’s now lost everything. Has Val condemned her husband to the financial wilderness?

Meanwhile, Bob’s unnerved to still sense a frisson between him and Gennie. Jamie arrives to give Bob a letter from Viv, but he refuses to open it but when Terry hears about the letter, he marches round to make Bob open it. The letter asks for Bob to visit the following day but Bob questions the formal tone of the letter and confesses that he fears Viv wants to see him to tell him their relationship is over. Will Bob ignore his fears and come face-to-face with his wife?

Elsewhere, Nicola does her best to avoid going to the antenatal class by staying late at the farm shop opening. Jimmy finally drags her away from her work and they’re greeted by a sickly sweet group leader. Jimmy turns on the charm with the other prospective parents but ends up insulting Nicola by imparting the grisly details of her pregnancy. Jimmy throws himself into the class and proves to be a much better pupil than Nicola who storms out in a huff. Nicola tells him she won’t be coming again. Can Jimmy overcome the latest obstacle in Nicola’s nightmare pregnancy?