Hazel tries to persuade Rod to squat in Colin's empty flat, Pauline tries to recuperate from her operation, while Trevor eagerly looks forward to his date with Shireen.

Rob Gittins

Mervyn Cumming

Michael Ferguson

Season 5

It's Diane's 16th birthday and her family are planning a surprise party for her. Pete meets Barbara for lunch in the Vic and finds she has invited Kathy and Laurie to join them.

What has become of Diane Butcher? Frank is determined to find her.

Michelle waits for word from Danny. Frank returns from his search for Diane to a family desperate for news.

There's turmoil in the Butcher family following the disappearance of Diane, and Frank is only making matters worse. Sharon decides it's time for some straight talking...

The Beales are waiting to celebrate the homecoming of Cindy's baby - and Wicksy is waiting, too, no longer sure that he can live with the lie that the baby is Ian's.

While proud parents Ian and Cindy are centre stage, will Wicksy find out who knows his guilty secret? Arthur and Pauline's shopping plans are disrupted by an unwelcome visitor - and who is the mysterious stranger who has returned to the Square?

Frank returns from finding out his legal rights regarding Diane. Meanwhile, Danny is back and staying at Michelle's - and her family's having none of it

Ricky has to go to court today - and he wants his father with him. Kathy decides it is time to stand up to Laurie and have her say.

Danny receives an ultimatum. Who will he choose - Michelle or his family?

Sharon has had enough of Simon's suspicious behaviour. Marge has something to tell Dot, and Dot has something to tell Marge.

Danny is determined to leave Albert Square, but who will he take with him - his wife, or Michelle?

Michelle must confront family and friends with the news of her move to Newcastle, but Danny seems to have other things on his mind.

Pauline tries to warn Michelle not to trust Danny, but can Michelle be swayed? Cindy is planning baby Steven's christening and Sharon notices Wicksy's special interest.

Michelle and Danny are all packed and ready to leave. Wicksy is stressed and turns to drinking - he is to be the Godfather at baby Steven's christening.

Danny's going to Newcastle - but will Michelle go with him? Two new arrivals seem set to cause trouble, and there's a vital development in the search for Diane.

Rod makes an exciting decision, but can he face telling Dot? Arthur tackles the Mitchell brothers, while Michelle, still missing Danny, finds an unwelcome visitor on her doorstep.

Frank scours cardboard city looking for Diane, while Trevor and Paul plan for the future and Cindy prepares a surprise for Ian's 21st birthday.

Pat has booked the Butchers in for family therapy, but there's no way Frank will allow her to wash their dirty linen in public.

Blood is thicker than water, and business is business - but that won't help Grant when he mixes business with pleasure and tangles with Julie Cooper.

Dot awaits the arrival of the morning's Gazette to see if she's won a prize. Cindy has great news for Ian - she's received a letter from Colin, agreeing to let his flat to them.

Julie has one day left to find a buyer for the shop, while Pete has to make some tough decisions about the future, and Ian is off to get a bank loan.

Now £10,000 richer, Dot is in for a less welcome surprise. Meanwhile, Pat is delighted to be making some progress with Janine.

There's chaos in Albert Square as the Mitchell boys decide the market must move - stall by stall. Meanwhile, in the Butcher household there's news at last from Diane.

While Frank waits anxiously at King's Cross station for Diane to turn up, she is reliving the memories of her three months away from the Square.

There is an emotional reunion between Frank and his daughter, but it soon becomes clear that she's a different person from the Diane who ran away.

Wicksy helps Cindy to decorate, while an unwanted statue of Diane stretches Frank's patience.

If Nick Cotton believed he could walk back into Albert Square and get away with it, there's a number of people ready to put him right.

The day has arrived when Shireen gets to meet the man her parents want her to marry. Meanwhile, Cindy is with the man she should have married.

Nick takes an interest in Dot's diet, while Arthur makes a strange discovery down on the allotments. Sharon also makes a disturbing discovery.

The past comes back to haunt both Sharon and Michelle, and prompts the police to search a local canal.

Dot doesn't seem to be feeling the benefit of Nick's cooking, while Frank is determined to track down the man who has a hold over his daughter.

Pauline and Arthur are not prepared to let bygones be bygones, and when Michelle is left to organise the funeral, a conflict looms in the Fowler household.

Den Watts is buried, but will the most important mourner be present at the funeral? Meanwhile, Nick Cotton gets an unwelcome blast from the past.

Diane has to decide whether or not to leave Taylor once and for all.

Will Shireen bury her differences with Ashraf and meet her husband-to-be?

Tensions between Sharon and Wicksy are growing. Ian plans an intimate birthday party for Cindy.

Dot decides to change her will, and Kathy ends up spending the evening with Cindy.

Shireen's romance blossoms despite her father's affair. Sharon decides to get to know Cindy better.

Ethel reappears in the Square, determined to catch up on gossip, but Dot's news fills her with fear for her friend's life.

Born-again Nick Cotton finds himself under investigation from Ethel Skinner - but Dot cannot decide if her son is truly a reformed character or the worst thing since Dr Crippen.

Sharon comes close to finding her mother. Dot hasn't been seen for days.

The police visit Dot, threatening to scupper Nick's plans. And Ashraf's infidelity finally lands him in big trouble

A visit from Jabbar's father leaves Ashraf with some bad news for Shireen, while Sharon tackles Simon on the subject of marriage.

Shireen is determined to discover the secret behind her broken engagement. Charlie Cotton looks for evidence against Nick but is shocked to find it has been eaten.

Sharon and Wicksy's future hangs in the balance and, if Charlie Cotton is right, so does Dot's life.

Dot and Nick settle down for a special meal. Will it be their last?

Wicksy waits to hear from the brewery, Sharon sets off to find her real mother, Stuart Kendle wants to discuss the market with Pete, and Pat is concerned about Wicksy.

The Karims leave Walford, but there's a spark of hope for Shireen and Jabbar's future. Wicksy extracts a confession from Cindy.

Michelle's slippery boss offers Ian a bribe, while Janine gives Pat a bad scare. Meanwhile, Sharon prepares to meet her mother.

Pat decides to teach her family a lesson. Pete receives bad news from Michelle, Kathy is shocked when she overhears a private conversation, and Sharon sets off to meet her mother.

Kathy overhears a private conservation and is determined to find out the truth about Cindy and Wicksy.

The Tavernier family move into Albert Square and right into the middle of a pitched battle between residents and developers.

Are the market traders celebrating too early? A surprise visitor leaves Sharon with a dilemma.

Frank and Pat make preparations to hand over the Queen Vic. Cindy is touched by Ian's generosity.

Wicksy walks out of the Square - can he persuade Cindy to leave Ian and come with him? Frank senses the strain Pat's under but she faces a dilemma when Sharon and then Cindy visit.

Diane decides it's time to brighten up the Square, especially the part that belongs to her dad.

While Pat and Frank are on holiday, havoc reigns at the bed and breakfast.

It's crunch time for Cindy and Ian. Ricky and Diane discover something very serious about Mo.

Michelle gives the Mitchell brothers the lowdown on the council offices. All they have to do now is get the lowdown on Stuart Kendle.

Almost everyone knows about Wicksy and Cindy - except Ian. Cindy decides it's time to tell him.

Ian is shattered by Cindy's confession. How will his family cope with the situation?

Ian's supportive family comes to his aid. Pete considers an offer from Phil, and Michelle prepares to confront Stuart. Grandad Jules arranges a special dinner and a mystery guest.

Michelle is determined to bring Stuart Kendle to justice.

Ian is not going to let go of Cindy and Steven without a fight, but Cindy is still set on breaking free.

Michelle gets a letter from Newcastle and an unexpected visitor. Pat has some advice for Wicksy, and Sam has a suggestion for Ricky.

How will the Fowlers cope with a face from the past? How will Ricky cope on his first date with Sam?

Ricky has a secret - her name is Sam Mitchell, she's 15, and she's spending the night in his bedroom. The Mitchell brothers are not amused.

Nobody knows why Mark Fowler has come home. But Pauline is determined not to let him go. Diane gets her exam results.

It's Martin's first day at school, but the Fowlers have other things on their minds. It's back to school too for Lloyd and Hattie, while Wicksy is making secret plans.

Pete talks to Ian and learns the truth about Steven. Frank finds Mo's behaviour difficult to accept but is cheered by Diane's decision about her future. Michelle is closer to finding Mark.

Simon and Cindy are determined to enjoy a holiday in Devon. Meanwhile, Ian is finally preparing to leave hospital, Mo's condition gets worse and Sam stands up to her brothers over Ricky.

While in Devon, Wicksy and Cindy discuss their future, unaware that Ian is on his way to see them both. After Mo's outburst, Pat is determined that Frank should see some sense.

Cindy and Wicksy return from Devon to find Pete hell-bent on revenge.

Arthur plans a surprise for Pauline for their Silver Wedding, while she hopes Mark will return in time. News of Wicksy and Cindy's return causes rifts between the Butchers and the Beales.

Ian is determined to rid his life of the last traces of Cindy and Steven.

Mark's mysterious reasons for coming home provoke a conflict in the Fowler household, while Pete decides its time to take his unhappy son in hand.

Kathy is back from holiday and in fighting form, but Ian has ideas of his own. Eddie has romance on his mind and a crisis occurs at Mo's flat.

Mark is the hero of the hour, but will Mo be alright?

Pauline and Arthur return from their second honeymoon to a surprise reunion with Mark. Eddie finds he's involved in a Butcher-Beale feud. Clyde is suspicious of Lloyd's disappearance.

Lloyd is still exerting himself on his newspaper round and Hattie is concerned for him. Cindy tells Wicksy that her parents know about them, and that their gun is missing.

The police are looking for a missing shotgun. Cindy suspects she knows who has it. Phil and Grant settle into their new flat and sister Sam is still seeing Ricky behind their backs.

Frank faces a tough decision about Mo's future and Sam throws a party in Ricky's van.

Mark tries to prove to Arthur that the Mitchell brothers are up to no good.

Ian asks Kath and Pete out for a meal in the hope that they'll help him make the right decision over Steven. However, Pete hopes that there might be a chance for a reconciliation.

Can Arthur save Mark from facing criminal charges? And can Jules protect John from his debtors?

It's bonfire night in Albert Square, but Jules and John have a poker game on their mind. Sharon makes a decision about her mother.

If Phil doesn't take the rap, Mark will go to prison. Can Arthur persuade Phil to do the decent thing?

Diane is determined to get to know Mark Fowler better.

Eddie is the talk of the town when he receives a visit from the police. Dot is in her element fuelling the gossip among the locals about the Queen Vic's governor.

Eddie is determined to protect an old friend, but risks losing the Vic. Grant gets ready to share Sharon's flat, and decides to take her for a slap-up meal.

Mo's illness means that Frank and his sister Joan must try to get along with each other. And what is the result of Ian's blood test?

Phil persuades Arthur to try new business methods. Pauline is sceptical of the results of baby Steven's blood test. Frank is preoccupied with something at Mo's flat.

Mo wants Frank to put her out of her misery. His family worries that that's exactly where he's heading.

Time is running out for the thief in the Vic, and the finger of suspicion is already pointing at Clyde. Frank must prepare himself to part from Mo.

Eddie lays a trap and catches the thief at the Vic. But can he be sure he is firing the right person?

Wicksy is determined not to let his recent setback last long, Pete has decided to befriend Jason, despite warnings, and Ian is busier than ever, so he rewards himself with a treat.

Wicksy's search for work comes to nothing, and now he has only one offer on the table - Ian's. Cindy is even more determined to leave.

Diane returns to old haunts, searching for her friend. She must find her before it's too late.

The everyday lives of working-class residents of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough.

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