Episode 2 (6th September 2022)

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Episode 2 | 6th September 2022 (Tuesday, 19:30-20:00)

 * REAL-TIME PUBLICATION: 1st October 2021 (Friday)
 * SYNOPSIS: Keeley returns to town with Saffron. Phoebe is acting up and nobody knows why. Rob opines about Vanessa's motives

Plot
This episode introduces four new regular characters to the audience, although two of the characters themselves are already established members of the local community, whilst the other two are former members of the community who are returning to it. The episode picks up where the previous episode left off, in which Graham Archer informed the CEO of Leicester St. Mary's in his office that, following an anonymous supercomplaint, Martin is being suspended immediately by the health trust pending the outcome of an investigation. Graham asks Martin if he can shed some light on why this situation may have come about, and we learn that Martin's estranged wife, Jacqui, left him recently, though when exactly is unspecified. Martin wonders if he could just take some time off, even if it is an extended break, and then come back afresh. But Graham insists it is too late for that now. Martin asks if he can at least work until the end of the day so he can tie up a few loose ends. Graham agrees, as long as Martin immediately begins to delegate his responsibilities to his deputy, Vanessa Warren, who will become acting CEO in his absence. However, a disenchated Martin feels there is no coming back from this situation, and informs a sympathetic Graham that he will have his resignation by the end of the day. Martin later informs a stunned Vanessa about what is happening, though she notices he is now drunk. At the end of their conversation, he drunkenly tells Vanessa he is done, and leaves her to it. At home later, Vanessa's husband Rob Warren is comically cyncial about her motives, telling her now is the chance she has long waited for to go for CEO. Vanessa coyly tries to be philosophical about it, but when she admits she will have to work very hard to secure the role, she inadvertently reveals her true intentions. Elsewhere, friends Danielle Parfitt, Liam Hardacre, and twins Phoebe Donnelly and Ruby Donnelly, meet up in the morning for hot drinks outside Doyle's. The twins apologise for not being able to go to the cinema later with the others, as their mother Maxine Donnelly has booked them both an eye test and insists they go. Liam says it is fine and they can go another day. Coyly, Liam and Ruby then use the opportunity to tell the others that they have secretly been dating for a couple of weeks. Danielle thinks this is cute, however Phoebe reacts badly to her twin keeping it secret from her, and skulks off with her drink into the caf&eacute;. Ruby insists they let her sulk, but promises to sort it out later. Liam then also mentions about his and Danielle's adoptive parents Glen Wright and Lisa Wright plans to foster a third teenager. However, Danielle makes it clear she does not want to talk about it. Later, Phil Donnelly finds daughter Phoebe in Linford Park, and asks why she is not herself lately. Phoebe reveals her insecurities about becoming more and more different to twin sister Ruby. Phil reassures her that they do not have to be the same, but can still have a common bond; she does not have to be afraid of being her own person, or of living in Ruby's shadow. Meanwhile, after a spell away from Middlehampton, Keeley Archer and her 10yo daughter Saffron Archer return to meet up with Keeley's best friend, nurse Rosy Lyons at The Moonshine Inn. There, Keeley informs Rosy that she and her boyfriend, Mariusz, have broken up because she found him in bed with another woman, and now he has kicked them out. Keeley then asks if there are any spare bedrooms going at the sharehouse where Rosy lives. Rosy says two are going spare so her landlord, Rob, will no doubt welcome new tenants. However, she wonders why Keeley can't just move back to her family home. Keeley claims there is only room for either her or Saffron, but not both. So Saffron would temporarily live at the Archer family home whilst Keeley lives in the sharehouse, until she can find a flat of her own. Certain elements of Keeley's explanation do not seem to quite add up, but given her flaky nature, Rosy just plays along with it. She agrees to talk to Rob about it, before returning to work and leaving Keeley to it. Keeley thanks her but once Rosy has left, it is obvious that there is more to the situation than Keeley is saying. Later, Rob talks to Rosy offscreen on the phone, and agrees to let a room to Keeley.

Regular Cast

 * Danielle Parfitt (Eleanor Worthington-Cox)
 * Graham Archer (Martyn Spendlove)
 * Jason Warren (John Partridge)
 * Keeley Archer (Alice Barlow)
 * Liam Hardacre (Malique Thompson-Dwyer)
 * Lisa Wright (Anna Acton)
 * Liz Doyle Lysette Anthony)
 * Martin Rogers (Victor Gardener)
 * Maxine Donnelly (Denise Welch)
 * Phil Donnelly (David Crellin)
 * Phoebe Donnelly (Leah Barnes)
 * Rob Warren (Stephen Harakis)
 * Ruby Donnelly (Chloe Barnes)
 * Vanessa Warren (Anna Passey)

Recurring Cast

 * Saffron Archer (Eva Marriott)

Guest Cast

 * Belinda Jameson (uncredited)

Locations (in order of appearance)

 * Leicester St. Mary's, interior - CEO's office
 * Doyle's, exterior
 * The Wrights home, interior - living room
 * The Moonshine Inn, exterior
 * Unidentified opticians, interior - waiting area
 * The Moonshine Inn, interior - bar
 * Linford Park - bench
 * The Warrens (elder) home, interior - kitchen

Notes & Trivia

 * First appearance of Jason Warren and Saffron Archer

September 2022
• 5th Sep • 6th Sep • 7th Sep • 8th Sep • 12th Sep • 13th Sep • 14th Sep • 15th Sep • 19th Sep • 20th Sep • 21st Sep • 22nd Sep • 26th Sep • 27th Sep • 28th Sep • 29th Sep