Nick Tilsley’s vertebrae are feeling the strain caused by him sleeping on a lilo at the Platts. He’s staying in Max Turner’s room, although Nick points out to Shona Platt and Sarah Barlow that it was his room before it was Max’s. Sarah jokes that Nick will soon be decorating the room with his old Pamela Anderson posters. Nick tries to equalise the embarrassment levels by naming and shaming Sarah’s youthful obsession with Nineties boybands, particularly Bad Boys Inc. Unabashed, Sarah spots a spruced-up Beth Sutherland and asks why she’s looking so glam. Beth tells her she’s going to meet her sister. After Sarah has left, Glenda Shuttleworth sidles over to Beth and says: ‘Chinny reckon.’ Beth doesn’t catch the reference, so Glenda explains it was an old playground expression to signify someone was telling porkies. ‘Something to do with that football bloke, Jimmy Hill,’ adds Glenda, for further clarification.
Beth’s true intent is to meet up with her ex Marco Sweeney, but she’s getting cold feet. Later, she goes to The Rovers to seek Glenda’s advice. Suddenly, the pub jukebox starts playing Love Action by The Human Action – which was Beth and Marco’s special song – and Beth is convinced it’s a divine sign (she selectively ignores the line in Love Action that expressly states ‘there’s no Lord above’).
As Beth and Marco drink wine at the Viaduct Bistro, he digs out the rare Human League 12-inch vinyl single she lent him years ago. Beth is so overwhelmed she has to fan herself with the record. The evening goes well and on her way home Beth stops off at The Corner Shop, where Asha Alahan gives her approval to the Human League disc. Shona is surprised that the teenager knows The Human League. Asha explains that Nina Lucas likes ‘a lot of 80s synth stuff, alongside death metal and wibbly piano and harp music’. There’s no mention of Bad Boys Inc, though.
Coronation Street episode 10900/01. Originally aired 13th March 2023.
