The Royal has been running since the 19th January  2003 and finished on the 2nd March with an exciting episode. The gap between the end of series one and the beginning of series two was just 12 weeks, however in that space of time the programme was really missed. On the plus side, as  the first series of The Royal was aired half way through series 12 of Heartbeat, viewers of both dramas could watch the rest of Heartbeat to ease the anticipation of waiting for the return of The Royal. After Heartbeat finished, it was within the space of a few weeks that The Royal was back at its usual primetime slot of 8pm on ITV on May 25th. The new series was back and even better starting with the episode "All At Sea".  Then on 16th November 2003 Series 3 was back for a 14 part run.

List Of All Episodes Shown:                                        
(See below For a reveiw of each episode)              

 Episode Two: "Second Time Around"    
In Episode Two, Claude seems to be getting worse, and begins to act strange which baffles the Doctors, however the Doctors aren't sure what is wrong with him, until they discover its Malaria.  Despite being ill, he gives advice to Ken and Alun about how to deal with a plague of rats that threaten to close the hospital down. 
   Meanwhile there is an accident up on the moors, involving a young couple that proves to be extremely serious and ends in tears for both mothers of the parents.  At first the young girl dies after being thrown from the motorbike they were riding and her fiancé later commits suicide to be with her.     
  Dr Gordon Ormerod has a problem on his hands; concerning a patient... he doesn't want to return home when he tells her he can.  After Matron looks in to the reason of why he doesn’t want to return home, its obvious why.   

Other Memorable Events:     
*Ken gets stuck on the roof after attempting to save the young man brought in from the motorbike accident, he saves the man but has a fear of heights, and so its up to Dr Cheriton to come to the rescue.

Songs Used:
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted – Jimmy Ruffin           
Yesterday – The Beatles
Happy Together – Turtles
Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
Melting Pot – Blue Mink
Let It Be – The Beatles
Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
Daydream – The Loving Spoonful   

                  Matron finds out just exactly why a patient does'nt want to return home

                                                                            

                                              

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Episode Four: "Sister Of Mercy"
In Episode Four, a baby is discovered outside the Hospital by Sister Bridgid, and it turns out that the mother is a young girl, who had the baby under the pier.  Sister Bridgid becomes a little too attached to the baby, which doesn't go down very well with Matron.  The father of the baby, meanwhile, doesn't want anything to do with either the mother or the baby and so the girl's father goes out to find the baby's father and when he later catches up with him and his father at the hospital it leads to an argument, where it is decided that the father to the baby must pay for its upkeep.  The argument takes place in front of some hospital Inspectors which doesn’t go down too well…
   There is an incident that happens at sea, where a Russian fishing sailor is brought in to The Royal by Dr Weatherill, suffering with acute appendicitis.  On the theme of fishing they bring some caviar ashore with them, and Claude and Ken decide that this could be a way of making some money.  The Russians offer the pair a couple of tins of caviar, which they accept and find out that it really is caviar, however its not until they decide to buy a further 100 tins to sell off for more money than they are worth.  After the "Caviar" is delivered, and Ken and Claude check it over, they find out that they have been conned and they have been given whale meat instead.  Its too late for them to do anything, since the Russians had set sail before Ken could catch them at the dock. 
   Also, the Hospital Inspectors turn up to check that the hospital is running smoothly, but are greeted by a row taking place with the two granddads of the newborn baby, which doesn't go in the hospital's favour, and then a further problem is added to the list, when the Inspectors and the staff find out that Dr Weatherill has bent the rules in order to allow an elderly woman to stay in hospital, so she can be with her husband.    And to further add complications to the Inspectors list that could cause the closure of the hospital, the tins of whale meat  are found laying on the hospital floor!
   Could this be the end for the Hospital? Mr Middleditch tells Dr Ormerod that it isn't looking too good according to the Inspectors.  On the plus side, the Inspectors said that they will be coming back and they want to see an improvement- if not then it really could be the end.

Other Memorable Events:
*David Cheriton asks Meryl Taylor out on a date during an operation and she accepts.

Songs Used:

The Mighty Quinn - Manfred Man

Tom Hark - The Piranha's

I cant help myself - The Four Tops

Voice in Wilderness - Cliff Richard

Yesterday's Dream - The Four Tops

The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling groovy) - Simon and Garfunkel

We wont get fooled again - The Who

Carrie Anne - The Hollies

Nowhere to run to - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Liquidator - Harry J Allstars
Handbags And Gladrags - Chris Fallow
Other Side - ?
The warmth of the sun - The Beach Boys
Return of Django -  The Upsetters

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Episode Five: "Immediate Care"
In Episode Five, a young girl who is ill comes in to the hospital for test but it is discovered that she has leukaemia.  As she doesn’t have long left to live her fiancée proposes and they marry in the hospital after a lot of organising from Matron and Sister Bridget.
   Meanwhile an injured jockey is brought in to the hospital for treatment, and he is placed in a bed beside Claude. Due to the fact that the jockey is quite well known, because of his excellent skill, Claude thinks that he could help him out with a racing tip, but the tip the jockey gives Claude, isn’t as what he expected.
    Also Ken organises a fund in which all the proceeds go towards buying an Immediate Care Kit.  Everyone buys a ticket for the chance to win a massive cuddly toy, but just before the draw Ken swaps some tickets around and fixes the draw so Claude wins the toy which he doesn’t want.  Ken fixes the draw to get his own back on Claude for not letting him on in  a betting scam that Claude and Bernie Scripps (Heartbeat) were running. 
   

Other Memorable Events:
*David and Meryl’s relationship goes a step further.
*Dr Ormerod is called to rescue and help a man stuck underneath a railway track but is angry at the lack of facilities he can take out on call with him.  

Songs Used:
 Keep on running - Spencer Davis Group
Kite - Simon Dupreet and The Big Sound
Spirit in the Sky - think it Norma Greenbaum rather than Dr + Medics
The sun ain't gonna shine anymore - Walker Brothers
This old Heart of mine - Isley Brothers
Mr Tambourine Man - The Byrds
Dedicated to the one I love - The Mamas and Papas
I fought the Law - Bobby Fuller
Here I go again - The Hollies
The Look of Love - Dusty Springfield
Gambling Man - Lonnie Donegan 
Baby scratch my back - Slim Harpo      
Probe your mind - Junior Wallers And The Allstars
Phoniex City - Ronaldo Alphasono                       
Stay with me baby - The Walker Brothers
Gamblin Man - Lonnie Donegan
                                                             

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Episode Six: "Kiss And Tell"
In Episode Six, Mr Middleditch learns that the Hospital is set to close, so he has to keep the news away from the staff, however rumours soon start to circulate, as the staff realise for themselves that after the Inspection turned out to be a disaster, they assume that the Hospital will close. 
   However, help is at hand, when Dr Weatherill brings a patient in to hospital after being injured by some glass in his garden, who is a retired Lawyer.  Mr Middleditch realises that this man could help the Hospital out, so asks him to have a look at the Hospital plans as a last chance to keep St. Aidan's open.  After the Lawyer has read the plans, it turns out that despite what the Inspectors say, the Hospital will always remain open.  St Aidan's Royal Free is saved!
   Meanwhile, after the staff learn that the Hospital is saved, they all attend David Cheriton's house warming party, and have a really good time.  Lizzie gets a little tipsy and ends up falling asleep in David's bed, so he ends up sleeping on the sofa.  It isn't until the morning when Meryl sees Lizzie leave David's room that she assumes the two of them have spent the night together.  David has a lot of explaining to do to the over-reactant Meryl.
   The day after the party, Gordon goes to see Jill in her Office, who wants to talk to her about his problems at home.  Naturally, the two start to talk, and isn't long before Gordon tells Jill he is fond of her. Thinking that Gordon means it in the friendly sense, Jill tells Gordon she is fond of him too, however Gordon has to repeat himself and tell Jill how he really feels about her, before leaning forward and kissing her.  A stunned Jill doesn’t know what to do, as Gordon is a married, so runs out of the room, leaving Gordon even more confused about his feelings towards her.  
   
Other Memorable Events:
*A young boy is brought in to the hospital with asthma and has to be treated.

Songs Used:
Matthew and Son - Cat Stevens
Air on G string (Hamlet Cigar tune) - The Jaques Loussier Trio
Itchycoo Park - Small Faces
Hippy Hippy Shake - Swinging Blue Jeans
Albatross - Fleetwood Mac
Moonchild - Vincent Gallo
SleepWalk - The Shadows
Rumours, Gossip, Words Untrue - The Swinging Blue Jeans
Jolity Farm - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix


Jill makes amends by helping to save the hospital, and emotions are running high between Jill and Gordon.

                           
                                                                     

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 Episode Seven: "Crash"
In Episode Seven, it’s a few days after the night before.  Gordon has to attend a bus crash with Jill, and there is friction between them, but Jill tells him not to worry about the kiss.  Also David and Meryl are all right with each other, after the misunderstanding.  
   After getting to the scene of the accident, Gordon and Jill get to work, and start to help everyone on the bus, however its not until the fire brigade find one last casualty that Jill  notices that its Caroline, Gordon’s wife.  Gordon is a little shocked at why she was on the bus, but he doesn't have time to think of a plausible reason, as he has to take Caroline to hospital, since her injuries are so bad.  It turns out that her injuries are quite bad, that she has to be transferred to Ashfordly General.  Gordon puzzles at why she was on the bus, and wants to know why she didn't arrange to have the children picked up.  It does become apparent, that she must have been on the bus because she was leaving him. This reason is backed up by the fact that she had a suitcase of belongings with her, however Gordon doesn't realise this. 
                             
Other Memorable Events:
*Its Dr Alway’s leaving party however because of the accident he is drafted in to help.
*Claude is back at The Royal after becoming ill again.
*Mr Hussey from The DHA (District Health Authority) turns up to organise the hospital and makes everyone wear name tags.  Mr Rose has other ideas though…

Songs Used:

I'm into Something Good - Hermans Hermits

I'm the Urban Spaceman - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band

River Man - Nick Drake

A little Help from my friend - Joe Cocker

Crying Game - Dave Berry

Um, Um, Um, Um - Wayne Fontana and the Mind benders
Cherry pink and apple blossom - Louiguy
You, you're driving me crazy - The Temprance Seven
Mickeys son and daughter - The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band

                            Gordon has to face the fact that his wife is seriously ill.

                                            

Episode Two: "Snakes And Ladders"
In Episode Two, a young boy is brought in to the hospital, having fallen from a cliff, however it doesn't become apparant that the real reason he was found at the bottom of the cliff was because he had tried to commit suicide.  Dr Cheriton tells his parents as well as his physchiatrist, in a bid for him to recieve some sort of treatment, but his physchiatrist tells him that he already gives the boy 'Electric Shock Treatment' to help his depression.  Totally against the idea, Dr Cheriton speaks to another physchiatrist to help him get a different type of treatment that will benefit the boy.  However, before this treatment takes place, tradgedy strikes...
   Meanwhile a hypochondriac (played by Honor Blackman) turns up at the hospital, demanding that her dog must be treated for a snake bite. Dr Weatherill has to come to Mrs Lyons and her dog Charlie's aid, and after that Mrs Lyons makes a regular appearance.  
   Also, while out for a walk, talking and laughing about Mrs Lyons' dog, Dr Ormerod and Dr Weatherill have a heart-to-heart about their past as well as their future, which results in them sharing a passionate kiss.  

Songs Used:

White Bird - It's a Beautiful Day

Morning Dew - Tim Rose

I've been a bad bad boy - Paul Jones
Paint it black - The rolling Stones
Poison Ivy - Manfred Man
For what its worth - Buffalo Springfield

                               David Has to treat a young boy with depression

                                           

 

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Episode Three: "Thicker Than Water"
In Episode Three, a woman is brought in to the hospital on the back of a greengrocers lorry, in labour to her seventh child.  The Doctors aren't too pleased with her, as she was advised not to have anymore children, because if she did there would be complications.  Due to the fact that this woman is a devote Catholic, she cannot use contraception, so has ended up with seven children.  After the birth the woman becomes seriously ill, and is advised to take some sort of birth control, or be sterilised, but the woman refuses because of her Religion. It isn't until Sister Bridget and the woman talk about their Religion, that Sister Bridget persuades the woman to have the sterilisation, as it will save her life.  The operation is all set to go ahead, but when the woman's Preist finds out about what is going to happen he tells her not to have it done, as if she does, she will no longer be a member of the church.  As the operation doesnt take place, the woman experiences complications, and she ends up having a hysterectomy anyway.
   Meanwhile, a man gets shot by his brother after finding out the truth about his child's parenatge.  The man with the gun shoots his brother, as it turns out he is not the father to his son, but his brother was. Racked with guilt, after his brother dies, the man tries to commit suicide, by jumping off the hospital roof, however Dr Ormerod stops him. 
   Ken is up to no good yet again, when he "borrows" some laundry for his cousin, George, to use in his hostage to make it appear that the people in the hostage are well looked after.  In return Ken manages to persuade George to give him two teasmades- one for him and one for Alun.  Mr Harper accuses Ken of stealing the sheets, so when he takes Matron to see they have gone, they are back where the were in the first place, and Matron tells Mr Harper he must be seeing things.
    After their heart-to-heart, Jill and Gordon arrange to have a meal together, as they tell each other that they need each other.  On the evening of the meal, Jill tells Gordon that the meal will have to be later than planned, as she has to perform a hysterectomy on the woman who became ill.  Jill, thinking that Gordon will still be coming over, doesn't seem impressed when he tells her he has to go and see his wife, as she has made progress.  

Songs Used:

Hide and seak - Marty Wilde
Moments - Martha Reeves And The Vandellas

Respect - Aretha Franklin
Sneakin Around - Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas

Hippy Hippy Shake - The Swinging Blue Jeans

Sunshine Superman - Donovan

                                         Ken and Harper Clash over the laundry
                             
                                               
                                          
                                            

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Episode Four: "Wishing And Hoping"
In Episode Four, the Staff have to cope with an epidemic of 'Whooping Cough' that has hit the Elinsby area, after a young child contracted the illness, that had not been immunised against it.  Dr Cheriton has to break the news to the parents that their child died, because they refused innoculation.  After blaming themseleves, the Doctors tell them not to blame themselves, as it was partly there fault that they didnt talk to the parents enough to encourage them to get their child immunised.
   On a funnier note, Mr Rose operates on himself, as he has an ingrown toenail, but it ends up infected, so he has to ask Dr Weatherill to have a look at it.  Thinking that his problem can just be between him, Dr Weatherill and Sister Bridgid, he asks them to keep it to themselves, but Dr Weatherill tells him "Not a cat in hell's chance!" 
    Meanwhile, Dr Ormerod has a bad day, when first he gets trapped inside Mrs Lyons house after he is called out to see her with a suspected asthma attack.  After getting inside her house, it turns out she is not there, but at the hospital telling Lizzie and Jill that shes fine.  After being trapped for over an hour, Gordon manages to ring the hospital and tell them he is stuck, just as Mrs Lyons turns up and rescues him.   After not finding being trapped in a flat for over an hour funny, Gordon has a go at Mrs Lyons and tells her that she calls them out far too much, and half the time there isn't a reason. Mrs Lyons appears a little bewildered, but knows that he has problems of his own, so tells him not to let them affect his job.  To relax, Gordon goes over to Jill's house and they have a drink, and discuss how they need each other, which later leads to a passionate embrace.   While the next day, Gordon has a shock when he finds out that Mr Middleditch has smuggled an iron lung in to the hospital for Caroline, so she can be brought to the hospital.  This act of kindness then jepodises his feelings for Jill.
   Also David gets Lizzie to help him organise a surprise weekend away for him and Meryl.  It is all sorted, however Dave Kennoway (Lizzie's husband) finds a piece of paper going by the name of Lizzie Cheriton, and he assumes that Lizzie and David are an item, so follows them around, before confronting the two of them.  It isn't they explain what is going on that he realises that he has made a mistake.                              
          
                                                    

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Episode Five: "One Of Those Days"
In Episode Five, two men are brought in to the hospital by PC Ventress, after they were injured during a fight they had over a girl.  At first it appears they both have just got away with cuts and bruises, but when one of them appears dazed and acts oddly, Dr Cheriton investiagtes his behaviour futher with Mr Rose, only to discover that the man has a brain haemorrhage, and they will have to operate.  
  A woman is brought in to the hospital in labour, while Nurse Taylor has troubles of her own when she suspects she may be pregnant, after her weekend away with David. It turns out it is a false alarm, but the prospect of a baby being born in the hospital is still happening. Dr Weatherill has to deleiver the baby, however all doesnt go as planned, and she faces a testing time, as do the parents when the baby is born stillborn. Thinking that there must be something they can do, Sister Bridget takes the baby along to be washed ready for the parents to say their goodbyes, but ends up bringing the baby back to life by stimulating its heart in water. She carried out the proceedure after hearing about it working before when a baby had been born with the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. 
   Yet again, Gordon doesnt have a good day when Mrs Lyons calls in to the hospital to see him with chest pains, but he tells her to cut back on the cigarettes as thats what is causing the chest pains.  Still not feeling any better she calls Gordon out to her house with the same symptons as well as dizzy spells.  Thinking that she has invented the symptons he tells her to take asprin.  While at Mrs Lyons house, Gordon recieves a call from Lizzie telling him he is needed at a boating accident, so he hurries out of Mrs Lyons' house, failing to examine her properly.  When getting to what he thinks is the accident it turns out he has been given the wrong directions by Lizzie, and when he gets to the accident, his attempts to save the drowned man are in vain.  When he gets back to the hospital, he reduces Lizzie to tears after telling her she is "Useless" and saying it was her fault the man drowned.  Later though, an ambulance man tells Gordon that it wasnt Lizzies fault, and that the information they gave her was what they too were given and they passed it on to her, causing there to be a mis- understanding. Gordon makes amends with Lizzie who accepts his apology.  After work Gordon and Jill go out for a drink, and as usual Gordon tells Jill that someday they will be together.
   Meanwhile Ken discovers that Mr Harper is up to no good.  Despite saving his life, Mr Harper still has the idea in his head that the Hospital will be better off without Ken.  Ken and Alun put a dampener on Harpers plans, and he ends up looking a fool infront of the Health Authority.  
   Mrs Lyons is back at the hospital complaning and near enough threatening to sue if she isn't seen by a Doctor.  Happily Dr Cheriton sees her and picks up on the real problem of why she keeps coming back to the Hospital- its because she has two detached retinas, that should have been picked up on when she was seen before.  
                    
                  Gordon has trouble up at Elinsby Water when his attempts to save a man fail.

                                                                             

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Episode Six: "The Last Waltz"
In Episode Six, plans are getting underway for St Aidan's Annual Charity Ball, organised by Dr Cheriton and Staff Nurse Taylor, but things dont go to plan when Dr Cheriton takes over and Meryl gets upset over this.  The pair row and its a question of whether they will make up by the end of the episode.
   Meanwhile one of Dr Weatherill's patients finds out she has contracted syphilis after sleeping with a man.  After Dr Weatherill tells her, she isn't cooperative and wont elaborate on who the man is she slept with, which means that this person could also spread it to others.  Dr Weatherill later finds out who the man is- the girls boss, and so she goes round to the factory where she works in order to persuade her to get help for herself as well as the married man, who has a wife that is pregant.  It turns out later that the girl has lost her job, just because Dr Weatherill turned up at the girls work.
  Dr Cheriton and Dr Rose have to break some bad news to an elderly couple, that means that the wife from the couple has stomach cancer it has gone too far to be treated.    
  Ken is called out to rescue Alun, his brother Vic, Gina Ward and the rest of their band, after the van they were using had overheated and broken down.  it is a race against time to get them back to the hospital to set up their 'dodgy' musical equipment, but they make it.
   Dr Ormerod has a difficult decision to make, after getting his wife's latest test results back, which proves she will never get any better and come out of her coma.  He has to decide whether to turn her iron lung off, but his decision is not made until later when he is at the ball.
   The ball gets in to full swing and everyone is enjoying themseleves, except the ones who are modelling sad faces. These people are David and Meryl after their row, and Gordon who feels guilty as he is at the ball, so he decides to go and see Caroline, much to the disappointment of Jill.  After Gordon leaves Jill, Mr Rose keeps Jill company, and gets a bit too friendly with her!  Once being on her own for a while without Gordon, Jill goes to see him, and finds him in Caroline's room.  It is then that Gordon tells Jill that he has decided to let Caroline go, so he can get on with his life.
   In between major events, the ball gets its very own 'bang' when the musical equipment Vic (Alun's brother) had hired blows up, giving him an electric shock and burns to his hands.  Also Dr Weatherill has a go at the man who has infected the young girl with syphilis.      

Gordon's Feeling Guilty That He's At The Ball While Caroline Is In A Coma (Much To The Disappointment Of Jill).

                                             

Episode Four: "Consequences" 
Chaos descends on a local mining pit when part of it collapses and Dr Goodwin has to attend and help the victims.  One man puts his back out and a local bone setter comes to the rescue but Dr Goodwin’s reputation is at risk if anyone finds out that an unqualified bone setter has treated one of his patients. 
   Caroline Ormerod’s father turns up at the hospital to see Gordon and try and persuade him to turn his daughters life support machine off as there is no hope of her coming out of the coma she was put in after being involved in a coach crash.  Gordon wrestles with his conscience but fate decides the answer.
   Meanwhile Nurse Samantha Beaumont is flattered to think that Alun is interested in her.  Both go on a date but Samantha isn’t impressed with the transport that Alun has supplied in order to take her to the cinema to see a French film in which Alun doesn’t understand one bit but tells everyone he does.

Other Memorable Events:
*A patients parrot escapes, giving Ken the run around.

Episode Five: "Poison"
A friend of Gordon’s (Frank Wellborn played by Christopher Villiers) comes in to the hospital as he has been suffering from headaches, and bad health, and so Gordon sees him.  After the consultation Frank asks Gordon over for dinner, to which Gordon agrees but asks if he can bring Jill as well.  They all have dinner, but afterwards Frank secretly gives Gordon a bag of food to get him to test it as he thinks his wife is trying to poison him.  Absurd as he thinks it is, Gordon gets the food tested, but its later revealed that there’s nothing wrong with the food.  Its not until Frank collapses and has a fit that the root of the problem is found - he is suffering from a brain tumour.
   Meanwhile Jeffery has to attend Wishing Well Café where he has to treat a young girl with an upset stomach.  He automatically assumes its food poisoning when the rest of the girls start to get the same symptoms and he sees a dirty looking kitchen! It turns out its not, it’s just the girls imagining they have it seeing as one of the group is ill.
    Mr Harper finds he could be out of a job but Ken and Alun save the day by posing as interviewers to the candidates that are trying to take his job. They even set up a makeshift interview room to take the candidates to, to interview them. Thinking that they have had their interview the candidates leave, leaving the real interviewers unimpressed by their lateness and cavalier attitude.  It turns out that Mr Harper keeps his job unbeknown to him how he really did get the job. 
   Finally the truth comes out about Nurse Beaumont and Mr Rose’s relationship… they are niece and uncle!  Alun need not fear anymore.

Other Memorable Events:
*Nobby Jepson pops up again, but this time as a patient that Dr Goodwin has to help.

Episode Six: "Famous For A Day"
Excitement descends on the hospital when news that a film crew is spending time at the hospital to film a piece for a local TV show and that celebrity Lennie Lemar is the host.  There is plenty of build up and rehearsals for the main event especially carol singing in which Mr Harper wants to have his part in.  Things don’t go to plan when he starts singing out of tune, so Mr Middleditch finds him the ideal job as Father Christmas!
   Meanwhile a young lad falls under some icy water and is trapped, and Dr Ormerod and Staff Nurse Taylor have to attend.  It’s a race against time to save the boy after he is pulled from the lake, and after quite some time on the way to and at the hospital, with no life from him the staff agree to give up.  Gordon meanwhile has other ideas and tries in vain to save the boys life and he does in fact.  The boy fully recovers and gets to spend Christmas in hospital.
   Also a man is brought in to the hospital with rather a large bump on his head and its up to Dr Goodwin and Mr Rose to investigate. It turns out that it was his wife that had struck him across the head.

 Other Memorable Events:
 *PC Ventress features in this episode, helping at the accident down at the lake.

Episode Twelve: "Reckoning"
Four members of staff of St Aiden’s Royal Free hospital are involved in young love and tough life as Dr Gordon Ormerod prepares to propose to Dr Jill Weatherill and Dr Jeff Goodwin takes Nurse Samantha Beaumont on a date while their professional lives struggle with upsetting situations.
    Dr Gordon Ormerod and Dr Jill Weatherill try to explain to his young children, Tom and Katie, their relationship, while she stays over at their house, without ruining the illusion of their late mother. It’s a touch and go situation but ends with Katie asking Jill to read her a bedtime story. After bedtime, Gordon’s romantic attempt to propose to Jill is brought to a hold when she backs off and suggests they move in together. Their happiness is short lived, however, when they discover the investigation into his late wife’s death and how the police are linking his relationship with Jill to her death. Gordon is furious and reveals that Caroline was planning to leave him at the time of her death. DI Shiner finds Jill not guilty and wishes them future happiness.
   Dr Jeff Goodwin delivers a baby girl with the assistance of Nurse Samantha Beaumont but he discovers the mother is haemorrhaging and he and Samantha battle to save her life. Samantha is delighted when the baby is named after her. The mother, Joy, is referred to a London hospital for treatment via helicopter but later dies. At the end of the shift, Jeff invites Samantha for some surfing to unwind and end up in a passionate kiss.

Episode Thirteen: "Doing Time"
Jeff fails to diagnose post-natal depression and nearly pays the ultimate price because the mother concerned a Sheena Wilkinson is suffering particularly badly, feeling that she is a bad mother and a failure, thinking that it would be better for her children if she wasn't there anymore. Lucy gets involved and they both go with the husband to try and talk Sheena away from the cliff edge. She nearly jumps but Jeff manages to get close enough to grab her before she does.
   A prison van crashes on the moors, the driver is killed instantly but the guard is severely injured. His leg got trapped. One of the prisoners was a doctor in what he referred to later as 'my other life', so he treated the guard. Another prisoner escapes which the other one was hurt but not badly so. Gordon by accident came upon the scene, he sent the doctor prisoner to get help driving his car despite the guards protests. The doctor prisoner came back though and helped Gordon until the ambulance got there.
   The hurt prisoner gets a visit from the escaped one, they had robbed a post office and got caught which was why there were in prison. However they'd never recovered the loot. The hurt prisoner is an old acquaintance of Ken's and tell's him where it's hidden. Ken immediately goes and tells PC Phil Bellamy who's doing a cameo appearance from heartbeat. However the prisoner had told him wrong to see if he was to be trusted, even though he's obviously not to be trusted, the prisoner tells Ken anyway. Ken and Alun then try and sneak out of the hospital with a metal detector, but Mr Harper catches them. They pass of the hidden bulk under the blanket as the guards amputated leg, offering Mr Harper the chance to look, naturally being as squeamish as he is he declines. So ken and Alun go out with a metal detector on the moors looking for it, involving many funny lines like "Get digging you great Morris dancer."
   One of Jill's patients, Mr and Mrs Silverwood are selling their house and Jill and Gordon go to look at it with a view to buy it. A great quip by Gordon "I didn't know you could fall in love twice.
   Sister Bridget is collecting for the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes but her collection tin is nicked by the escaped prisoner. Ken and Alun give her the reward they got for finding the money.
   One of my favourite episodes in the whole series. Unmissable.

Episode Fourteen: "Home To Roost"
A comedy episode really. With at least three very funny scenes. The first one which has Mr Rose with his wig "I salute you ladies." because he has a crush on Lucy with In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight, playing in the background.
   The there was Mr Harper evacuating the hospital because this old guy came in having killed himself with some deadly poison, that will kill you if you even breathe it in. My Harper flapped a lot going "I sniffed him. I smelled him. I inhaled him."
  Then there was the scene outside with Mr Harper guarding the said old guys body in the courtyard. It starts off with Ken and Alun watching Mr Harper from the window, Martin comes in and sees them. "I hope you're not enjoying Mr Harper's situation. The least you could do is give him a cup of tea." Ken and Alun then take Mr Harper a cup of tea wearing gas masks. They act astounded that Mr Harper hasn't got one. "But the coffins sealed." "Ah but what about the Molecular penetration. Well to be fair Alun he is in more danger out here than we are. Here you are Mr Harper you can have mine." The whole scene culminates with the line stage whispered. "We'll collect the mug later."
   The serious side to this episode is of a young girl Ellen played by Georgia Taylor who was in Corination Street. This girl is suffering from anorexia, Jeff is her doctor and doesn't diagnose this at first, checking out all physical possibilities first. Given the last case where he failed to diagnose post-natal depression Lucy tries to get involved. Approaching Jill and Gordon with a view to sectioning her behind Jeff's back. Jeff finds out about this and is understandably angry. Lucy tells him she only interfered because she let personal feelings get in the way of her professional judgment and that it won't happen again.
   It's moving day for Jill and Gordon, but unfortunately for them Caroline’s dad Henry Appleton turns up. At first he acts angry that he hadn't been told that his grandchildren were moving. However later the most unbelievable storyline in the world emerges. Caroline was an alcoholic and gambler, alcoholism I can understand but the gambling. Watching over series one episodes again it seems more and more off the wall and I can't help but wonder what the storywriters were on when they came up with this idea. It all ends happily though as things in sixties Yorkshire are bound to do with Henry inviting them all to come and stay with him at his house by the sea for holidays.
   The final lines in the episode were Jill: "It's like he's given us his blessing to be happy” Gordon: "There's something that would make me even happier." "Marry me. . . ." the episode and the series then fades out on Jill's face which has got to be the hardest to read face ever. You can't even hazard a guess as to what her answer would be, believe me I tried. A very funny episode, 10/10 for comedy factor, but in terms of tying up the longest running storyline yet, a bit poor in my opinion.

Special thanks go to SpyMaster who wrote this review.