The Magic Rabbits are seen again in episode 972.

The dates:

It is a bank holiday, and 63 years since women got the vote, in episode 936. It is the Monday, and the Wednesday, before cup final Saturday in episodes 939 and 940 respectively, and in episode 940 it is “nearly summer”. Based on dialogue in episode 942, it is Monday in episode 944; and it is still Monday, and a bank holiday, in episode 945. It is Sunday, and Father’s Day, in episode 953; and it is the middle of summer in episode 955. In episode 956 it is Saturday, and, based on dialogue from episode 948, 21st June [which isn’t a Saturday, unfortunately]. Based on dialogue in episode 949, it is Wednesday in episode 952. It is 1991 in episode 957, and, based on dialogue in that episode, it is Friday in episode 958.

Based on dialogue and events in other episodes, it is still the same Friday in episode 960 as it was in episode 959; then episodes 961 to 964 are set on the same weekdays as those on which they originally aired. As Paula and Geoff started going out on the Friday after Valentine’s Day, 15th February, in episode 902, it must be 17th July in episode 967, when she says they have been going out for five months and two days. Based on dialogue in episode 969, it is Friday in episode 971 and Monday in episode 972; in both of these episodes, and episode 978, it is 1991; and, based on dialogue in episode 973, it is Monday in episode 975. It is a bank holiday in episode 984; and Friday evening in episode 986.

Name-checks:

Glenn Ford (934); Henry VIII (934); King John (934); Cilla [Black] (935, 936), “Blind Date” (935); Bernard Manning (936); Winston Churchill (936); Kevin Costner (936); Robin Hood (936); Meryl [Streep?] (936); Gerry Marsden (938); the Mamas and the Papas (938); the Beach Boys (938, 946); Simon and Garfunkel (938); Manfred Mann (938); the Spencer Davis band and its individual members (938); The Beautiful South (939); Paul Simon (939); Bob Dylan (939); Erik Estrada (940); Adolf Hitler (941); Eva Braun (941); William Shakespeare (943); Richard Burton (945); Elizabeth Taylor (945); Maradona (945); Dr Spock (945); Desperate Dan (947); Mozart (951); Elgar (951); Suzanne Vega (951); Sylvester Stallone (952); “Arnie” Schwarzenegger (952); Gunga Din (954); Kipling (954); Tennyson (954); the Queen (954); James Dean (956); Stirling Moss (956); Rip van Winkle (956); Richard Gere (956); Tom Cruise (956); George Michael (956); Mel Gibson (956); “Prince Charming” (957); “Sleeping Beauty” (957); Moses (958); and Sir Galahad (959). [Officer] Dibble (960); Cilla Black (960); “Cosmopolitan” (960); Paul Daniels (961); Bruce Forsyth (961); “J.R.” (962); “Blind Date” (963); “Love At First Sight” (963); “Fantasy Island” (963); “The Godfather Part 3” (965); “Kelly’s Heroes” (965); Jeremy Beadle (966, 995); “Prince Charming” (966); Scillachi (966); The Beatles (967, 1001); Harry Line (968); “The Media Show” (969); The “Scarlet Pimpernel” (970); “the Krypton Factor” (970); “Grandstand” (970); “Emmerdale Farm” (970); “Question Time” (970); “The Birdman of Alcatraz” (971); Bernard Matthews, turkey advertiser (971); Dudley Moore (972); George Michael (974); Princess Di (976); Prince Charles (976, 990); Ken Dodd (977); Gyles Brandreth (978); “Countdown” (978); “London’s Burning” (978); Hitler (978); Linford Christie and Colin Jackson, athletes (978); Mike Tyson (978); Mohammed Ali (978); Jesus (978); Gorbachev (979); “Coronation Street” (979); Philip Schofield (980); “EastEnders” (980); Rudyard Kipling (980); “Crimewatch” (980); Bette Davis (982); Richard Gere (982); Jacqueline Bissett (982); Tammy Wynette (983).

Locations:

All of the action in this season is set in or near Liverpool, except that there are scenes of Ron, DD, Maria and Charlie on holiday in Wales in episodes 954 to 956. However, they are only ever seen in their caravan or in the field in which it is parked, and a Welsh field probably looks much the same as one near Liverpool. In episode 962 there is one interior scene, and three exterior scenes, of Max and Patricia near St Paul’s Cathedral in London EC4. In episode 964, there are scenes of Julia and Lilian at a cemetery in Morecambe, although not necessarily recorded there.

Births:

None. It is Rod’s 23rd birthday in episode 944, which is “on Monday” in episode 942; and it is Barry’s 32nd birthday in episode 949, and in episode 954 he has just turned 32. Less helpfully, it is not Tracy’s birthday in episode 946! We are also told that Tim is nearly 40 (918, 956) and 20 years older (935, 942) than Sammy, who is 17 (919, 922, 936, 938) / 18 next week (953) / 18 today (955) / 18 (956) / 18 going on 50 (959); Margaret is 17 (923); Gemma is 4 (926, 927); Leo is 6 (926, 927); Chloe is 19 (928); Adam is 17 (928); Nikki is 19 (933); Thomas is nearly 2 (933); Katie is 14 (943); Jimmy is nearly 40 (951, 958); Lindsey is 19 (952); and Danny is nearly 2 (957). Cyril says Ron would have been in a pram in 1953 (956). Gemma’s 5th birthday party is being prepared in episode 961, and takes place in episode 964. She is still 5 in episode 973, but, continuing the trend of ages being misreported by the media, she is 4 according to the newspaper article seen in episode 975! It will be Nikki’s birthday on Sunday 1st December in episode 978.

Marriages:

One – Lindsey Corkhill marries Gary Stanlow at St Kentigan’s on 21st June (948) / “next week” (953) in episode 956. Fran, now divorced (943, 959), was married for two and a half years (959); it is Ron and DD’s 19th wedding anniversary tomorrow (948) / today (949); Charlie and Maria have been married for 24 years (954); Cyril married Ron’s mother, Mabel, “just after the war” (956); and Rob is divorced (957). Chrissy and Frank have been married for 19 years (982, 983) but in later episodes refer to 20 years (995), and talk about being together and supporting each other for “18 years” in episode 999. Confusing! Graeme was married to Alice for 4 years (960); it is Terry and Sue’s 2nd wedding anniversary in episode 975, which is “on Monday” in episode 973, and they have still been married for two years in episode 1001 [although they won’t be for much longer!]; and Rod and Diana plan to get married on Monday 2nd December (978, 979). Cyril has had four wives – firstly Ron’s mother Mabel, to whom he was married for 5 years, then three others, all at the same time, until one of them, who was also called Mabel, died much more recently (964, 972).

Deaths:

One. Arthur’s dog Satan attacks Rod Corkhill, and promptly dies of a heart attack in episode 970.

The following unseen and never-to-be-seen characters who are no longer alive are mentioned: Stanley from Accrington, whose death Lou predicted (934); Nan Rogers, who used to have an apple tree (936); Frank’s mother and father (937); Julia’s father (946); Julia’s late husband Albert, who died 18 years ago (947); Cyril’s late wife Mabel, who has died after 30 years with him (947), and whose funeral he attends (956); Ron’s mother, also called Mabel, who has been dead for “donkey’s years” (959); Mr Edward Towns, who was murdered by Brian Carr, according to a radio news bulletin (948); and DD’s grandfather (957). Two of Cyril’s four wives, who were both called Mabel – the one who recently died aged 62, according to her gravestone (964); and his first wife, Ron’s mother (972); Frank’s father (966, 978); DD’s father, who died of cancer, and her mother, who slashed her own wrists, when DD was 17 and Derek was 12 (967); Frank’s mother (975); Julia’s mother (976); and Jimmy’s brother Frankie (986).

Characters mentioned, so far unseen, but who will be appearing later:

Gerry Marsden (938); Lucinda, Geoffrey’s wife (940, 956); Sinbad’s mother (951); Gary (952); and [Little] Jimmy (953, 956). Josie’s father (963); Margaret’s mother (973); Josie’s mother (974); Thomas’s Gran/Patricia’s mother (984).

Gone but not forgotten – seen previously and still mentioned occasionally, but not reappearing in this season:

Mr Knight (944); Harry Cross (947, 949); Joey Godden (953); Kirsty (937, 944); Paula’s dad (940); Chrissy’s dad (942); Nigel (942); the “Fisher Brothers” (942); Omo (943, 944); Riordan (carelessly, 943); Jack Sullivan (944); Karen (949); Matty (949); Lenny (950); and Kath[y] (955). Rob (960); Tim Derby (960, 966, 967, 970, 976, 978, 984, 985); Mr “Pony-tail” Smith (963, 965); Alex (963); Sheila (963, 968, 984); Claire (963); the Pope (967); Harry Cross (968, 976, 977, 978, 980, 981); Billy Corkhill (968, 986); Kathy (968); Cousin Don (968); Arthur’s dad (970, 971, 972); Martin (975, 976); Kevin [Cross] (977, 978); Ralph (978); Siobhan (978, 983); Dr Joe O’Rourke (980, 981, 983, 984, 985); Mark (984); Barnie (984, 985); Kirsty (985); WPC Emma (985).

And those that are also mentioned, but are destined to remain unseen forever:

Tim’s ex-wife (941, 953); Nikki’s dad (935); Max’s uncle, who has a caravan (934); Kenny Ford, Round Tabler (935); Sister Mary of the Immaculate Conception, who DD had a crush on when she was 14 (936); Micky O’Rourke and Davver Hughes, policemen (938); Mark’s mother (938, 943); Carla’s father (939, 941); Diana’s auntie, whose birthday it is (939); Gina’s parents (942); Jill Mason, whose leaving party is on Friday (943); Fran’s ex-husband (943, 944); Mark’s dad (943); John, on the phone to Jim McCabe (944); Degsy, a mate of Barry who has a yard (947); Tommy Arslainen and Steve Owen, mates of Bumper (947); Brian Carr, 20-year-old killer (948); Ken Sumner (948, 949, 950, 952); Gerry, a mate of Ron (949); Sinbad’s little sister (950); Margaret’s gran (951); Mr Jones, scary teacher (952); Mrs Carney, Derek’s housekeeper (953); Gary’s separated mum and dad (953); Miss Taylor, Ron and Charlie’s English teacher (954); Polly Sparrow on the estate (954); Tommy Atkinson, in a story told by Cyril (954); Keith’s dad, who owns a garage (954,957, 958); Peter, who Maria is seeing (955); Mr Steve Molineux, Physics teacher who Katie used to have a crush on (956); and Pat, Mabel’s sister (956). Keith’s father (960, 961, 962, 967, 975, 977, 978, 980), who was once in a pop group, the Neverly Brothers (980); Graeme’s ex-wife Alice (960); Old Father Ryan, and the twins he once dropped into a font (964); Steve Hannay, Liverpool footballer previously with Skelmersdale United (966); Keith’s kid brother (967, 978) and his other brother (978); Peter, Maria’s man (969); Susannah’s father, who is paying the bulk of her children’s school fees (969); Mr O’Keefe aka “Old Scrooge”, a teacher who bought Geoff a 45p card (970); Polo, Arthur’s mate (971); Bernard Matthews, who sells newspapers outside Lime Street (971); Ricky Chambers, Keith’s cousin (972); Marcia’s father (972); the two wives of Cyril who are still alive and may or may not share the name “Mabel” with the two who have died (972); Margaret’s father (973); Keith’s mother (975); Sue Marsden, an engaged girl at Jacqui’s school (975); Diana’s mother (976, 977, 979); Keith’s sister and her husband, a fireman (978); PC Alan Lane aka “Bronco” (978); Tony, Josie’s ex-boyfriend (979, 980, 982, 983, 984); Diana’s Auntie Winnie (979); Sinbad’s sister (982); Siobhan’s mum (983); Julie, Nikki’s friend (984); Kath Livsey, swimming drop-out (984); Taki Nikoladas, owner of “The Pink Flamingo” (984); Sandy, Owen’s boss (986); Jacko, a policeman whose birthday it is (986).

Meadowcroft Park

“Meadowcroft Park” is mentioned again in episodes 943, 970, 972, 973, and 977. Television images of the series, including an “End of part one” caption, are seen, and some characters’ voices are heard, in episode 951, in which Max is watching it (without understanding why); and further voices are heard in episode 955, in which Jimmy is watching it, and DD says she thinks it is shown on a different day in Wales. Some images of characters from the series are seen in episode 964, on a tape on which one of the other Dixons has recorded an episode over a film that Ron was hoping to watch.

Goofs:

Tim claims in episode 938 that he has lived there for about four years. [Perhaps a few weeks of living with Sammy has seemed more like two years!!]

Bumper misses out the middle word, “do”, in episode 940: “I like seeing him what he does best”.

The radio broadcast heard in the background in episode 943 is the same one that Billy was seen listening to in episode 502, which refers to the robbery of supermarket manager Riordan!

Margaret adds an extra “all” in episode 973: “The police have been all there all day”.

Diana calls Tommo “Neil” several times in episodes 985 and 986, and the only reason she gives is that it’s a much nicer name than “Tommo”! We never hear Tommo tell her, or even imply or acknowledge, that this is his real first name – maybe because, based on the only previous occasion on which it is mentioned (in episode 417), it is “Michael”.

Trivia:

Rod has been to four of the last seven cup finals (939). Tracy is right-handed (943), whereas Jimmy (950) is left-handed. Gary, who Lindsey marries, works in a building society (952). Ken Sumner, with whom Jackie has been living for 18 months (955), is a newsagent (949). Mark is an only child (943).

Ron and DD didn’t originally have a honeymoon (949). Derek is DD’s “little” brother (953). Tina used to sing with the “Fairburgers” (954). Sinbad, who is right-handed (958) and has a savings account with the Post Office (958), went to Europe once, and didn’t like the toilets (933).

Max’s CDs include the Mozart Horn Concerto, Elgar Cello and Suzanne Vega (951). Thomas is one of the 266 illegitimate births out of 1000 (954). Margaret is an atheist (935). The telephone number on the door of the taxi which picks her up in 4807777 (939). Geoffrey’s extension number is 2412 (940).

A disc on Tim’s car indicates that he works for the Westerley Hotel (952). He had a vasectomy five years ago (959), and his ex-wife was half Italian (953). His “for sale” sign bears the name “Binenan Estates” and the telephone number 051 259 9106 (959). Chloe is in her first year at college (941). Frank’s band, the Scotty Dogs, were big in Bootle (938). Bumper is right-handed (940). Omo has now been offered, and signed for, a YTS with Tranmere (943). Katie and Fran are both right-handed (943).

For their latest surveillance exercise, Rod is “Davis” and Tommo is “Higgins” (982). Jimmy is fined £750 (961), and robs Beckett’s The Jewellers (963) to raise the money to pay it. Joey says that killing Frankie cost him “10 years” inside (986). Julia hates plain chocolate (974). Freddie “lost” his wife when Diana was 4 (976), because she ran off with a police sergeant (977)! Sinbad used to be in charge of the hens at the orphanage (971).

Ron’s mother’s grave is in Kirkdale Cemetery (971). DD spent 18 months in a psychiatric hospital (967), where Maria was a cleaner (968). Mike, who was a joyrider when he was 15 (972), played football for the school for a year (973), and reads the book “The Catcher In The Rye” by J.D. Savinger (962). He passes 4 “A” levels, with grades including 2 Cs and a B (983), and both he and Keith play with a “Nintendo Game Boy” (967). Jacqui has been in the swimming club for 5 years, since she was 11 (972). She originally painted the whale on Ron’s Moby (972), and currently spells her name “Jackie” (977). The waitress who serves Jacqui and Keith earns £2 per hour (980). Tina has a dog (974).

Chrissy attends a course called “Exploring The Chalk Face” (975). Frank was working, and playing for Oakfield in a Sunday football league, when he was 15 (968). Geoff passed two of his exams (983). Sammy was a drunk when she was 16 (967). Grace has been with Owen for three months (966).

Max, when he was a student, did a placement with a firm in Clapham for a few weeks (961). Derek is based at St Andrew’s Church (984). Gemma has a doll called Cerys (973). Ellis worked at the NAAFI in Berlin (979).

Terry has no “O” levels (975). The estate agent who visits unexpectedly in episode 976 is from “Binenans”, who Harry Cross is using to sell number 9. On the “For Sale” sign, the name “Binenan Estates” is accompanied by the telephone number 051 259 9106 (977, 978, 983). Fran needs the “Maddox file” (986).

“Blink-and-you-miss it” moment:

Susan refers to her employers as “Smith Filed and Mullaney” in episode 934, whereas everyone else in this and other episodes calls them “Smiths Foulds and Mulvaney”. As it later emerges that she is actually an actress on a head-hunting exercise, it would appear that she is deliberately giving Patricia a clue that all is not as it seems. Patricia doesn’t ever point out the discrepancy, but becomes more suspicious of Susan, and of the whole situation, after this conversation!