Adamski

So after weeks of wall-to-wall programming (including documentaries featuring men who went through the gay aversion therapy, like Lawrence) and events here in the UK to mark 50 years since homosexuality was partially decriminalised in Britain, Emmerdale breaks up its older gay male couple.

They have become a 'thing' here in the UK over the last ten years or so, but yes we didn't used to have them.

I stopped watching after Ashley died, and am only dipping back in now to see how Lawrence and Emma's stories play out. Why is Nel unsalvageable? And are Rebecca and Debbie friends now? I wouldn't be averse to Debbie being in another relationship with a woman.

And another thing - it's preposterous to suggest that Lawrence, who had a horrific time in prison, would then go on to frame an innocent man and get him sent down. (Although he was willing to do the same to Andy, so I guess he's got form).

Absolutely not! Although I can see it happening - I did wonder if Victoria would end up fighting for custody of her niece/nephew thanks to Adam's infertility, if Rebecca died. Lawrence could have funded the legal battle as a way to spite Robert, but that ship has now seemingly sailed. Charity and Declan's year-long reign of terror is one of my favourite soap story lines ever. It just kept going and going. And I've said it before, but I wanted Charity to emerge from prison humbled and affected from her time inside - not as 'punishment' but just to see her having to work hard to rebuild herself from the ground up and earn her family's trust again. And also to see her deal with the fact that Moira of all people looked after Noah for a year. But instead we see her arrive in a stolen red sports car, just because. And I love the idea of her being a mentor to a young woman and moulding her in her image. Would put Debbie's nose out of joint. BTW, I've been fast-forwarding most of Frank and Megan's scenes, but has Megan talked about Robbie and Declan in relation to her history with the Dingle viper?

It's fun to speculate! I think anything could happen with their next producer hire.

Kathleen Beedles is still in the soap game - she produces a show in Singapore called Tanglin. But I think she's back in the UK regularly, so who knows? Jerome B-N is now Story Producer on Holby City, but he is a good suggestion. I wonder if he's too young, though? BTW, I loved Diederick Santer's shady response on Twitter to the news about Sean O'Connor: https://twitter.com/DiederickSant/status/878563209271181312

Thank you!

So are Finn, Sass and Frank only meant to be aged 20, or have they been SORAS'ed?

Why do you think so? I adored Edna, and really enjoyed her relationship with Ashley and thought it would have been poignant to see her watch him deteriorate. But I feel that the extended Thomas clan covered all those bases in the end. I do think that Edna's role in the village community is still vacant, though. But I don't want an identikit replacement to show up, either. It would need to happen organically.

Ha! I love Sandy, bellowing and all. Now that it's over, do we think Edna was missed from this storyline? I'd say not - but think she would have been a great 'outraged parishioner' component of the upcoming Cain/Harriet scandal...

I haven't watched it, all the death and murders on 'Oaks makes me nauseous now. I genuinely worry about what message it sends out to its young audience.

LOL. Scott is atrocious, how has he lasted so long? And it's a disgrace that Lisa - one of the show's best characters - has to share her opening credits spot with him.

The whole 'Oh, she only heard the second half of Emma's words in the church' twist was very unclear and doesn't really make sense, IMHO.

Hi Bright Eyes, am just getting into Shortland Street, please could you tell me how this affair reveal happened? Thanks.

Thanks!

What era was that, DRW50? Did certain characters live in Leeds and work in the village? You'd think that some characters would do the opposite - live in the village but work in Leeds. Also, what happened to Chrissie's "chain of hair salons"? Have they vanished?

So Tabby whisks Alfie off to LA via limousine while her grieving daughter commits some light arson and is then essentially committed to a mental hospital? OK then.

Yes, it is a shame what this has done to Lisa, who was such a wildly vibrant character. And it's quite staggering to think that within 16 months of arriving, the Nightingales have suffered the deaths of one son's fiancee (Rachel); the youngest son's girlfriend (Jade) and now one of their sons (Nathan)! I do still love the Nightingales though, and think they've been a successful new family overall. I read that the actors all made a point of going out for dinner together regularly within their first couple of months on the show so they could bond, and it's worked.

Agreed, but at least the best Nightingale son - James - is still with us...

Yes, she must be, surely?

Very true!

It's a shame, because Zak actually used to be one of my favourite characters, but he has been spineless for too long now.

Are we meant to feel sorry for Zak now that he's guilt-ridden and in danger of misplacing his marbles again? Well, I feel nothing. He treated Joanie abysmally and I was cheering Kerry on during her eulogy. I'm surprised that at the wake, Belle didn't reminisce about all the good times, like when she spat in Joanie's face. Uggh, that family!

It's so juicy, and I love how it's also intertwined with the surrogacy plot.