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Season 7 Episode 3
Episode 295 Sky One Transmission Date: Sunday 12th October 2003 Directed by Tim Murrell
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Abi Curtis, Grace Abi, Marcel Nikki |
GS: Minister (Gordon Case) Paul Hankin (Leigh Cranston) Neil Warnock (as himself) Gospel Singers (Tuff Sessions) Baby Louis (Max & Harrison Wooley) Jeff Stelling (as himself) George Best (as himself) Rodney Marsh (as himself) Leilani Dowding (as herself) Dougie Anderson (as himself) Jodie Marsh (as herself) Luke’s arrival at Harchester has got the whole country talking, and the players are just as star-struck and desperate to impress during their first training session with him. Nikki is equally amazed when she comes face-to-face with Luke for the first time. On his debut, Luke scores a hat-trick, and after Donna makes an unsuccessful attempt at seduction in his hotel room, Nikki is put in charge of discussing alternative accommodation with him. At the Grange, after waiting outside his room all night, Nikki is disappointed when he returns and doesn’t invite her in. The next day Sandra wrongly assumes that Nikki and Luke did get together, and Nikki, feeling awkward Luke didn’t try it on, doesn’t deny that anything happened. Sandra then spreads the story around by phoning various people and Nikki is shocked when Paul Hankin shows up offering her £50,000 for her “story”. When it’s printed, Pilar makes Nikki give a press conference and tells Sandra she will take Nikki’s place as team co-ordinator for the game today, to Nikki’s disgust. Curtis is struggling to keep his form, and Luke’s presence in the team isn’t helping. Having been taken off at half time during the seasons’ opening match, he gets drunk in the Players’ Lounge in his anguish. He meets new receptionist Grace, who saves Curtis embarrassment from his team mates when he breaks down in front of her. Curtis then tells Pilar that he wants to leave Harchester, but after spending time with Grace at her local church, he begins to reconsider leaving. Neil Warnock offers Curtis a place at Sheffield United, but it is not until Pilar fires Grace whilst she is trying to help a stressed Abi, that Curtis makes his decision to stay, and gets Pilar to give Grace her job back. Meanwhile Abi is struggling looking after Louis without Fletch, and left without a babysitter she is up all night just before the first match of the season, and subsequently dozes off during the game. Things get worse when Pilar tells Abi she has to leave her home at the Barrons, so Luke can move in instead. She then has a confrontation with Luke as she is packing up at the house, and loses it, booking a flight to Saudi Arabia to be with Fletch. As she leaves for the airport, she tells Jeff what she’s doing, who in turn goes to the club and informs Grace. Marcel heads to the airport to stop Abi, and tells her that he will move into the house with her and help with Louis, to which she gratefully accepts. Notes: First appearance of Grace Ikema (Louise Rose) Best Known For: Louise Rose was formally the lead singer of girlband Precious, who’s finest hour was representing the United Kingdom, and coming 12th place at the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Say It Again”, which reached #6 in the charts. The Best: Dougie Anderson on Channel 4’s RI:SE talking about how Luke will captivate “the ladies of Harchester”. George Best with his second DT appearance (following 5.11 (#239) Confessions) on Soccer Saturday. Paul Hankin strolling alongside Pilar and calling her a “miserable cow”. Curtis jumping the bar and snatching booze after being taken off. Donna waiting in Luke’s room wearing just her bikini, and her public removal from The Grange afterwards. The team all lying down and making sleep noises when Sleeping Beauty Abi arrives for training. Jeff telling Abi he’d let Luke know what he thought of him when he sees him, and then sucking up to Luke when he walks into the same room seconds later. Quotes: [Again censored with a daytime repeat] Abi reviews Stuart’s managerial career so far: “That’s good, coming from a manager who couldn’t manage a piss-up in a brewery” Neil Warnock to Curtis: “Nice trousers son, what’s Rupert wearing today?” Additional Info: The public unveiling of Luke is the biggest for a player in England since Alan Shearer. Luke now occupies Fletch’s old squad number in the team, #11. What Was The Score?: A hat-trick from L.D on his debut: Harchester United 3 – 0 Leeds United. Southampton result unknown but Luke scores again. Soundtrack: British Sea Power: “Fear of Drowning”, Fat Boy Slim: “Right Here, Right Now”, Fragile State: “Everyday A Story”, Kosheen: “Coming Home”, Moby: “We Are All Made Of Stars”, My Bloody Valentine: “Soon”, New Order: “Everything’s Gone Green”, Planet Funk: “The Switch” and “The Waltz”, Rob Dougan: “Clubbed to Death”, Saliva: “Superstar.” |
