Pick of the Plots: Friday, May 9th

Today’s storylines from the UK and Australian soaps…

Todd hears the car alarm on the hearse and goes to investigate, finding it covered in paint. Todd’s shocked to discover it was Millie who vandalised the hearse as she rails at him for ripping her family apart.

Meanwhile, Bobby offers to help Lauren look at flats but she assures him she’s fine on her own. Floored by the prices of rent, Lauren reveals she needs to get a job, fast. Aadi offers to put in a good word at Freshco.

When she then receives another text from the blackmailer demanding £200 or they will report her to the police, Lauren despairs. Showing Betsy the text, Lauren suspects Bobby is her blackmailer and it’s his way of trying to get closer to her. Lauren resolves to call his bluff. Having planted some fake cash, Lauren and Betsy wait. Will Bobby reveal himself?

Elsewhere, Liam and Jake join Gary and Mick for a day’s work at the builder’s yard. When Mick plays a prank on Liam, covering him in cement, Liam laughs along, determined to be one of the lads. Gary and Maria meet Mick for a drink.

Also, in The Rovers, Ryan tentatively explains to Jenny that she’s no longer his boss and he takes his orders from Carla now. Jenny’s upset. Glenda shows some prospective buyers around the pub and attempts to put them off. Ryan eyes her suspiciously.

Craig tells Roy he’s been offered another placement with CID. Carl calls at the hotel and finds Debbie struggling to organise a wedding fayre. He suggests she could do with some help.

Coronation Street, ITV1, tonight at 8pm or watch on ITVX now

Noah delivers alarming news.

The police gather suspects.

Dawn and Jimmy are horrified by the scene.

Emmerdale, ITV1, tonight at 7.30pm or watch on ITVX now

Dean is touchy on the road trip, but there’s hope that the tension is gradually easing between him and Levi.

The four of them hire a boat, hitting the seas for a day of sunbathing on the sparkling deck. Dean refuses to join in the snorkeling, downing more beers on the boat than he probably should, and accusing Levi of letting his eyes linger on Ziggy in bathers. It’s an awkward confrontation that results in Dean marching up to the cockpit to drive them back to shore. After walking out on dinner too, Ziggy lays into Dean, revealing that she’s actually starting to like Levi, and his repeated rude outbursts are ruining their trip.

Dean fires back – once a snake, always a snake. Mackenzie makes a last-ditch attempt to get Dean on side, warning him that she intends on spending the rest of her life with Levi. The men walk together, and Dean tries to turn a new page. While they’re gone, the girls are eyed by a suspicious stranger.

Before they can do anything else, their moved in on from either side, a shiv glinting in the hand of their attacker. They’re rounded into Dean’s truck, with Ziggy forced to drive at knifepoint. Levi and Dean return just in time to see them speeding off with the strange men. Panicking, the boys chase after the car on foot, but it’s no use as they zoom away out of sight. Levi and Dean are left reeling.

Worry rises for Dana as she struggles to find Irene. She explains to Bree that it was Irene’s first day back at work since coming home from rehab, and now she’s taken off and is screening her calls. Cash arrives at Salt to announce the good news about his promotion to Eden.

It takes a beat for it to sink in for her, as she glances back at a shaken Irene sitting alone at the bar. While she only ordered a glass of water, it’s hard for Eden to stifle concerns for the recovering addict. After managing to keep her cravings under control, Cash offers to walk her home. Dana arrives home shortly after them, relieved to have finally found Irene. But neither Cash nor Dana can offer the right words of reassurance, as Irene buries herself in discouragement and shame.

Later, Bree and Rose offer words of wisdom to Irene, with the help of Dana, that lead her to realise by not drinking at Salt, she actually experienced a win rather than a setback. The next morning, Dana walks Irene to the coffee cart for a second attempt at returning to normal. Propelled by the encouragement last night, Irene’s ready to take on the day, and break the cycle of her addiction for good.

Home and Away airs 1:45pm on Channel 5, at 6pm on 5STAR with first-look screenings of the following edition at 6:30 pm. The series also streams on 5.