Corrie confirm Sophie Webster’s exit storyline for Brooke Vincent’s maternity leave

Ryan is suspicious that Ali is using again when he finds him asleep on a table at the café. When Ali offers to babysit Liam, Maria is made up – especially when Ali tells her he's falling for her.

But later on, Claudia and Emma hear the smoke alarm going off from inside Maria's flat and are quickly on the phone to Maria in concern.

Maria, Gary and Ryan burst into the flat and are appalled to find Ali passed out on the sofa and a charred pizza in the oven.

Grabbing a shaken Liam, Maria furiously orders Ali to leave. The next day, Maria apologises to Ali for flying off the handle, but is shocked when Ali tells her that maybe it isn't working after all.

Elsewhere, Michelle is suspicious when Liz tells her Robert had been in her cab earlier headed for the Chariot Hotel bar, and tracking him down there, Robert admits that he'd come to give Ray a piece of his mind.

Michelle manages to convince him to calm down, and persuades him to come away with her on a holiday to Mallorca. Robert wonders how he's going to tell Vicky.

After getting dumped by Ali, Maria is drowning her sorrows at The Rovers when Robert and Michelle arrive back from the Chariot.

Slurring her words, Maria takes the opportunity to lay into Michelle's parenting, telling her that both of her sons are a disaster.

Ken decides that he can't leave Daniel and Sinead at such a hard time, and tells an understanding Claudia that he won't be coming to Italy after all.

When Claudia suggests celebrating his 80th with a part at the pub instead, Ken doesn't think it would be appropriate, but Daniel disagrees, insisting he and Sinead would love a party.

The 'do is arranged, and later in the week everyone arrives at the Rovers to celebrate Ken's birthday with him. He's thrilled when Norris makes a surprise appearance...

...And touched when Emily Skypes from Edinburgh. Daniel and Sinead are determined to enjoy themselves, even though they've been dealt a devastating blow.

At the party, Sinead is touched to find the back yard has been decorated for a surprise first birthday party for Bertie, too.

Gathering the guests, Sinead and Daniel break the news that Sinead has not been responding to treatment, and that she has just weeks to live.

As the mood turns, Sinead worries that she's ruined Ken's party but Ken assures her his main concern is for them and Bertie.

Sinead and Daniel take themselves off home to process the news properly themselves, and back at the Rovers Ken is struggling to keep his emotions bottled up.

Sinead tells Daniel how sorry she is to be leaving him, but that she knows Bertie is in good hands – and finally, Daniel let's the tears flow.

Sarah has gone to visit David in prison and is horrified to realise she's forgotten Shona's birthday. After she leaves, David catches another inmate slipping a mobile phone inside his sock.

Though he's nearly caught, the inmate, Abe, is impressed when David instinctively causes a distraction so that he can get rid of the phone safely.

Worried about his daughter, Dev books in an appointment with Dr Gaddas, who shares in his concern.

Inspecting Asha's red and raw arm, Dr Gaddas suggests that maybe counselling might be the right next step for Asha.

Back at home after the appointment, Dev tells Asha how much he loves her and that he only wants the best for her.