Season 3 - Episode Guide

Ruth has a surprise in store for hubby Simon, while Peggy and her family play host to unexpected visitors.

Vic finds himself at the centre of a furore concerning the uncertain future of a promising rugby player and the situation at the Snow's reaches crisis point as it becomes clear that although four may be company, seven is most definitely a crowd.

Ruth suffers the devastation of losing her baby as her pregnancy comes to an abrupt end, prompting husband Simon to turn to Peggy for support. Passionate feelings emerge between Alison and Stephen, and a medical crisis forces two elderly brothers to reach the conclusion that life's too short to be perpetually at each other's throats.

Stephen is staggered by an unexpected revelation, while Sandra begins to get cold feet about the direction her life is taking. Elsewhere, elderly farmer Kate Price is distressed at the prospect of leaving Skelthwaite for Manchester.

Jacqui is wrongly suspected of stealing from the hospital, leaving her wondering whether she can manage by herself after all, while Stephen heads off for university - despite being somewhat preoccupied with other matters.

The nerves set in as Sandra wakes for the first day of her new job, which sees her helping a man understand his poorly father's deteriorating condition. Craig visits the psychologist to find out if he's dyslexic, before sneaking off to a party in Bradford with Lucy. A poor showing on the rugby pitch forces Vic to consider a merger between the Scorpions and their similarly afflicted rivals, the Hoxton Giants.

Henry organises a team-building exercise in the Lake District for Goddard's staff - an adventure that nearly ends in tragedy. Jacqui continues to push Stephen away, going for a scan without even telling him, but an awkward encounter with Alison during a girls' night out changes her perspective.

Stephen gets a drenching during a moonlit walk with Jacqui and an abandoned baby opens old wounds for Ruth. Elsewhere, Vic helps Sandra in her hour of need while Peggy is away on her Italian course.

Baby Alfie is rushed to hospital after suffering a fit, leaving Ruth and Simon beside themselves with worry and guilt. Vic's proposal for a merger between the two rival rugby teams meets with opposition, while Tom Lewis has one of those days - first he's made redundant, and then he gets into a fight with a man he suspects is having an affair with his wife.

Simmering tensions in the Goddard household come to a head as Ruth gives Simon his marching orders, enraged to discover he's remortgaged the house without consulting her. Meanwhile, Stephen reacts badly to the news that fellow teacher Martin Williams has attempted suicide - and responds by seeking solace in Jacqui's arms.

A mother's pregnancy stirs up feelings of jealousy and resentment in her son, who suffers from spina bifida, and a fight at the newly merged Scorpions and Giants' first match doesn't bode well for the future. Steven and Jacqui patch up their differences, while Simon and Ruth still fail to agree.

Jacqui and Stephen settle into their new home, while Henry and Deborah get engaged. Elsewhere, Ruth announces she wants to start a fresh away from Skelthwaite, and the arrival of a mysterious tramp reopens old wounds in the community

The situation at the factory takes its toll on Simon, whose health and relationship with Ruth begin to suffer. Cheryl and Dick get the results of their fertility test, and Vic is forced to eat his words when the Skelthwaite Scorpions are hammered by a visiting team.

Ruth considers starting a new life in Australia and Simon realises the new shareholder at the paper factory is conspiring against him. Stephen makes careful plans to get pregnant Jacqui to the hospital - which are wrecked when she goes into labour just as Skelthwaite is hit by a power cut.