S3·E46 09/06/1987

Episode recap

The episode that aired on 9 June 1987 as the forty‑sixth instalment of the third series continues to weave together the everyday concerns of Albert Square’s residents. Early in the programme Arthur confronts Mary with a pointed reminder not to waste her vote in the forthcoming general election, underscoring the political undercurrents that occasionally surface in the community’s conversations. Later, Barry finds a moment of vulnerability as he confides in Colin about worries regarding his health, a disclosure that adds a personal dimension to his otherwise resilient façade and invites Colin’s response. In another thread, Sue engages in a discussion with Ali about the prospect of in‑vitro fertilisation, revealing her desire to explore assisted reproduction; the exchange concludes with Ali agreeing to give Sue driving lessons, a practical arrangement that hints at a developing rapport between the two. Meanwhile, Sharon takes a more scheming approach, gathering a small audience to view a video that captures a drunken Angie in an unflattering light; among those who watch are Den and several other onlookers, the footage serving as both entertainment and leverage. After the viewing, Sharon formulates a plan, though the specifics of that plan are not detailed in the synopsis. The episode therefore balances political advice, health anxieties, reproductive aspirations, and the manipulation of personal secrets, illustrating the series’ capacity to interlace multiple storylines within a single hour. By juxtaposing Arthur’s civic admonition with Barry’s health confession, Sue’s reproductive hopes with Ali’s practical assistance, and Sharon’s opportunistic use of a compromising video, the narrative maintains its focus on the intertwined lives of the Square’s inhabitants while advancing each character’s arc in a manner consistent with the soap’s established style.