Plot[]
Minnie and Martha interrupt a bad-tempered Ena's harmonium practice. Ena forbids Minnie from going to the newly-opened Mario's Continental Cafe, saying they serve "mucked-up foreign stuff". In the cafe, owner Leo Bonarti argues with his son Mario who wants to add English food to the menu, saying the locals won't want just Italian cuisine. Doreen and Audrey Plant are their first customers but are unimpressed with the choices on offer, choosing coffee in the end. Audrey fancies Mario who tries to chat the two girls up, much to Doreen's derision. Frank, Ken and Nancy are the next patrons. They also turn down the more fanciful food, only asking for egg and chips. Doreen remains impervious to Mario's charms, annoying Audrey with her brusqueness towards him. Lucille is annoyed that with only a few days to go before term ends, she has to write a boring essay on what she expects to find at her new grammar school. Elsie and Dot try the cafe and Elsie is happy to sample the new cuisine. She invites Florrie to join their table. Elsie finds the spaghetti dish difficult to eat. The local shops and businesses donate to a charity raffle. Ena thinks it's all a con. Christine makes a cup of tea for Dennis while he practices his guitar. He regales her with his dreams of stardom and riches. Minnie is unhappy in the snug, wanting to go to the cafe. She lies that she's left her gas on to escape her friends, but doesn't fool Ena. Michael stands up for Concepta when Vince is rude to her and makes comments about the Irish. As the evening wears on, the cafe is empty. The Bonartis are about to close early when Minnie calls in and is instantly confused as the two men excitedly take her through the Italian choices on offer.
Cast[]
Regular cast[]
- Ena Sharples - Violet Carson
- Martha Longhurst - Lynne Carol
- Minnie Caldwell - Margot Bryant
- Doreen Lostock - Angela Crow
- Len Fairclough - Peter Adamson
- Alf Roberts - Bryan Mosley
- Frank Barlow - Frank Pemberton
- Kenneth Barlow - William Roache
- Lucille Hewitt - Jennifer Moss
- Harry Hewitt - Ivan Beavis
- Elsie Tanner - Patricia Phoenix
- Florrie Lindley - Betty Alberge
- Concepta Riley - Doreen Keogh
- Albert Tatlock - Jack Howarth
- Dennis Tanner - Philip Lowrie
- Christine Hardman - Christine Hargreaves
Guest cast[]
- Mario Bonarti - Frank Coda
- Leo Bonarti - Steve Plytas
- Audrey Plant - Mary Duddy
- Nancy Leathers - Norah Hammond
- Dorothy Greenhalgh - Joan Francis
- Michael Courtenay - John Kelly
- Vincent Plummer - Garfield Morgan
Places[]
- Rovers Return Inn - Public/snug
- 7 Coronation Street - Back room
- 11 Coronation Street - Back room
- Glad Tidings Mission Hall - Vestry
- Mario's Continental Cafe
Notes[]
- TV Times: No synopsis appeared in the magazine for this episode.
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 5,485,000 homes (3rd place).
July 1961 episodes |
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