[Wilf]

Got to admit that this batch of episodes was a little slower than I remembered, but nevertheless, there's some stunning stuff topping and tailing this collection. Bea's amnesia storyline is, of course, classic stuff, and the Terry Harrison story takes a deliciously evil twist when Kathy Hall gets released, culminating in a shocking exit for him and a poignant one for Vera. Fantastic stuff all round.

Having learned from this disc that the producers asked the cast to summarise their characters' experiences thus far when coming up with plotlines in this period, there are some shocking continuity lapses with regard to Erica's and (especially) Judy's backgrounds - Barbara is namechecked one minute but doesn't actually seem to be part of the family at all the next. And then there's the small matter of virgin mother Judy...

Still, thank God Lizzie and Sid are here to liven things up. These two are genuinely heartwarming, and Lizzie is always value for money. Sid's death is understated and beautiful.

Colleen Powell is really coming into her own, too.

We're not quite back up to the giddy heights of Volume 4 yet, but this is still a very worthwhile set of episodes.