When they get it right with Gail, she can be funny. She's been involved in some classic comedy scenes, like the famous dressing gown fight with Eileen in the street, "Oh look, it's the rest of the Village People!" , plus the 'Manchester Tart' episode with Deirdre. Also, I found the scenes of her and Audrey power walking earlier this year hilariously random.

But I agree that her exchange with the truckers' wives in last night's ep was more strange than anything.

You see I quite like the comedy aspect of Deardre with her stuffed mangos amd crap pottery and starting to wax lyrical about the past and Samir in particular when she's been drinking. However, I don't want that to be all she does and other than having a blind mothers love for Tracey (whgich I can only explain by hysterical amnesia regarding the night of the confession) that is all she does. As I say, she's being written as a stupid, ineffectal old woman who people mock for their over interest in their hobbies as their lives are so small.

Again, gail, even though she's worked for a long time, I think she's very impressed that Nick has such a 'classy' place and maybe she's acting the way she thinks a Bistro host would rather than be her natural self as she was in the Rovers and Cafe. Airs and graces above her station, same as Audrey at the same age and Sally Webster.