Marriage break-ups are nothing new in Soapland, where they're as common as Kat Slater.

Once policewoman Emma Watts told lies in the witness box in Coronation Street (ITV1), her already-shaky marriage was destined to become even more fragile.

She may be a sharp-shooting policewoman but she misses the mark as the perfect wife. Emma is also afflicted by a disease affecting many Soapland residents - dithering. She can't bring herself to make a decision. Just as Peter Barlow kept promising to tell his fiancee about his wife Lucy, so Emma has been prevaricating about telling the truth about her police colleague battering Les Battersby.

In the end, she couldn't bring herself to do it in court on oath, so no wonder husband Curly gives her an ultimatum - choose between her marriage and her job. An offer of promotion, which will take her away from Weatherfield, could prove the perfect solution.

Another marriage break-up could be put on a permanent footing when Karen raises the question of divorce with Steve of the dancing eyebrows. It's surprising she's got the time as she's busy cooking the Underworld books with lover Joe.

Dev has returned from his trip to India with a beard and a question for Sunita: "Will you marry me?" This is fast work, even for devilishly devious Dev. He usually loves them and leaves them. Will Sunita twig that he's only interested in using her for breeding purposes?

Dirty Den Mark 2 continues to confuse half-sister Sharon in EastEnders (BBC1). She catches him with stolen goods hidden in her club, Angie's Den. He has to convince her that he didn't steal them and is only getting them for a friend (whom we know is irritating Vicki, who should be jailed immediately).

Like Weatherfield's Emma, a Walford policewoman must choose between her man and her job. Kate Tyler's superiors decide that her relationship with bad boy Phil Mitchell represents a conflict of interests. And she, the silly girl, decides to quit the cops and move in with Phil. All he has to do is overcome the suspicions of the rest of the Mitchell family.

Round at the Vic, Lynne and Kat threaten to boycott Alfie's stripper night - until discovering that the strippers are male.

A few naked men might improve Laurel's prospects at the Woolpack in Emmerdale (ITV1). She suffers several setbacks behind the bar, and landlady Diane returns to find Bob doesn't have everything under control.

Debbie, the child who was given away as a baby, is still causing trouble. Mum Charity blames her for ruining her evening, while her husband Chris reaches the end of his tether with Debbie's father Cain.

Published: 22/05/2003