The family gathers for Derek's funeral

The family gathers for Derek's funeral
The family gathers for Derek's funeral (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron)

Joey is in a state on the day of Derek's funeral. Jack and Max realise that he's cut up by grief and his unresolved feelings about his father but insist that he go to the funeral and pay his respects. At the Butchers, preparations are underway for the wake, while Jack speaks to Dot, who has decided to stay put, as Jim is not up to attending his son's funeral. When Lauren is sent to the launderette to pick up the family's clothes for the funeral, she's embarrassed to bump into Lucy, who is still smarting from seeing her kissing Joey. Lucy doesn't want to hear it when Lauren tries to justify their relationship. Lauren makes the mistake of confessing that Joey took the rap for her over the car crash as she was drink driving. Lucy heads off to the police station to grass her up. Joey and Alice comfort each other as the hearse carrying Derek pulls up outside the house. The Square residents look on respectfully, despite their feelings towards Derek. Meanwhile, Poppy hands Carol a letter that turned up when Derek's things were moved. A stunned Carol runs back into the house, slamming the door behind her...

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.