--- ENTER KARL

At the start of 2004, Karl Foster arrives on the scene - he works as a nurse at the local hospital where Martin Platt (Sarah's dad), Katy Harris (Martin's teenage partner) and Todd all work. At first, he's just Martin's friend because they work together on the wards, but Martin introduces him to Katy and the two of them become firm friends. Martin soon starts to get jealous because Karl and Katy are spending so much time together, but Katy finds this highly amusing and informs Martin that Karl is in fact gay! Katy has four tickets for a Badly Drawn Boy concert and she asks Sarah and Todd to come with her and Martin. In the end, Martin can't make it so Katy invites Karl instead and when Sarah can't make it either, it turns out to be just Katy, Todd and Karl. They have a good night out and the two boys get on really well with each other.

A couple of days later, Todd, Karl and Martin are drinking together in the Rovers talking about Todd's funny dancing at the gig. Karl mentions Katy but Martin says she's at home doing an essay so wouldn't want to be disturbed. Then Martin offers to buy some more drinks but Karl says he'd better get back to cook tea. Ciaran McCarthy, the observant barman, points out that Karl left straight away as soon as he found out that Katy couldn't come for a drink so Todd asks him: “You think he's after Katy?” Ciaran reckons Karl is a hit with the ladies, but Martin butts in: “Yeah I'm sure he is but I'm sorry to disappoint you mate, doesn't do the girl thing.” Ciaran is shocked: “What, he's gay?” Martin replies: “Yeah, so you can give up stirring it!” Todd's face drops!

After this, Todd starts to avoid Karl at work; Karl takes this as a sign of homophobia and rapidly grows to dislike Todd. Then the two of them get stuck alone together in a lift at the hospital. At first Todd is uncomfortable and tries to just ignore Karl but they are stuck for well over an hour and Todd eventually relaxes a bit and plucks up the courage to say something. He says: “Karl, I'm not homophobic.” Karl brushes it off and tells him to forget it but Todd really wants to clear the air between them. He goes on: “No, I wanna explain ... When I found out you were gay - you're right, it made me feel awkward and uncomfortable. Thing is ... a few months ago, I kissed a bloke,” then he hastily adds: “but I'm not gay.” At this point Karl realises why Todd has been so funny with him recently. He reacts kindly to Todd's admission: “Is that it? Is that what all this has been about? Look Todd, I think you're a great guy and yeah, I'd like to be your mate but I have plenty of straight mates. Just ‘cos you once kissed a guy doesn't mean you're gay.” After this, Todd loses his inhibitions and they become good mates.

Todd and Karl start meeting up for drinks after work and Karl introduces Todd to some of his mates. The two boys get on like a house on fire and really enjoy each other's company. It turns out they have a lot in common and they have a light-hearted moan about how their partners keep telling them what to do and how they want to be able to please themselves instead. These after-work drinking sessions get quite regular and Sarah soon starts getting fed up with it. As far as she's concerned, Todd keeps going out drinking ‘with his mates' after work all the time, spending the money they're supposed to be saving up for their wedding.

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