Wed, Apr 11, 2007
Hotel Babylon is facing a takeover by Donovan Credo - infamous in the hotel trade for ousting the staff and bringing in his own 'drones'. Rebecca is to be kept on but Donovan allows her to keep only two members of staff. Rebecca chooses Charlie but makes him decide upon the other, dangling the managerial career carrot in front of him. Starting with Ben, one by one the staff are all given their notices. Tony learns he is the other member of staff to be kept on. However, he throws it back in their faces and walks out. When Charlie also decides to resign, Rebecca is forced to reveal to him that the Babylon Group are finding an alternative buyer (a Japanese company). Firing the staff was a stalling technique to give the Japanese more time to gather relevant information. Rebecca and Charlie work through the night ensuring the Japanese have everything they need to achieve a successful bid and at the very last minute they have succeeded. As Donovan walks out with his tail between his legs Charlie reassembles the team for a celebratory meeting. However, they feel that Rebecca has betrayed them. Rebecca leaves the hotel - for good. Charlie receives notification that he's to be made General Manager at Rebecca's recommendation.
Wed, Mar 1, 2006
Riled and suddenly untrusting, she not only interviews all of the staff, but also calls in an auditor - much to the distress of Gino and Jackie, whose stocktake figures are complete fantasy. Meanwhile, Anna is leading a teenage virtuoso violinist into naughtiness. Derek the doorman manages to persuade Rebecca, via Charlie to interview his wayward son for a job at the hotel. The lad is rubbish, though. About to break the bad news to Derek, Charlie realises the awful truth from something the dooorman says - Derek must be the hotel thief. Rebecca must maintain her professional stance and hand Derek his P45. The anguish doesn't end there, despite Tony's good work in heading-off ball-crunching auditor Ms Merchant with some well-placed bribes. A disgruntled hotel guest surprises everyone by revealing himself to be a hotel inspector - and issuing a damning threat!
Wed, Mar 8, 2006
The surprise arrival of the hotel chain's European Director Adrian unsettles the staff further. Only Rebecca knows he's there for more than purely business reasons - the two of them had a fling a few months before. Adrian proves to be only the start of their worries: a star witness, Mr Wiltshire, is being housed at the hotel during the course of an infamous gangland trial. Tony is nervous about the risk to staff and Charlie has the unenviable task of looking after the guest. Whilst Tony attempts to forment a mutiny amongst the staff, Rebecca finds herself being wooed by Adrian with an offer of promotion abroad - and a new life with him. Meanwhile, Charlie builds up a rapport with Mr Wiltshire, and realised that he's come to the hotel just to die away from prison. Rebecca is put on the spot when her husband arrives for a surprise anniversary dinner organised by the staff. Forced to choose between her career and her marriage, she hesitates. But before she can make up her mind, gunshots ring out from the ninth floor - where Charlie is trying to protect Mr Wiltshire!
Wed, Feb 22, 2006
Already spooked after Tony tells them a grisly tale of murder at a nearby hotel, Anna and Max are further unsettled by the disappearance of security guard Jagdeep. Anna is sent to deliver a bottle of whiskey to a sheik, who is staying at the hotel after buying antique pistols at a Sotheby's auction. On her way back, she becomes convinced that she's heard a guest murder his wife in one of the bedrooms. Charlie refuses to take her seriously, despite having seen the guest, Mr Johnson, arguing with his wife earlier. As the night wears on, Mr Johnson's behaviour - like sneaking his suitcases out in the middle of the night - worries Anna more and more. With Charlie's help, she snoops around in his room, and is appalled to discover blood streaks in the bath and a bag of rope, tape and rubber gloves. In the bowels of the hotel, Charlie discovers Jagdeep seriously ill in a toilet cubicle. Meanwhile, Anna is terrified when Mr Johnson tries to make her accompany him. Seeing how scared she is, Charlie finally agrees to confront him, but when they go to his room they find a young, drunk, woman tied up in his wardrobe. A returning Mr Johnson is hit on the head by Anna - and Charlie finally phones Rebecca. The no-nonsense General Manager quickly gets to the bottom of things. Mr and Mrs Johnson were attempting to steal the pistols bought by the sheik. To do this, they abducted one of the sheik's wives - the young woman tied up in the wardrobe - and Mrs Johnson had swapped places with her. Given the option of arrest or a cover-up, all parties decide on keeping things quiet - and Rebecca finally escapes for her romantic holiday.
Wed, Mar 21, 2007
When a former-nurse-turned-reality-show celebrity, Carrie Cottan, checks into Hotel Babylon, Gino becomes besotted with her. Carrie's famous for having an affair with TV presenter Marcus Walker, and is enjoying her 15 minutes of fame. Elsewhere in the hotel, Jackie is delighted when a novelist she admires, Francis Levington, checks in prior to his latest book launch. She makes an excuse to meet him alone, but soon comes to regret her actions.
Wed, Apr 4, 2007
Wanting to remain professional, Rebecca and Charlie agree to meet to discuss the new developments in their relationship. However, seeing them together ignites feelings of jealousy in Jackie. In the middle of juggling both women, Charlie's younger brother, Dan, arrives at the hotel - which can only mean trouble. Meanwhile, the restaurant's wine list is looking worryingly short of top vintages When wealthy Mrs Klein suggests a wine taste-off at the hotel to win a case of very expensive Petrus '61, James feels he has no option but to comply. But can he survive the event with his reputation in tact?
Wed, Jan 25, 2006
Unfortunately for him, Rebecca puts him in charge of keeping suicidal guest Mr Machin alive, while concierge Tony has to deal with the repercussions of mistaking a legitimate guest for a hooker. But this is the least of his worries as Rebecca's re-branding of his job has severely rocked his confidence. The staff help an elderly ex-worker celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary, forcing Rebecca to reflect on her own marriage. Meanwhile, shady limousine drive Pete is becoming more demanding as he threatens to divulge whatever it is he knows about Charlie's mysterious past.
Mon, Feb 18, 2008
Anna thinks all her Christmases have arrived at once, when highly successful clothing company De Rigeur holds a fashion show at Hotel Babylon to launch their new collection. Anna's a big fan of the label and quickly ingratiates herself with Duncan, the creative director, in order to get her hands on the collection's star piece - the Astrix dress. Things at De Rigeur, however, aren't as glossy as they seem as Duncan accuses his boss, Price, of using sweatshops in order to keep clothing costs down. When Price refuses to listen to Duncan, he finds himself an unlikely ally in Anna. Charlie sees Anna in a new light when she shuns her usual materialistic instincts in favour of doing what is morally right, but Price is a powerful man and shows Duncan what he's capable of. Will Charlie and Anna be able to help Duncan and bring down one of the most successful clothing companies of recent times? Meanwhile, a jury is sequestered to the hotel to consider their verdict. It's a murder trial and the vote of one jury member, Justine, could either see the defendant being found innocent or guilty. She forms a bond with Tony, who is having a hard time - he's turned 40 and his family doesn't seem to care. Tony helps Justine when she is delivered a bung - will she take the money and run or, more importantly, will Tony give up everything and go with her? Emily James, meanwhile, stays at Hotel Babylon and claims to be a journalist - but she keeps changing the publication she works for and the questions she asks the regular employees are maybe a little too personal. Is she really who she claims to be, or is there an ulterior motive for her enquiries that even Charlie isn't aware of?
Mon, Mar 17, 2008
Charlie is starting to realise the pressure of managing a five-star hotel when a report from head office shows profits are down. His day gets worse when it emerges the chambermaids haven't been paid. Hutch a friend of Charlie's, is an established diamond dealer, who's arrived for an exclusive jewellery auction being hosted at the hotel. However rumours of a planned heist are making people jittery. When Hutch realises the auction might be cancelled, he becomes desperate, revealing to Charlie that the auction is his ticket to freedom. With Head Office on his back, the chambermaids at their wits end and his friend needing help, Charlie turns to ex cell-mate turned loan shark, Terry to secure the extra finance he needs. When a further payroll mistake means there's no money to pay Terry back, things go from bad to worse with serious repercussions for Terry's henchman, Sparks. Charlie's world is closing in and his days at Hotel Babylon suddenly appear to be numbered. Can Hutch offer him a much needed lifeline?