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Stacey continues to push Linda for information. Emma discovers some surprising new evidence in the Lucy Beale investigation. Dot is in for a huge shock when she returns home.

Stacey avoids sleeping in Dean鈥檚 bed, pretending Lily鈥檚 had a nightmare. Stacey asks Linda what she was going to tell her the night before. Linda claims she was just being overprotective, reassuring Stacey. At Blades, Stacey pretends to be offended when Dean flirts with a customer. Mick arrives to sell raffle tickets and, again, asks Stacey and Dean to come for Christmas, suggesting Stacey brings Kat and the kids too. He reveals Linda鈥檚 pregnant, Stacey congratulates him but Dean鈥檚 quiet. Stacey mentions to Dean that Linda was weird the night before but puts it down to her hormones.

Later, Stacey tells Dean Mick obviously likes him, now he鈥檚 got to convince Linda who said he was a bit of a ladies鈥� man. Stacey thinks Linda was defensive when she said it and notes Dean is too, asking if something happened between them; Dean tells her to drop it. At the Vic, Mick announces that Linda鈥檚 expecting. Linda draws the raffle and Stacey wins a bottle of whisky. Dean comes in as Linda鈥檚 handing it over and she flinches when he touches her. Clearly unsettled, Linda carries on with the raffle but soon heads upstairs. Stacey follows. Stacey tells Linda all about her own experience of rape, which strikes a chord with Linda. Stacey asks if Dean raped her and Linda nods.

It鈥檚 Emma鈥檚 first day of civilian life, she鈥檚 trying to be cheerful but Max isn鈥檛 talking to her. Emma tries to make plans for Christmas Day but Lauren apologetically explains she鈥檚 going to Peter鈥檚. Emma insists the job and murder investigation is behind her. In the cafe, Lee calls Lauren two faced. Lauren explains she spoke to Whitney and knows she isn鈥檛 a liar, she was just in shock. Once Lauren鈥檚 gone, Lee ponders why Lauren didn鈥檛 tell the police about going to Lucy鈥檚 house on Good Friday. Fatboy鈥檚 worried when Lee reveals what he鈥檚 done with the video. Emma agrees to meet up with Cameron Bryant.

Bryant reveals he鈥檚 discovered that it was Max who made the 鈥榓nonymous鈥� call about her relationship with him. Emma鈥檚 suspicious but Bryant assures her he just wants to protect her. Back home, Emma confronts Max who claims he did it for her. Emma storms out, insisting they鈥檙e over. Lauren follows Emma out and hands over the padded envelope addressed to her, apologising for her dad鈥檚 behaviour. Opening the envelope, Emma finds a memory stick. She plugs it into her computer and watches the video file.

Kat returns to work on the stall, she鈥檚 acting positive and Donna鈥檚 supportive. Ian鈥檚 short staffed in the cafe and Jane agrees to help out. Masood notes it鈥檚 just like the old days. Everyone鈥檚 avoiding Alfie except Ian, who takes him in and says he can stay as long as he likes. Alfie鈥檚 clearly devastated and Ian can鈥檛 leave him. When Ian eventually arrives at the cafe, he and Jane naturally start working as an efficient team. When Kat鈥檚 back鈥檚 turned, Alfie picks up one of the twins. Kat鈥檚 angry and refuses to give Alfie permission to see the kids for an hour on Christmas Day. Jane overhears Alfie telling Kat he鈥檚 staying at the Beales鈥�. Jane asks Ian why he didn鈥檛 tell her 鈥� Ian explains he鈥檚 not condoning what Alfie did but everyone makes mistakes. Ian鈥檚 surprised when Jane kisses him.

Yvonne persuades Dot to leave her with Nick and cover Cora鈥檚 shift at the Launderette. Nick gets an old Sex Pistols record out of the attic. Yvonne tells Nick he broke her heart. Later, Dot returns from her double shift and is horrified to find Nick and Yvonne naked on the sofa.

The market ladies watch admiringly as Kush stretches. Shabnam complains to Denise that Kush thinks the whole world is in love with him and is adamant she isn鈥檛 interested. Denise is offended when Shabnam tries to give her money off a pint of milk. At the Vic, Denise isn鈥檛 thrilled when Patrick wins dinner at Beales鈥� in the raffle. Linda presumes Denise has stolen a bottle of booze which Mick actually gave her as a Christmas bonus. Linda tries to throw Denise out but Kush stands up for her and Linda eventually apologises.

5 months left to watch

30 minutes

Audio described

Music Played

  • Shakin鈥� Stevens

    Merry Christmas Everyone

  • The Beach Boys

    Little Saint Nick

  • Aled Jones

    Walking In The Air

  • The Clash

    London Calling

  • Pixie Lott

    I got Love for Christmas

  • Kylie Minogue

    Flower

  • Pixie Lott

    Catching Snowflakes

  • CeeLo Green

    The Christmas Song

  • Arlissa

    Into the Light

  • Cliff Richard

    Mistletoe And Wine

  • Slade

    Merry Xmas Everybody

  • Elton John

    Step into Christmas

  • CeeLo Green

    All I Want For Christmas

  • Wizzard

    I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

  • Sex Pistols

    Anarchy In The UK

  • Jona Lewie

    Stop The Cavalry

  • Rod Stewart

    Merry Christmas, Baby (feat. CeeLo Green & Trombone Shorty)

  • Wham!

    Last Christmas

Credits

Role Contributor
Stacey Branning Lacey Turner
Linda Carter Kellie Bright
Dean Wicks Matt Di Angelo
Mick Carter Danny Dyer
Lee Carter Danny-Boy Hatchard
Lauren Branning Jacqueline Jossa
Max Branning Jake Wood
Emma Summerhayes Anna Acton
Alfie Moon Shane Richie
Kat Moon Jessie Wallace
Donna Yates Lisa Hammond
Pam Coker Lin Blakley
Phil Mitchell Steve McFadden
Ian Beale Adam Woodyatt
Jane Beale Laurie Brett
Patrick Trueman Rudolph Walker
Denise Fox Diane Parish
Masood Ahmed Nitin Ganatra
Shabnam Masood Rakhee Thakrar
Kush Kazemi Davood Ghadami
Arthur 'Fatboy' Chubb Ricky Norwood
Dot Branning June Brown
Nick Cotton John Altman
Yvonne Cotton Pauline McLynn
Bobby Beale Eliot Carrington
Lily Branning Aine Garvey
DS Cameron Bryant Glen Wallace
Writer Lauren Klee
Director Claire Winyard
Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins

Broadcasts