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Things go from bad to worse for Kat and Alfie. Emma, Lauren and Peter make decisions about their future. And Nick continues his charm offensive - but is all what it seems?

Lauren sits browsing on her laptop, but quickly closes it as Max enters. Ian arrives to give Lauren her work rota and tells her that Peter really needs a friend right now. Emma talks to Lauren about Peter and tries to make her realise that now isn’t the time to be pushing him away. Emma heads to Walford Park and meets DI Keeble and DS Bryant there. Bryant is sent to get mince pies while Keeble informs Emma that there has been a development in the Lucy Beale case.

Keeble explains that there was some suspicious activity on Lucy’s social media account after her murder, and the IP account has led them to Lauren Branning. Keeble wants Emma to get the laptop for her, off the books. Emma initially refuses and tells them to get a warrant. Keeble explains that if Lauren has nothing to hide then she has nothing to worry about, giving Emma food for thought. Lauren visits Peter and gives him his birthday present; a camera for when he goes travelling. She tells him she still wants to be friends and suggests they go to the Christmas fair together. At the park, Lauren wins a fairground game and makes Peter wear her prize – a pair of flashing antlers.

Peter tries to explain again that his dealings with the cocaine was just his way of trying to protect Lucy. He tells Lauren that he doesn’t think he can just be friends with her because he will always love her. Lauren happily relents and the pair kiss in the rain. Later, Max and Emma enter the house after Emma’s disciplinary hearing to find Lauren and Peter are back together. As Lauren makes her way into the kitchen, Emma heads into the living room and clocks Lauren’s laptop on the dining table. Later, outside on the Square, Emma gets into Keeble’s car and hands the laptop over to Keeble and Bryant...

Kat is on the phone to the landlord of Terry’s old flat, begging him to let them stay a few more days. She gets irate when he tells them they have to leave by lunchtime or he will bring the police. Kat is convinced that they should find the money for the deposit and tells Alfie she is heading out to the stall. Kush and Donna compete with Kat for Linda’s custom. Alfie comes past and tells Kat that he will go to the council to look at temporary accommodation. Kat starts to put all of her goods into their boxes to sell to the rag man on Spring Lane. Kat comes back to the flat having spent all of the money on cans of food to see them through to New Year, deciding they will lock themselves in.

The police bang on the door and Kat shouts at them out of the window. Mick finds Stacey in the Vic and tells her that Kat is in trouble. When Stacey heads over, Kat shouts at her and tells her to stay out of it. Stacey tries to make her see sense; she is on a suspended sentence and if the police come, she will end up in prison. A crowd starts to build outside and just as the police prepare to knock down the door, Kat and Alfie step outside. Mick offers them the Vic living room for the night. Alfie carries the last of their bags upstairs and gazes at the photo of Nana Moon. Kat points out that a year ago this pub was their home and breaks down. Alfie holds her.

Yvonne hurries Charlie and Ronnie out of the house as Nick comes in through the back door telling her she’s a good liar. They bicker about him leaving the house and she locks him in. Ian speaks to Ronnie and tells her he doesn’t have enough money for them to pay Nick off. Yvonne notices the police car outside and panics but Ronnie tells her to calm down. Later, when Charlie and Ronnie leave, Yvonne flirtily sends Nick upstairs, telling him she is locking them both in tonight...

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30 minutes

Audio described

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • The Kooks

    Are We Electric

  • 5 Seconds of Summer

    Good Girls

  • The Weavers

    We wish you a Merry Christmas

  • Shakin’ Stevens

    Merry Christmas Everyone

  • Andy Williams

    Its The Most Wonderful Time Of Year

  • Queen

    Thank God It's Christmas

  • The Jacksons

    I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus

  • Beverley Sisters

    And Kings Came A Ca

  • Christina Perri

    Something About December

  • Pixie Lott

    I got Love for Christmas

  • Basement 5

    Last White Christmas

  • Labrinth & Emeli Sandé

    Beneath Your Beautiful

  • BAND AID

    Do They Know Its Christmas

  • Tensnake, Jacques Lu Cont & Jamie Lidell

    Feel Of Love

  • Jessie Ware

    Say You Love Me

Credits

Role Contributor
DC Emma Summerhayes Anna Acton
DI Samantha Keeble Alison Newman
DS Bryant Glen Wallace
Alfie Moon Shane Richie
Kat Moon Jessie Wallace
Stacey Branning Lacey Turner
Max Branning Jake Wood
Lauren Branning Jacqueline Jossa
Peter Beale Ben Hardy
Ian Beale Adam Woodyatt
Ronnie Mitchell Samantha Womack
Donna Yates Lisa Hammond
Shabnam Masood Rakhee Thakrar
Kush Kazemi Davood Ghadami
Shirley Carter Linda Henry
Dean Wicks Matt Di Angelo
Mick Carter Danny Dyer
Linda Carter Kellie Bright
Charlie Cotton Declan Bennett
Nick Cotton John Altman
Yvonne Cotton Pauline McLynn
Lily Branning Aine Garvey
PC Kresge Matthew Ashforde
Writer Robert Goldsbrough
Director Toby Frow
Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins

Broadcasts