Summary[]
Grant's Christmas present gives Phil an opportunity to make things up with his mum. Melanie is surprised by her Christmas present from Ian.
|
Rosa is working herself mad with the Christmas dinner to impress the Mitchells. Beppe and Gianni drop harmless jokes, which she doesn't find too amusing. They persuade her to take a rest, but it doesn't last long and Nicky is frustrated that they aren't celebrating for her birthday. Rosa promises to make it up to her. Dan is making a mock-up of the Christmas bunch, and Phil has gone a wire. Lisa takes over the cooking and Dan goes on the look out for Phil. Peggy has gone to town with the brunch for the di Marcos. Frank doesn't share her determination. Mark gets impatient with Jeff's presence at the Fowlers and Jim has everybody questioning when he claims Christmas isn't Jesus' birthday. Melanie is taken aback when Ian presents her with her Christmas gift - the Vic. She claims it's insane. The atmosphere at the Evans' is depressing with the missing item of Natalie. Peggy rounds the family together, barks her orders on manners and behaviour, and the family make their way in pride and stride to Giuseppe's. Irene questions Troy on his behaviour towards Rosa. He can't believe she's even considering something is going on. Their sloppy reunion kiss is interrupted by Terry, who misses them. Sam has bought Beppe a personal organiser for Christmas but when Jackie questions her on some flash underwear that Beppe received from Nina, she is furious. Peggy gets annoyed with Frank's favourable comments to Rosa and Dot has everyone erratic with a game of charades. With the family gone, Phil takes a lounge in the Vic. Jim tries coming onto Pauline, she makes it clear she isn't interested. Dan finds Phil in the Vic. Phil opens up about all the heartache and misery the public house has caused him and his family over the years. He offers to sell it to Dan for a fiver! Dan is reluctant at first but later accepts his astonishing offer. Barry can't bare to spend the day wallowing in self-pity and commences to search for his fiancée. Lisa and Jamie are left to enjoy Christmas dinner by themselves, Lisa reaches the end of her tether with Phil and tells Jamie to tell him the relationship is off and storms out. If the di Marco and Mitchell family Christmas dinner wasn't unpleasant and awkward enough, the appearance of Phil after a two-hour delay certainly heightens the atmosphere when he proceeds Peggy with news, asking her if she wants the bad or the good first. |
Credits[]
Main cast[]
- Phil Mitchell - Steve McFadden
- Peggy Butcher - Barbara Windsor
- Frank Butcher - Mike Reid
- Dan Sullivan - Craig Fairbrass
- Jamie Mitchell - Jack Ryder
- Lisa Shaw - Lucy Benjamin
- Janine Butcher - Charlie Brooks
- Ricky Butcher - Sid Owen
- Sam Mitchell - Danniella Westbrook
- Rosa di Marco - Louise Jameson
- Beppe di Marco - Michael Greco
- Gianni di Marco - Marc Bannerman
- Teresa di Marco - Leila Birch
- Nicky di Marco - Carly Hillman
- Joe di Marco - Jake Kyprianou
- Jackie Owen - Race Davies
- Ian Beale - Adam Woodyatt
- Melanie Healy - Tamzin Outhwaite
- Kathy Mitchell - Gillian Taylforth
- Pauline Fowler - Wendy Richard
- Mark Fowler - Todd Carty
- Martin Fowler - James Alexandrou
- Jeff Healy - Leslie Schofield
- Dot Cotton - June Brown
- Jim Branning - John Bardon
- Steven Beale - Edward Savage
- Lucy Beale - Casey Anne Rothery
- Peter Beale - Joseph Shade
- Ben Mitchell - Morgan Whittle
- Barry Evans - Shaun Williamson
- Pat Evans - Pam St. Clement
- Roy Evans - Tony Caunter
- Terry Raymond - Gavin Richards
- Irene Raymond - Roberta Taylor
- Troy Harvey - Jamie Jarvis
Locations[]
- Albert Square
- The Queen Victoria - Public
- 5 Albert Square - Kitchen, dining room and hallway
- 41 Albert Square - Living/dining room
- 45 Albert Square - Backroom and kitchen
- Bridge Street
- Giuseppe's - Restaurant
- 87 George Street - Kitchen
Notes[]
- This episode of a two-part special for Christmas Day was broadcast on a Saturday at 5.50pm.
- A man dressed up as Santa is uncredited despite having a line of dialogue.
- Radio Times synopsis: Grant's Christmas present gives Phil an opportunity to make things up with his mum, but has he got other ideas?
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 11,960,000 viewers (9th place).
- For its 2025 upload to BBC iPlayer as "EastEnders: Christmas 1986 - 2007", this episode was entitled 1999 - Part 1.
Dialogue[]
FRANK BUTCHER: I've never seen so many chicken legs in my life. Every chicken in London must be in a wheelchair.
DOT COTTON (about the Vic): Changes hand so many times, they 'ought to put revolving doors on that place.
This episode is available to buy from the selected retailers below.
| Retailers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Note: We are not affiliate with any retailers and have not received any monetary incentives, this is purely to inform about the BBC's products. | ||||
