Summary[]
Mark makes a surprise visit to see his family on Christmas Day. Mary spends the day in the hospital with Annie who has been under observation following the car crash. The Fowlers spend Christmas Day at Pete and Kathy's. Sharon has Christmas dinner over at the Vic with Den and Pat. The atmosphere is too quiet and dull for her liking.
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The Beales and Fowlers spend Christmas at Kathy and Pete's with Charlie, Dot and Ethel. Ian gives Martin his old toy car set. Arthur, Ian and Pete all work together to set it up. Donna phones Kathy to wish her a merry Christmas. Rod meets Mary at the hospital to spend the rest of the day with her and Annie. Simon heads to the Vic to give Pat her Christmas present when Magda heads to work. He also has a present for Sharon, and then heads over to Kathy and Pete's flat to dish out presents over there. Sharon lies and tells Den she needs to tend to the turkey for Angie, and once outside, heads off alone. Dot, Ethel and Lou reminisce about their Christmas pasts. Doctor Legg and Uncle also visit the ladies and they all spend time together. Chris arrives at the hospital to see Annie. Mary tells him she has not forgiven him. Charlie phones Rose to tell her he will be fleeing Albert Square tomorrow as he has hated spending Christmas with Dot. Pat tries to flirt with Den but he does not reciprocate. Instead, he heads over to Kathy and Pete's flat with presents for Martin and Vicki. Edie rushes down to the hospital from Stockport with Mary's brother, Brendan, to see Annie. She demands she sees a doctor about Annie and manages to immediately annoy Mary. The doorbell rings at Kathy and Pete's flat and Lou answers it - it is Mark. The family are thrilled by his presence. Edie gives Chris a harsh talking to in the hospital corridors. The doctor discharges Annie from hospital and Mary is thrilled. Edie tries to get Mary to go back to Stockport with her but Mary refuses to go. Den and Michelle open Vicki's present together. Mark and Pauline watch on as they do, both visibly uneasy. |
Credits[]
Main cast[]
- Den Watts - Leslie Grantham
- Michelle Holloway - Susan Tully
- Pauline Fowler - Wendy Richard
- Lou Beale - Anna Wing
- Ethel Skinner - Gretchen Franklin
- Doctor Harold Legg - Leonard Fenton
- Dot Cotton - June Brown
- Charlie Cotton - Christopher Hancock
- Sharon Watts - Letitia Dean
- Pat Wicks - Pam St Clement
- Kathy Beale - Gillian Taylforth
- Pete Beale - Peter Dean
- Arthur Fowler - Bill Treacher
- Mark Fowler - David Scarboro
- Simon 'Wicksy' Wicks - Nick Berry
- Ian Beale - Adam Woodyatt
- George 'Lofty' Holloway - Tom Watt
- Mary Smith - Linda Davidson
- Chris Smith - Allan O'Keefe
- Rod Norman - Christopher McHallem
- Vicki Fowler - Emma Herry (uncredited)
- Martin Fowler - Jon Peyton Price (uncredited)
- Annie Smith - Samantha Crown (uncredited)
Guest cast[]
- Uncle - Leonard Maguire
- Edie Smith - Eileen O'Brien (credited as "Mrs. Smith")
- Brendan Smith - Ian Wilkinson
- Girl's Mother - Claudette Moore
- Doctor - Angela Drummond
- Nurse - Amanda Jane Tooth
Locations[]
- Albert Square
- The Queen Victoria - Hallway and upstairs flat
- 45 Albert Square - Backroom
- 14B Walford Towers - Living room/kitchen and hallway
- Walford General Hospital - Children's ward and corridor
Notes[]
- Last appearance of Mark Fowler until 21 August 1990 and final appearance of David Scarboro in the role.
- Last appearance of Charlie Cotton until 26 May 1988.
- Colin Russell (Michael Cashman) is credited but does not appear in the episode.
- This episode was broadcasted at 3.10pm on Friday as an extra episode for Christmas Day.
- With the conscription from the BBC1 controller Jonathan Powell, this episode had to be forcefully rewritten, due to Powell stating that the episode wasn't "gritty" enough for a Christmas special. From the persuasion of series producer Julia Smith, Matthew Robinson was brought back to direct the Christmas special while Jane Hollowood penned the script.
- Radio Times synopsis: "Hello Mum, back again like a bad penny."
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast: 250,200,000 viewers (2nd place).
- For its 2025 upload to BBC iPlayer as "EastEnders: Christmas 1986 - 2007", this episode was entitled Christmas 1987.
| December 1987 episodes | |||||||||||||||
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| Tue 1st • Thu 3rd • Tue 8th • Thu 10th • Tue 15th • Thu 17th Tue 22nd • Thu 24th • Fri 25th • Tue 29th • Thu 31st (1 2)  This episode is available to buy from the selected retailers below.
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