Summary[]
A devastated Dot tries to stop Pauline leaving the Square for good. Stacey tells Max she won't stop until she gets what she wants. Martin asks Sonia to marry him again.
|
Pauline reminisces as she finishes packing up the house. Max gives Sonia a present to pass onto Bradley. Ian's heartbroken to discover Pauline's move to America. He tries persuading and guilt-ridding her into staying, but she has made up her mind. Stacey turns up at the Branning's in a tarty dress to give Tanya a present. She taunts Max and informs him that she's available all day. Ian warns Dot and Martin that Pauline has decided to move to America today. Dot's left stunned. Stacey's displeased with Jean's witter praising about Bradley. Charlie's forced to break the news that they've spilt up. Pauline visits Arthur and Mark's grave. Peggy boastfully opens up the Vic for Christmas celebrations and amusement for the residents. She's lost for words when Garry turns up with Minty in a tight-knit Elf costume for the children's entertainment. Martin tells Sonia that he wants to put their divorce behind them and remarry. Dot confronts Pauline and tells her that she's a stubborn woman. Stacey continues to tease Max at the party and follows him into the gents. He warns her to stay well away. Ben launches a stink bomb into the fireplace and smoke emerges causing a disruption to the party. Peggy sends both Garry and Minty up to the chimney, believing there is some kind of fault. She scolds Ben when she discovers the truth. Stella tries making an effort with Ben, but he continues to shun her. Stacey's furious when she sees Jean talking to Bradley. She goes over to take her mum away and Bradley loses his patience. He viciously raises his voice so the whole bar can hear. An embarrassed Stacey loses it and publicly offers herself to the men of Walford. Peggy throws her out and Max goes after her. Phil decides to have a word with Ben when Stella wants to leave. Stacey trashes Number 23. Minty falls off the ladder when trying to get up the roof of the pub. Sonia turns up at Pauline's. Max can't resist himself anymore when Stacey comes onto him and the pair end up passionate on the stairs. |
Credits[]
Main cast[]
- Stacey Slater - Lacey Turner
- Max Branning - Jake Wood
- Pauline Fowler - Wendy Richard
- Sonia Jackson - Natalie Cassidy
- Martin Fowler - James Alexandrou
- Bradley Branning - Charlie Clements
- Jean Slater - Gillian Wright
- Charlie Slater - Derek Martin
- Mo Harris - Laila Morse
- Dot Branning - June Brown
- Jim Branning - John Bardon
- Ian Beale - Adam Woodyatt
- Jane Collins - Laurie Brett
- Peggy Mitchell - Barbara Windsor
- Phil Mitchell - Steve McFadden
- Stella Crawford - Sophie Thompson
- Ben Mitchell - Charlie Jones
- Minty Peterson - Cliff Parisi
- Garry Hobbs - Ricky Groves
- Billy Mitchell - Perry Fenwick
- Honey Mitchell - Emma Barton
- Dawn Swann - Kara Tointon
- Kevin Wicks - Phil Daniels
- Keith Miller - David Spinx
- Denise Fox - Diane Parish
- Tanya Branning - Jo Joyner
- Lauren Branning - Madeline Duggan
- Abi Branning - Lorna Fitzgerald
- Rebecca Fowler - Jade Sharif
- Patrick Trueman - Rudolph Walker
- Yolande Trueman - Angela Wynter
- Carly Wicks - Kellie Shirley
- Mickey Miller - Joe Swash
- Peter Beale - Thomas Law
- Lucy Beale - Melissa Suffield
- Darren Miller - Charlie G. Hawkins
- Bobby Beale - Kevin Curran (uncredited)
- Lou Beale - Anna Wing (voice only - uncredited)
- Arthur Fowler - Bill Treacher (voice only - uncredited)
- Mark Fowler - Todd Carty (voice only - uncredited)
- Michelle Fowler - Susan Tully (voice only - uncredited)
Recurring cast[]
- Tracey - Jane Slaughter (uncredited)
- Maggs - Margaret Heald (uncredited)
- Ina Foot - Ina Clare (uncredited)
Locations[]
- Albert Square
- The Queen Victoria - Public, hallway, gents and upstairs flat
- 5 Albert Square - Downstairs rooms
- 23 Albert Square - Living room, kitchen, hallway and Stacey's bedroom
- 25 Albert Square - Living room, kitchen and hallway
- 45 Albert Square - Kitchen and backroom
- Bridge Street
- Launderette
- Walford Cemetery
- Walford General Hospital - Baby unit
Notes[]
- This first of two episodes shown on Christmas Day was shown at the earlier time of 6.30pm.
- The first scene of this episode showed a collection of photographs from Pauline Fowler's family album. Over this was various audio clippings from previous episodes from the characters displayed on the photographs. The following quotes were taken from: 19 February 1985 (Lou Beale discovers that Pauline is pregnant with her third child); 19 September 1985 (sixteen-year-old Michelle Fowler tells Pauline that she is pregnant); 26 July 1988 (Lou gathers the family together to say her final goodbyes); 26 December 1991 (Mark Fowler tells Pauline and Arthur Fowler that he is HIV Positive); 20 May 1996 (Pauline protests Arthur's innocence after a false imprisonment); 14 February 2003 (Mark tells Pauline that he's leaving the Square to die); 22 December 2006 (Martin Fowler disowns his mother).
- Last appearance of Bobby Beale until 6 April 2007.
- Nurse Sarah Michael (Ann Akin) is credited onscreen as "Nurse" despite not making an appearance in this episode.
- Radio Times synopsis: Pauline packs her bags.
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 9,400,000 viewers (9th place).
- All I Want For Christmas is You by Mariah Carey is heard playing in the Slaters' house.
- For its 2025 upload to BBC iPlayer as "EastEnders: Christmas 1986 - 2007", this episode was entitled 2006 - Part 1.
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. | ||||
