Summary[]
Ben and Louise are taken aback by Phil's behaviour. Mick tries to get to the bottom of what's going on with Lee.
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Sharon's Christmas preparations are in full swing. Phil finds Ben in the Vic having a Christmas drink with the Arches' staff. He gives Ben an envelope of cash, tells him that he deserves it and wishes him a Happy Christmas. Later, Louise admits that she wants to go to a club night in Mile End on Boxing Day with Bex. She's surprised when Phil doesn't try and forbid it. He tells her that she's got a good head on her shoulders and wishes her a Happy Christmas. Phil later ends up in the launderette, attempting to wrap a present that he's bought Sharon. He tells Dot that he didn't feel like going to the play. Dot notes that Phil has the same look in his eye that Peggy had just before she died. Realising that Phil's given up, Dot tries to provoke him, calling Peggy a coward for not fighting her cancer. Phil muses that maybe he's his mother's son and, as he leaves, Dot says 'God be with ye' - goodbye. Whilst Patrick, as Scrooge, contemplates his gravestone on stage, Phil looks at the receipt for his funeral. Dennis is annoyed that Phil didn't come to the play. Later, Sharon finds Phil in the kitchen about to leave. He tells her to enjoy her Christmas and not worry about him. Sharon calls him a coward and tells him to go off and die - she's done. She watches as Phil walks out the door and disappears into the night. Lee leaves the pawn brokers, tucking cash into his wallet and bumps into Whitney. She's upset when he notes that Linda won't like the crackers she's bought. At the Vic, Mick's feeling festive but Whitney snaps when he asks her to dance. She thinks all the orders from Linda about Christmas are really coming from Lee. Mick and Johnny explain that Linda's a monster at Christmas and likes things done her way. The family are forced to eat Linda's awful homemade mince pies. Later, Mick takes Lee to the roof for a chat. Lee admits that he feels like he's always disappointing Whitney. When Mick goes on about Lee's flashy job, Lee admits that he works in a call centre and hates every minute. Mick insists that he doesn't care what Lee's job is – all that matters is that he's a good husband to Whitney and is honest. Mick's proud when Lee says that he'll tell Whitney everything after Christmas. Prompted by Mick, Linda tells Whitney that she might have gone overboard with her suggestions and whatever she and Lee have planned for Christmas Day, even arctic roll, will be lovely. Later, Lee's neighbour Craig Washington introduces himself and asks if Lee took delivery of a parcel for him - a VR headset. Lee denies all knowledge. Dot prepares lots of party food for her retirement do at the launderette the following day, anticipating a big crowd. |
Credits[]
Main cast[]
- Sharon Mitchell - Letitia Dean
- Phil Mitchell - Steve McFadden
- Louise Mitchell - Tilly Keeper
- Ben Mitchell - Harry Reid
- Dot Branning - June Brown
- Abi Branning - Lorna Fitzgerald
- Patrick Trueman - Rudolph Walker
- Denise Fox - Diane Parish
- Libby Fox - Belinda Owusu
- Donna Yates - Lisa Hammond
- Carmel Kazemi - Bonnie Langford
- Kush Kazemi - Davood Ghadami
- Shakil Kazemi - Shaheen Jafargholi
- Rebecca 'Bex' Fowler - Jasmine Armfield
- Martin Fowler - James Bye
- Stacey Fowler - Lacey Turner
- Steven Beale - Aaron Sidwell
- Kathy Beale - Gillian Taylforth
- Mick Carter - Danny Dyer
- Linda Carter - Kellie Bright
- Whitney Carter - Shona McGarty
- Lee Carter - Danny-Boy Hatchard
- Johnny Carter - Ted Reilly
- Babe Smith - Annette Badland
- William 'Will' Mitchell - Freddie Phillips
- Dennis Rickman - Bleu Landau
- Derek Harkinson - Ian Lavender
Recurring cast[]
- Maggs - Margaret Heald (uncredited)
- Winston - Ulric Browne (uncredited)
- Shrimpy - Ben Champniss (uncredited)
- Tracey - Jane Slaughter (uncredited)
- Marie Evans - Liz Sweet (uncredited)
Guest cast[]
- Craig Washington - David Ajao
Notes[]
- Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade is heard playing in the Queen Vic.