Summary[]
The Mitchells are back on top, but not for long. Amira comes face to face with her father, Billy is chuffed to spend time with his kids, and Charlie has a terrible shock for Mo.
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Ben is at the lounge door and has listened to the family’s financial troubles and explains that he does not wish to be excluded from family issues but Phil insists that he does not want Ben to worry. Aunt Sal arrives at the Vic and assumes Ronnie and Roxy’s efforts are in aid of her 70th birthday. Overhearing, Peggy interrupts to now say it is actually a lunch in Aunt Sal’s honour. Soon after, Sal is annoyed at waiting for her Christmas lunch so encourages the fellow diners to start chanting ‘Why are we waiting?’ When the delayed gravy arrives, Aunt Sal is still frustrated and declares the meal a shambles, and says that they should have some top entertainment in compensation. If top entertainment is not provided Aunt Sal advocates all the diners should refuse to pay. Roxy explains to Sal that the Mitchells are having serious money troubles. This provides Sal with a more understanding perspective. Following Aunt Sal’s earlier advice, the audience now want entertaining. With a feeling that it is now her responsibility to supply it, Aunt Sal excels. The crowd relish her fire eating antics and she finishes to a raucous applause. Sal later guesses that Ronnie is pregnant Janine visits Ian and stresses she wants to talk with him so Ian suggests a shopping trip to Jane in order for him and Janine to have some privacy. Afterwards, Janine enters and re-iterates her desire for the loan to be signed over to her and rejects Ian’s offer of cash or any bribe. When Archie walks through the back door Ian realises they have been working together. Soon after Ben heads to see Ian to ask if the Mitchells can have an extension on their loan providing that they hand over the money raised from the Christmas dinner the following day. As a result, Ian tells Archie and Janine that he will not sign over the debt. Although Janine is initially distressed, a calm and collected Archie invites Ian to return to the house at 6:00pm as he feels Ian is unsure about his decision. Later at the Beales, Jane returns home to find Ian slouched in an armchair in the dark. He has tears in his eyes and apologises profusely. Jane sympathises with Ian, thinking his upset is because he has missed her. Phil, Peggy, Ronnie and Roxy declare the Christmas dinner a success having raised lots of money. Ben enters and announces he has been to see Ian. He has managed to extend the loan for another week on the condition they give him the money raised from the Christmas dinner tomorrow. The family toast to Sal’s birthday and Ben’s negotiation skills. Sal then accidently reveals Ronnie is pregnant which Ronnie is pleased about but maintains the father of the baby is irrelevant. The pressure exerted by Archie and Janine and the joy of having Jane home take their toll on Ian and he reluctantly signs the Mitchell debt over. Earlier, Archie has given Billy money and explained it is an advance on his second job at Mitchell’s Executive Motors. Billy is thrilled at his uncle’s generosity. Meanwhile, Charlie is looking for a director for the children’s nativity play. Spotting Mo in the market on her journey to the community centre Roxy is livid because the berries on the fake mistletoe Mo sold her fell off and Amy nearly choked. Charlie overhears the heated conversation and informs Mo she must direct the Christmas nativity as a result as a form of good will. If Mo refuses to cooperate, he will inform the authorities about her dodgy mistletoe. In the café, Masood tells Amira he does not want her to feel pressured into visiting her father. Later, Amira visits her father, Qadim, in prison and they embrace before Amira makes her excuses for previously not visiting. Qadim expresses his longing to make up for lost time with his daughter. He says he has money stored for their future at which point Amira reveals that she and Syed are back together and plan to get married on New Year’s Day. Qadim immediately stands and shouts out in outrage as he will not allow the wedding to go ahead and thinks this is all attention seeking behaviour and states that he does not trust Syed and will therefore not give his blessing to the wedding. Todd visits Whitney to give her a Christmas card and she lets him into Pat’s house. Soon after, while Todd is making mince pies, Whitney discovers he has been speaking to Ricky but is not upset that Todd now knows what has been going on. Whitney answers the front door and is told she can expect a verdict from the trial tomorrow. |
Credits[]
Main cast[]
- Ian Beale - Adam Woodyatt
- Archie Mitchell - Larry Lamb
- Janine Butcher - Charlie Brooks
- Peggy Mitchell - Barbara Windsor
- Phil Mitchell - Steve McFadden
- Ronnie Mitchell - Samantha Womack
- Roxy Mitchell - Rita Simons
- Ben Mitchell - Charlie Jones
- Amira Shah - Preeya Kalidas
- Masood Ahmed - Nitin Ganatra
- Billy Mitchell - Perry Fenwick
- Charlie Slater - Derek Martin
- Mo Harris - Laila Morse
- Jane Beale - Laurie Brett
- Whitney Dean - Shona McGarty
- Bobby Beale - Alex Francis
- Janet Mitchell - unknown actress (uncredited)
- William Mitchell - Toby Walpole (uncredited)
Recurring cast[]
- Sal Martin - Anna Karen (credited as "Aunt Sal")
Guest cast[]
- Qadim Shah - Ramon Tikaram
- Todd Taylor - Ashley Kumar
- Louise Hills - Adie Allen (credited as DS Louise Hills)
- PC Andy Henderson - Jem Wall