91Èȱ¬

On Christmas morning, Linda makes herself up in the mirror as Mick enters holding mistletoe aloft for a kiss. Meanwhile, Dean makes breakfast for Patrick and Denise. Denise spots the snowman Lily made Dean. Dean grimly vows to tell Mick the truth. In the Vic, Mick fusses over Lady Di in her Christmas pudding costume. The Carters open their presents; Shirley receives vodka and cigarettes from Mick, while Linda wells up at a signed Gypsy programme from Nancy and Lee. Mick teases Linda has to wait for her present. When Mick enquires after Sylvie, Babe assures him she’s happy with the neighbours. Mick gives Stan tickets for Kempton Park races. Stan hugs him, watched by Tina. Stan tells Mick he’s determined to get a smile out of Cora. Linda’s delighted when Johnny skypes from Italy. Outside, Dean watches the Vic, swigging from a bottle of scotch.  Upstairs, Mick gets emotional as he un-wraps a West Ham babygro from Linda. Mick beseeches Nancy to cover for him while he collects a special delivery, and reveals he’s going to propose to Linda. Encountering a melancholy Tina feeling sad about Stan, Mick confides Sylvie’s coming home. Meanwhile, a suited Stan leads Cora into the barrel store, transformed with candles and a glitter ball. As they dance to ‘Unforgettable’, Nancy jokes Tina might have a new mum soon. Shirley and Babe are horrified when Mick arrives with Sylvie just as Stan chases a giggling Cora into the bar. Stan’s stunned to see Sylvie. After learning the truth, Stan’s furious and berates Shirley and Mick for not telling him. Babe protests she’s been Sylvie’s carer. Linda can’t help wondering if Sylvie was her surprise. Mick grins – Linda must wait. Dean enters and watches them kiss. Unseen, he heads upstairs. Meanwhile, Shirley frets to Babe that Sylvie will reveal Mick isn’t Stan’s son. Outside, Cora interrogates Stan about Sylvie. Upstairs, Mick’s surprised to see Dean. Dean attempts to talk to Mick, who’s preoccupied searching for the engagement ring he bought 3 years ago in Watford. As Dean helps search, Mick gushes about Linda, calling her a gift from the angels. Dean remarks everyone has their demons. Mick admits the past few months have been rocky but thinks it was harder for Linda as she’s no good with secrets. Dean swigs back more scotch as they talk. Listening at the door, Shirley overhears a warm moment between Mick and Dean as Mick tells Dean he couldn’t imagine the family without him. Dean finds the ring, to Mick’s delight. As Mick decorates the bedroom with rose petals and fairy lights, Dean jokes he’ll give Mick time to seal the deal and makes a sleazy comment about Linda. Mick orders Dean home to sober up. Learning from Shirley that Dean’s with Mick, Linda hurries out, alarmed. Nancy springs into action and distributes champagne and party poppers. Encountering Dean on his way out, Linda’s fearful of what he’s said. Dean’s adamant he doesn’t need to -Linda’s guilt will destroy her relationship. Linda sits at the kitchen table, shaken. She stiffens as Pretty Flamingo starts to play. Mick appears and leads her into the bedroom. Emotional, Mick recalls the first time he saw Linda and asks her to marry him. Tearful, Linda says she can’t and finally confesses that Dean raped her. Mick reels in shock as Linda begs him to believe her. Mick’s stunned, but assures her he does. Meanwhile, Shirley enthuses to Babe she witnessed genuine affection between Mick and Dean. Upstairs, Mick realises Linda wanted an abortion because the baby might be Dean’s and demands to know what he did. When Linda won’t say, Mick heads for the stairs to make Dean tell him. Panicking, Linda pleads he think of her, stopping Mick in his tracks. As the family wait downstairs for Mick and Linda, Shirley writes Dean a place card for Christmas dinner. Sylvie’s unnerved by Lady Di’s constant staring. Tina remembers wearing Sylvie’s necklace as a little girl. Sylvie boasts it’s an expensive gift from Stan. Stan admits he bought it in Rathbone market. Meanwhile, Linda tells Mick what happened the night of Sharon’s wedding, adamant that she told Dean no. Mick’s devastated he didn’t notice. Linda sobs she was scared Mick wouldn’t want her anymore. Mick holds Linda and fiercely denies it. When Mick despairs he can’t face everyone downstairs, Linda insists they protect their family and promises to go to the police after Christmas. Downstairs, they enter to shouts of congratulations. Nancy demands to the see the ring. Covering, Mick hands the ring to Linda. Nancy’s bemused it’s the same as the old one; Mick explains the sapphire’s real. Mick lies Dean’s gone to a mate’s house and suggests Stan carve the turkey instead of him, to everyone’s surprise. Nancy thinks it’s sexist that a man should carve. Sylvie wonders if she’s a lesbian. Tina explains she is. The Carters eat Christmas dinner in awkward silence. Linda overcompensates by chirpily insisting everyone pull crackers. Sylvie remarks her Stan won’t like Linda’s unconventional approach to cracker jokes, riling Cora. Mick stops Shirley from ringing Dean, revealing he sent him home because he was drunk. When Elaine phones, Linda struggles to suppress her tears. Shirley pursues Mick to the kitchen, convinced something‘s wrong. When Shirley continues to press him, Mick blurts that Dean raped Linda and warns her to keep Dean away from him. Shaken, Shirley nods. Meanwhile, Tina shows Sylvie photos of the kids as babies; she’s chuffed when Sylvie remembers taking her to ballet. Cora’s convinced that Stan’s mooning over his ex-wife and storms out. Linda worries as Shirley heads out to look for Dean. At Blades, Dean vehemently denies Linda’s accusation. Shirley concludes if it was true Linda would have told the police and thinks Linda’s lying because she’s frightened of losing Mick. Fuming, she heads for the Vic. Meanwhile, Stan makes a speech about his family and toasts to Mick. Shirley enters with Dean. Seeing red, Mick advances towards Dean and shoves Shirley aside as she shouts that Linda’s lying. Dean orders Linda to tell the truth. Apoplectic, Mick throws Dean onto the table which collapses. Shirley screams as Mick attacks Dean. Mick shakes off Shirley and Lee as they try to restrain him, punching Dean with all his might. Desperate, Shirley screams that Dean is Mick’s brother.

Max’s dreading Christmas with the Beales, convinced Ian will go overboard. Meanwhile, Ian forbids Bobby from opening presents until later, keen to show off. Max smirks at Ian’s folded swan napkins. Later, Cindy hears music coming from beneath the Christmas tree and opens a present labelled for Beth containing a jewellery box. Ian’s shocked – it’s Lucy’s.  The families speculate as to who could’ve left it. Ian suggests he took to the charity shop. Peter insists Lucy wouldn’t want them upset. Lauren’s irked when Emma suggests taking it to the investigation team. Ian thinks Peter’s right and makes a toast to Lucy. Later, Jane’s noted Lauren’s irritation. Upset, Lauren tells Jane of the video Emma’s been sent from the night Lucy died. Lauren fears she can’t trust Emma, cries that she didn’t reach the Beales’ front door and swears she didn’t see Lucy. Jane says she saw Lauren from the Masoods’ window and offers to corroborate her story to the police as Max walks in. Having learned the truth, Max forbids Emma from dragging his family into the investigation. Emma’s suspicions are roused as she watches Max whispering to Lauren.

91Èȱ¬ from church with Charlie, Dot’s pleased Nick’s made an effort and shaved. Ronnie checks Charlie’s printed the ferry tickets and reports Ian has the rest of Nick’s money – he’ll be gone in 24 hours. Later, Ronnie finds Dot, Nick and Charlie poring over an old photo album and offers to take a family photo for Nick to have as a memento. Nick and Charlie bond over their dislike of sprouts; Dot thinks they’re two peas in a pod. After Christmas dinner, the Cottons are enjoying the Name game when Nick finds Ronnie in the kitchen. When Nick leers he might not want to leave, Ronnie warns that he doesn’t know what she’s capable of.