Pick of the Plots: Christmas Day 2023

It’s Christmas Day in Walford, and Keanu and Sharon are getting married. Sharon masks her guilt about Albie as she and Keanu get ready at No.43.

Bernie tries to put on a brave face as she wakes up to an empty flat. Following an emotional call with Karen, Bernie urges Keanu to talk to Sharon so that their mum can return home. Keanu refuses and rescinds Bernie’s invitation to the wedding.

Hurt by Keanu’s actions, Bernie arrives at the Mitchell’s and asks to speak to Phil.

At the church, Sharon is a vision in white as she walks down the aisle with Albie. Sharon and Keanu are about to say ‘I do’ when Phil arrives…

Meanwhile, Suki prepares to leave Walford but she is delayed by a surprise visitor. Later, as Suki continues with her plans to leave the Square, she receives a panicked call from Vinny, forcing her to return to No.41.

Elsewhere, things are tense between Stacey and Jack when she calls round to collect Charli for the Slaters’ Christmas lunch.

Anna and Gina join Cindy and the Beales for Christmas lunch. After learning George is on his own in The Vic making preparations for Keanu and Sharon’s wedding reception, Cindy secretly heads there to invite him over for a drink.

Elaine and Ian become jealous as Cindy and George take a trip down memory lane. Sensing Elaine’s upset, George thinks on his feet and lies that he’s booked her a romantic trip away in a hotel.

Also, the Mitchell’s receive a surprise video message from Lola revealing that Jay and Honey have been entered into next year’s London Marathon. Lola’s words about family resonate with Phil and he heads to The Vic.

In the Vic, Denise, Kathy, Linda, Sharon, Stacey and Suki try to process the events of the day, unaware of what is still to come. In a flash their lives are forever changed as a Walford male meets his fate.

EastEnders, BBC One, 9.45pm

Christmas Day is a family affair for the residents of Coronation Street as Weatherfield’s finest gather together at their respective houses to reflect over the last 12 months and look forward to what the future holds.

Tracy is unimpressed to realise she is cooking for ten at the Barlows, and a joke about relationship gap years causes some friction between her and Steve. Popping over to the flower shop to find a bottle of wine she finds herself serving Tommy Orpington who has seized the opportunity to get a last-minute gift for his mum.

Peter gives Carla a beautiful present, a silver bracelet inscribed with ‘P loves C’. But he is shocked when she reveals what she has bought him.

Over at the Builder’s yard flat Paul and Billy look forward to a peaceful Christmas Day with a film and a bottle of fizz. But Gemma and Chesney are worried when she can’t get hold of Paul. Fearing Paul might have had a fall Chesney and Todd break down the door and get more than they bargained for.

Back at Chesney and Gemma’s Bernie video calls the family from prison.  Together they sing ‘Away in a Manger’.

At No.3, Ed watches guiltily as the family unwrap the few meagre presents they managed to salvage and he feels even worse when he unwraps a watch inscribed with ‘For the World’s Best Dad.  Our Hero’.  Alya calls round and invites them all to join her family at Speed Daal for Christmas lunch.

At the cafe a tipsy Evelyn and Mary help Roy prepare the Christmas dinner. Evelyn opens her present from Roy and is genuinely touched to see what he bought her. Meanwhile in the bistro, the Platts and the Websters take their seats and peruse the menu.

Coronation Street, ITV1, 7pm

Mackenzie is in peril.

Meanwhile, Christmas at Butler’s is under way and it’s not long before Caleb and Tracy share a charged moment alone.

As everyone leaves, Tracy stays behind to look after the children. When Caleb offers to stay back with Tracy, they get some much-needed alone time, but someone soon catches them in the act.

Elsewhere, a picture-perfect Christmas morning is spoiled when Marlon reaches breaking point with Gus and then storms off.

Emmerdale, ITV1, 6.30pm