EastEnders Season 3, Episode 73: 269

197

New Year's Day and Lofty is woken by Michelle typing. Michelle kicks out Ian and Wicksy, who both crashed out at the flat, and prepares to deal with her hungover husband.

30 min

198

Den hears Sharon's screams and comes to her rescue. He insists on driving her over to the Estate. Over at No. 45, Pauline is waiting up for Arthur to come home.

30 min

199

Sharon hears that she can have another week off work. Angie tells her that they'll have to move out from Pete and Kath's flat to a hotel and that Den'll have to pay.

30 min

200

Sharon and Angie move out of Pete and Kath's flat and into a hotel. They both have important interviews today. Angie sees her solicitor, Mr Fenwick, about the divorce.

30 min

201

It's Kelvin's eighteenth birthday; his parents give him an expensive designer watch and his younger sister Cassie sends him hair beads.

30 min

202

It is the morning after the party. Tony suffers a fare-dodger who also adds insult to injury by throwing up in his cab. At Lofty and Michelle's flat Lofty has been banished to the sofa.

30 min

203

Lofty spends the day planning a night out with his wife. He seeks advice on what to do and where to go, but gets lots of different suggestions in response.

30 min

204

Kathy and Michelle are working hard to try to complete Mehmet's knitting order - aided and supported by Ian, Pete and Lofty.

30 min

205

Trade at the Vic is still very bad. Den discovers Lofty's glass full of coins and insists that Lofty stops his scheme to subsidise the punters' drinks.

30 min

206

It is the day after Kathy was let down by Mehmet. All she wants is her jumpers back so she can sell them, but Sue tells her they've been sold and Mehmet himself is away from work "sick".

30 min

207

30 min

208

Hannah is followed home at night and again in the morning. Rezaul offers to walk her home later, angering Tony and Mehmet gets rid of Rezaul when he gives Hannah more unwanted attention. Jan visits Den and says she will run the Vic with him. Den the finds out that Willmott-Brown has bought the nearby Dagmar bar and is going to refurbish it so they will be in competition.

30 min

209

Ali looks for witnesses to someone crashing into his cab the night before, unaware that it was Barry and Nick in Barry's friend's father's car. When Barry asks Colin for a loan to repair the car, Colin says he will only if Barry confesses and that Barry should be getting away from crime.

30 min

210

Pat has a black eye, which Kathy says she deserves for being "evil". Mary tells Den that Mehmet knew the deal with Kathy was a scam so Den, Pete and Tony eventually find Mehmet and trap him, beating him up.

30 min

211

Simon realises that what Pat said about Naima was true and he tells Lou he no longer wants to see his mother. Pete later says he will no longer drink in the Vic while Pat is there and when Pat and Simon argue, she tells him that Pete's brother, Kenny Beale, is his real father.

30 min

212

Tony returns from a night's cabbing with blood on his hands. Wicksy comes home with scratches on his face and Pete seems to have disappeared. Dot then makes a gruesome discovery while walking Willy through the Square gardens - Pat lying bloody and unconscious behind a bench, after being beaten up! Pete gets taken off by the police for questioning, and hits a policeman.

30 min

213

Pete and Simon are released by the police but Pete must come up with an alibi as to his whereabouts in regards to the recent spate of attacks on local women. Guizin and her three children are homeless after Mehmet gambled their house away and then did a runner.

30 min

214

Pete tells Pauline that everyone except for her thinks he is guilty, even Lou and Kathy. Emine and Rayif go missing but are later found by Lofty. Guizin says that Mehmet has left them but Emine says he has only left Guizin.

30 min

215

Pat tells a WPC that she saw her attacker and the officer asks if it is someone she knows. Arthur returns to Albert Square but realises he is not ready and returns to hospital.

30 min

216

Trade is down in the Vic so Lofty suggests a party and Barry suggests making it a cross-dressing party, which Den agrees to. Ian comes up with an idea to prank Pete. Simon talks to Lou about who his father is -

30 min

217

Carmel talks to Mary and they start to get along but Carmel assumes that Mary is going to leave Annie on her own again. Mary says she wants to be liked but just gets used so Carmel says most girls say "no".

30 min

218

DS Todd questions people about the party and he finds out that Pete left early and why and later asks Pete to answer more questions at the police station because they think the same man is responsible for all the attacks on women.

30 min

219

Pete returns home after hours of police questioning and worries he will be charged with the attacks. Kathy says she will visit Pat and find out what she told the police. Pauline thanks Den for keeping Lofty employed but asks if he is doing it for Michelle, which he denies.

30 min

220

Arthur visits Mary and says that prostitution is not the answer and he has worked out that everyone is on their own in the world and he will make something out of nothing.

30 min

221

Pete is fed up of being constantly hounded by the police. Kathy visits Pat in hospital to get her to confirm that Pete did not attack her but Pat says she does not know so she would be lying.

30 min

222

Den and Angie each receive their decree nisi, meaning they will be divorced in 42 days. Dot finds out that Colin and Barry are a gay couple and is horrified and asks Doctor Legg to be tested for AIDS as she used Barry's cup.

30 min

223

Dot attempts to avoid Colin and Barry. Sue tells Debbie about the lump in her breast and admits she is scared to see a doctor about it. Mark arrives following his release but soon leaves with a girl called Jude and Michelle realises he is not coming back. Pat returns from hospital.

30 min

224

Angie and Sharon move into the B&B on Albert Square. During a home visit, Arthur asks Pauline if he can sleep back in the marital bed again and Michelle gives Arthur money to pay back two people's Christmas club money.

30 min

225

Jan has it out with Den. Barry is fined £150 for the car crash and Colin is forced to lend him the money. The past is raked up for Kathy when she receives a visitor who has shocking news for her.

30 min

226

Sue is told her lump is not cancerous so she, Ali and Guizin celebrate. Simon and Sharon use Mary's flat for sex but find Annie there alone and spend the time tidying and see a letter about her unpaid court fine.

30 min

227

Mary asks Ethel to babysit for two hours. Nine hours later, Mary returns to find Michelle looking for clean clothes for Annie, who has vomited after eating chocolate all day. Michelle tells Mary to think about Annie for once and believes that Mary has taken drugs.

30 min

228

Den is two months behind on his VAT payments and Angie tells him if he sells the car that she should get half. Simon books a hotel room for him and Sharon. Mary has another court letter and Ali lets her work in the cab office but she struggles.

30 min

229

Mary is visited by Mr Atkinson, a court warrant officer, who orders her to pay £30 or be arrested. Dot and Ethel help and later Mary works in the café but at the end of the day, Ali is unable to help with any extra money.

30 min

230

Kelvin studies for exams but when Ian cannot find him, he accuses him of spending the day with Tina until he finds out Tina was at home with a cold. Mary continues to struggle with work in the café and cab office, which annoys Ali.

30 min

231

Sharon and Simon return from their weekend away. Barry and Colin discuss new hobby ideas that will allow them to spend more time together. Den and Angie almost get back together, until one of Den's lady friends appears, sending Angie into a furious rage.

30 min

232

Chris arrives following the accident at Mary's flat. Renovation work begins at The Dagmar. Sharon gets fed up of Angie being drunk all the time and says she cannot live with her anymore

30 min

233

Arthur goes to court. Lofty talks about having a baby with Michelle. Sharon wants to move back into the Vic.

30 min

234

Dot and Tom swap properties but Tom's belongings will not fit into the smaller flat so he insists that Dot store them in her hall! Dot refuses and blocks his path. Mary's mother, Edie, arrives and asks Mary for the whole truth. Sue is annoyed as Guizin's children will leave and she thinks they love her more than their own mother.

30 min

235

Pete is fined £200 for assaulting a police officer. Debbie and DS Rich hold their engagement party in the Vic. Angie vows to sort her life out and stop drinking. Mehmet returns and takes Guizin and the children home, which upsets Sue.

30 min

236

Ethel has started collecting odd coins she finds on the floor while cleaning at the Vic. Mary is arrested and taken to the Magistrate's Court for none payment of debt. Tony decides he's going to move back home to Trinidad and buys his flight ticket that afternoon. He tells Colin his plan but asks him not to tell Kelvin yet.

30 min

237

Colin finds out Barry spent the night with another man but later apologises for his jealousy as they have an open relationship. Den and Angie's divorce is finalised. Ethel asks Tom to speak to Pat about moving out but Pat still refuses. Tony tells Kelvin he is moving to Trinidad.

30 min

238

Lou and Pauline start to plan a joint birthday party for Vicki and belated wedding reception for Michelle and Lofty.

30 min

239

Pauline tells Michelle about agreeing to sell the meat for Den but Michelle advises against it so Pauline agrees not to do it. Michelle and Lofty then have their party and get a birthday card for Vicki from Arthur.

30 min

240

Walford is preparing for the general election. Ethel moves back into her old flat above the surgery as Pat moves back into the Vic. Naima isn't sure that she's done the right thing by cutting off her family.

30 min

241

Magda and Sharon return from a shopping trip together. Pauline talks to Michelle about Vicki's father having rights and maybe wanting custody of her one day, but Michelle dismisses Pauline adamant that Vicki's father is no longer in her life. Tom takes Dot out dancing.

30 min

09/06/1987

Arthur tells Mary not to waste her vote in the general election. Barry eventually opens up to Colin about his health worries. Sue talks with Ali about IVF while Ali agrees to give her driving lessons. Sharon shows a few people the video of a drunken Angie, including Den, and then comes up with a plan.

30 min

243

Barry continues to worry as he waits for the results of his blood test. Michelle tells Pauline that she and Lofty are going to adopt Vicki. Angie breaks down upon watching the video of her drunken self and admits to Sharon she has a problem and that she needs to change.

30 min

244

Lofty asks Den for time off work whilst he and Michelle are interviewed by Social Services over Vicki's adoption. Pat flirts with Ali and asks if he wants company - Ali says he will think about it and leaves.

30 min

245

Arthur and Tom get competitive over the London in Bloom contest. Den asks Ian to do the catering in the Vic, unaware that Magda wants Ian to work for her. Ali worries that Sue is obsessed with having IVF and tells Kathy that he has become redundant in their relationship but he has needs and he asks Kathy for a casual relationship but she refuses.

30 min

246

The Vic and the Dagmar are decorated with flowers for the competition and Tom finds out the judges will be visiting the next day. Mary has a letter from her mother about Annie with some photos.

30 min

247

Pauline is worried about Arthur being unemployed and he realises that people will think he could have another nervous breakdown if he is unemployed again. Colin loses the key to his bicycle lock and he and Barry are questioned by police when Barry tries to cut through the chain with a hacksaw.

30 min

248

Carmel holds a jumble sale to raise money for the health centre and Willmott-Brown donates a honey-glazed ham for a raffle. After Magda and Angie talk, Magda tells Den that she thinks Angie wants him back.

30 min

249

Dot and Ethel look after baby Vicki and reminisce about their own childhoods.

30 min

250

Den is furious when he discovers graffiti on the Vic. Simon and Sharon are unsure about their relationship and ask people what they think of them together. Willmott-Brown worries that business in The Dagmar is slow. Rezaul tells Doctor Singh about his ambitions and then tells Naima the family have called and another of her cousins will be visiting her.

30 min

251

Sue and Ali talk and he says he was never unfaithful to her, which she says was only because he is all talk. He admits he wanted company without doctors or clinics and someone who wanted him, not a baby. Naima gets a letter from Debbie saying she is pregnant.

30 min

252

Ali and Sue are happy and in love again causing them to open the café late and close it early. Farrukh and Naima say they will miss each other when he goes back to Bangladesh. Den agrees to Pete's suggestion of a country and western night in the Vic.

30 min

253

The fruit and veg stall trade is down, and Pete must talk to Lou if his plans for a seafood stall can come off. After Arthur's talk with Doctor Legg, he takes extra care of Lou. The Vic hosts a country and western night.

30 min

254

Angie and Sharon move into the flat above The Dagmar. Den has not been seen but Lofty finds the envelope - it is for Simon from Den with the keys to the Vic's cellar.

30 min

255

Tom tries to get a confession from Arthur about sabotaging the Vic's flowers so Arthur accuses Tom of sabotaging the Dagmar's. Arthur then finds out The Dagmar has come second.

30 min

256

Arthur has stepped up the rigour and regularity of his football training sessions but still has an attendance problem. Sharon tells Michelle she's off to Mallorca for a week for a familiarisation trip with her new job at the travel agency. Angie and Pat are worried for Simon about him getting close to Magda while Den's away.

30 min

257

Lofty forgets that it is Michelle's 18th birthday. Kathy tells Pete that Ian made Tina tell Naima about the missing money. Later, the punk girl enters the Vic when the door is meant to be locked and takes £200 cash from the till. Simon tries but fails to sell his car. Rod tells Mary that he fancies her and she tells him about her overdue court fines for soliciting. Sue and Ali discover that Ashraf is not legally allowed to evict them

30 min

258

Den arrives back from his impromptu holiday to North Africa. Pat overhears his phone call and susses the real reason behind his trip. Carmel's brother, Darren, and his son, Junior, come to stay at her flat, much to her disgruntlement. Darren tells Dot that Nick has got a job as a gardener for the Queen Mother at her posh house in Devon. Angie tells Pat that Den went away to do a job for The Firm which cleared all his brewery debts. Den clocks that something has been going on between Simon and Mags while he's been away.

30 min

259

The pirate radio station is still operating from the café. Mary rings up her mum wanting Annie back, but when her mum refuses Mary tries to lend money from various people in order to go up north herself, but is unsuccessful and throws a brick through her window. Sue and Ali visit baby Hassan's grave and Sue opens up her heart to Ali. Den confronts Wicksy about the missing money and Magda, leading to Wicksy getting kneed and ear full from him.

30 min

260

Den kicks Simon out of the Vic and sacks him. Rod cleans The Dagmar for Mary. Michelle takes on the task of looking after both Martin and Vicki so that Pauline can have a break. Lofty makes a comment about it being good practice for them when they have their second child causing Michelle to snap at him.

30 min

261

Michelle and Den are in a reflective mood after their encounter. Magda decides she'd like to move to Walford permanently. Den brings a lady friend to The Dagmar's disco, in full view of Angie and Magda.

30 min

262

Dot has been stung by a wasp. Mary returns from Stockport. Den announces to Arthur that he is taking over as manager and coach of the Queen Vic five-a-side football team. Ian and Pete are disgusted and resign out of loyalty to Arthur. Wicksy also tells Den to stick it, so Den recruits Kelvin, Ali, and himself as replacements.

30 min

263

Darren is already taking advantage of Carmel and has left her with the children for the day. Her mother can't help out and she has to take time off work. At the five-a-side football match between The Dagmar and the hastily recruited Queen Vic team, Den encourages his squad to play as dirty as they can in order to win. After the match Den tells Pete that Wicksy can have his job back at the Vic, with a pay rise. Magda tells Wicksy she's decided to rent Kelvin's flat, and asks Wicksy to move in with her.

30 min

264

Tensions rise between Colin and Barry after the football match. Wicksy is feeling sorry for himself after Den kicking him at the match, Angie tells him that they'll get him back through the takings by attracting more customers to The Dagmar. Mary receives some good news from Carmel - it turns out she's been examining her case and she thinks there is a good chance Mary will get Annie back. Arthur starts his Manpower Services Commission course.

30 min

265

An unusual woman arrives in Walford. Colin and Barry end up in a row which leads to Colin putting down his foot about rent issues in which Barry isn't paying. Doctor Legg and Dot discuss how Mary deserves to be with Annie. Martin has a near accident in Lou's care.

30 min

266

Barry is excited about his trial at The Dagmar. Naima shows Donna the ropes at the shop and Donna lands herself another job at the Vic. Mary receives a letter from social services. Tensions grow at the ladies' dart team rehearsal for the match.

30 min

267

It's Kelvin's last day in Walford and Sharon, Barry and Ian are busy arranging a surprise party for him that evening. Everyone is excited about the Lady Mayoress coming to town and gather at The Dagmar to meet her. Donna settles in at the Vic and becomes friendly with Pat. Kelvin leaves without attending his surprise party leaving a note for Carmel saying he can't face saying goodbye so the residents celebrate what they've got left of him.

30 min

268

The Vic ladies' darts team sets off for the Isle of Dogs for the big match. Ali, meanwhile, is fixing up a poker game for the men later that day. News reaches Mary that social services have approved the flat dashing her with joy. Tina's parents turn up in Walford, wanting answers about the way their daughter is living.

30 min

270

Naima moves into the Fowler's. Doctor Legg decides to take up jogging. Ethel is excited to hear of Willmott-Brown's upcoming Mardi-Gras party at The Dagmar. Carmel tells Mary that her parents are delaying returning Annie, which sends Mary into a rage. Darren overhears Doctor Legg wanting the outside of the surgery repainting and offers to get a team onto it for £300 including materials.

30 min

271

Rod and Carmel persuade Mary to allow her parents to inspect her flat. Darren hires Rod to paint the surgery for him, and then disappears. The launderette gets robbed while Dot is out buying her outfit for The Dagmar's evening party. Derek turns up once again in the launderette and goes for a walk with Pauline, to tell her his friend can't help selling Kathy's jumpers after all. He says there's no real reason for him to come to Walford again, unless she just wants to see him again, but Pauline politely declines.

30 min

272

Michelle finds out from Doctor Legg that she isn't pregnant, and dreads telling Lofty. She spends the whole day talking it through with Kathy, Naima, Den and Magda before eventually telling him. She explains she doesn't want another baby, she wants to get on with her life, get a job, and if he wants a baby so badly he'll have to stay at home and be the mum. Rod is busy painting at the surgery, without Darren. They meet in the Dagmar at lunchtime and get drunk, much to the doctors' disgust. Donna talks to Kathy in the Vic and asks if she can get some work with her making jumpers, saying her dad was a tailor and her mum a dressmaker. Kathy looks unconvinced.

30 min

273

Lofty is still thinking about Michelle's ultimatum. Sue tells Arthur and Angie that she and Ali are thinking of moving away from the grime and stress of Albert Square, inspired by the lovely new flats she saw on the Isle of Dogs. Mary tells Rod he has to move out of her flat temporarily so she has a better chance of her parents handing Annie back.

30 min

274

Guizin returns to help Ali out at the café. Ali tells her that Sue has gone to stay with her father, but later, Sue phones the café and Guizin learns that Ali doesn't know where Sue is. Sharon thinks Angie are Den are missing each other, and starts thinking of how she can get them back together. She asks both Den and Angie separately to take her out the next night, with the intention of ducking out, thereby setting them up on a date together.

30 min

275

Den crosses paths with Wicksy while walking Roly in the Square gardens, and makes amends following the scrap over Magda and Wicky's sacking. Pete and Donna chat in the Vic but Donna becomes defensive when Pete asks about her parents and where in Scotland her dad's pub is. Doctor Legg is let down again by Darren who continues leave the outside of the surgery half painted. Den suggests he and Angie spend the night together, but she declines.

30 min

276

Angie sneaks out of the Vic in the early morning, having spent the night with Den. Doctor Singh is still trying to track down Darren to finish painting the surgery. Pete has a go at Ian in the café for skipping college. Magda drops some building society information off to Wicksy, so they can get a mortgage for their new place together in the Square. Willmott-Brown says he'll put Colin forward for the local brewery's massive new design contract after Colin lies and says he'll get a couple of design graduates to help him manage the workload. Rod is going to move out of Mary's flat so Mary's parents have one less excuse not to hand Annie back.

30 min

277

Doctor Legg reassures Pauline that Lou will be okay. Angie and Den appear to be getting on well again. Guizin asks Barry to cover a shift on the radios at Ozcabs. Rod is offered a job far away from Walford for six months.

30 min

278

Colin gets increasingly frustrated at Barry's messiness in the flat, and eventually goes on cleaning strike. Mary cleans her flat from top to bottom and anxiously awaits her mum and dad's visit, eager to see Annie again. Ethel and Sharon each bring presents to welcome Annie back. Ian continues to skive college.

30 min

279

Lou braces herself for a meeting with Uncle. Colin asks Barry to get Kathy to visit him at their flat. Mary resists her parents sweet talk, wanting to know when she can have Annie back. Wicksy and Magda are keen to buy a place in Albert Square before they are all snapped up by city folk. Guizin is worried that once Martin Hunter's documentary is broadcast, Walford house prices will go through the roof and the area will become as bad as Wapping.

30 min

280

Martin Hunter returns to the Square to make his TV documentary. Arthur has a surprise for Pauline. Sharon seeks solace in a church, alone, where she catches the eye of a young curate, Duncan Boyd. Sue returns after her impromptu break.

30 min

281

Colin receives a letter from his friend Ginny in New York telling him a friend of a friend has died of AIDS. It's Sharon's 18th birthday. Doctor Legg instructs Ethel that she is too old to be carrying Willy any more. Dot says she will make sure Ethel does as she's told.

30 min

282

Colin finishes his portfolio and goes off to present his work. Naima is excited when she receives a letter announcing an imminent visit by her cousin Farrukh. Ethel reads Dot and Tom's fortunes from playing cards. She sees a dark man coming in to Dot's life, but says it's not Charlie or Nick, and she sees Tom surrounded by beseeching women.

30 min

283

Barry's exercise bike has arrived, but Colin's too wrapped up in the brewery design job to take much notice. Barry and Donna arrange to meet that evening. Lofty has an argument about a pancake roll with the owner of a Chinese takeaway and is instantly arrested by the police and taken down to the station.

30 min

284

The Cotton family is settling down to life together under one roof. Nick and Charlie eye each other suspiciously. Nick talks to Darren about hiring someone to get Charlie out of the Square. Ali buys pints for everyone at the Vic and shares the news of Sue's pregnancy.

30 min

285

Junior tries to buy fireworks off Naima but she refuses to give him any. Sue accuses Naima of selling fireworks to underage children again but she denies selling anything illegally. Ethel falls over in the Vic and calls Doctor Legg over to check her out. Doctor Legg tells Ethel he thinks they should consider sheltered accommodation for her but she tells him she is not interested. Dot convinces herself that Charlie and Nick are getting along.

30 min

286

A graffiti artist is running wild all around Walford, and Junior gets the blame. Meanwhile, nearly the whole of Albert Square has got food poisoning from Ian's dodgy smoked salmon. Dot attacks Den, who in turn lays into Ian.

30 min

287

Lou talks to Pete about him and Pauline inheriting the stall when she's gone. Pete tells Pauline they should just sell it and split the proceeds, but Pauline says they're not selling it. Barry's reached his target weight of ten and a half stone. Colin offers to cook a meal for Sharon, Barry and Donna, but Donna starts getting defensive when the others start asking her about her mysterious background.

30 min

288

Mary is worried because today is the day the health visitor, social worker, and Doctor Legg are going to discuss her case. Naima's cousin Farrukh returns, and they both agree to close the shop, marry in Birmingham and return to Bangladesh as soon as they can.

30 min

289

Ian is mugged in a dark alley and has his wallet stolen. At the same time, someone throws a brick through Ali and Sue's window. Ian starts thinking about getting a knife for protection. Naima and Farrukh leave the Square to marry and start a new life together.

30 min

290

Angie and Willmott-Brown go out, leaving Mary to look after the Dagmar until they return. Once they have gone, Rod arrives and tells Mary that the social services will be visiting her in the afternoon. She leaves the Dagmar unattended and unlocked to find Carmel. Pete offers to sponsor Ian for the charity night at the Vic and questions him over his intentions of buying a knife. Mehmet tries flirting with Donna.

30 min

291

Willmott-Brown is praised by several residents for assaulting the burglar. Barry continues to search for sponsors for the charity night at the Vic. Charlie continues to wind up Nick, enjoying the reaction he is getting.

30 min

292

Mary refuses to leave Annie's side now that she has her back. Dot avoids Colin, blaming him for her arrest. Den asks Sharon to spend Christmas with him.

30 min

293

Darren puts the tapes he has received into envelopes. Dot is adamant Charlie will not get a penny out of her as she is saving for Christmas, but she ends up giving him £15. Colin has still not found his keys. The ladies practice their darts at the Vic.

30 min

294

Darren receives another package from a friend. Sue hounds Ali to talk to Alan about his disrespect towards them. Pauline searches for an old photo for Lou, who is attending a talk at the community hall about the old East End.

30 min

295

Darren takes another parcel into Carmel's flat and hides it behind her sofa. Magda asks Simon to help her bag a contract with a big firm in the city. Angie phones Pat and invites her for a drink so they can spend time together.

30 min

296

It's court day for Dot and Charlie. Dot is fined £90 and Charlie is fined £50. Angie is dreading Christmas, meanwhile the police continue their investigation into Colin's burglary. Sue and Ali are also targeted and Ali accuses the new landlord. Colin is worried that his relationship with Barry will be investigated.

30 min

297

Charlie and Dot's faces are on the front page of the newspapers and Dot is upset about it. Pat reassures Simon there are no hard feelings for him choosing Magda over her. Barry remains on edge since Regis' visit.

30 min

298

Simon staggers home with a Christmas tree as a surprise for Magda. Christmas preparations are in full swing for the Beales and Fowlers. Ethel gets a rush of excitement for Christmas.

30 min

299

Mary starts a new job at the launderette following Dot being sacked after the paper published news of her recent court appearance. Darren is chastised by Carmel for his wheeling and dealing antics in the Square. To make up for his ways, he organises and hosts a children's Christmas party at the café. Arthur gets a top-up loan from the private money lenders. The Fowlers' cooker gets condemned due it it leaking gas. The Fowlers start to prepare to relocate to Pete's house for their Christmas Day dinner.

30 min

300

Mark makes a surprise visit to see his family on Christmas Day. Mary spends the day in the hospital with Annie who has been under observation following the car crash. The Fowlers spend Christmas Day at Pete and Kathy's. Sharon has Christmas dinner over at the Vic with Den and Pat. The atmosphere is too quiet and dull for her liking.

30 min

301

Sharon is very nervous - she is due to meet Duncan and his mother for lunch and then plans to formally introduce Duncan to Angie and Den during the evening. Angie has had enough of the personal comments from Gerry and his friends at the Dagmar. She knocks Gerry out with one hard punch, quits her job and storms out leaving Simon to cope on his own. The Fowlers buy a second hand cooker.

30 min

302

Angie has been missing for a couple of days since she stormed out of the Dagmar, leaving Wicksy in charge, who employs some temporary help. The Vic is getting ready to expect a lot of customers who are looking to enjoy themselves on New Year's Eve.

30 min

303

Angie puts a proposition to Den that she'll return to the Vic as a business partner, and they will split the profits 50/50. Doctor Singh tells Doctor Legg that he'll be leaving to move up north in a month's time, to work on a research project into the use of narcotic drugs. Pauline catches Den in a quiet moment and hints that she knows he is Vicki's father. Donna gets drunk while working in the Vic. Sharon asks Duncan if they could get engaged.

30 min