CHRISTMAS provides us with many pleasing and delightful aspects. There is spending time with your loved ones, that delicious dinner on Christmas Day and the countless amount of chocolate that needs to be munched. Another highlight of the next fortnight is the Christmas TV. Here is a preview of some of the festival treats on offer on the box.
In soapland, EastEnders has had the top billing for a number of years and their main storyline features the destruction of the Masood family. Evil doctor Yusef has managed to split Zainab and Masood up and weasel his way in Zainab’s affections. This Christmas, it all explodes quite literally and not everyone will survive. I can reveal of a fire at the B&B on Boxing Day, but is this part of Yusef’s revenge plot or the culmination of another storyline. Elsewhere on the Square, little Tommy Moon has his first birthday, but Kat and Alfie’s turbulent marriage hits a crisis point. Will a camera recorder spell the end of another Walford marriage? Also, Bianca is released from prison, but a happy Christmas for the Butcher’s looks highly unlikely, especially as Pat’s financial issues become public knowledge. Worse is to come for the Square’s matriarch, as her health takes a turn for the worse. Actress Pam St. Clement is leaving the show, but I’m keeping tight lipped on how she will be departing.
Another major character is leaving the soaps over the festive period and that is Becky McDonald in Coronation Street. Depressed at seeing her former husband Steve and her nemesis Tracy Barlow have a family Christmas; she sets fire accidentally to her flat. Can Nick Tilsley make it in time to drag the fiery Becky out of the fire? Peter Barlow might have just started a sizzling affair with Carla Connor, but when he misplaces a Christmas present in the back of a taxi, Rovers bar manager, Stella Price becomes nosey and her reaction to Leanne’s Christmas present that she receives from her cheating hubby suggests that Peter must watch his back. Also, Sophie Webster is set to tie the knot with Sian Powers, but she seems to be struggling to cope with last-minute nerves and growing feelings towards Amber. Will the wedding go ahead? In Emmerdale, goodwill will not be in play between Debbie and Alicia. Christmas dinner or should I say, Alicia’s dinner ends up being poured over her head by Debbie. Then, she has another plan to help conceive a baby with Andy, in the efforts to save Sarah, but how their partners react to her desperate plan. Also, factory owner Jai is arrested for the attack on Cain Dingle a couple of weeks ago. Have the police got their man, or is Cain just out for revenge? Plus, Laurel and Ashley get prepared to renew their wedding vows, but Laurel is another woman with second thoughts and can dishy chef Marlon stop her making a terrible mistake. Doctors, Home and Away and Neighbours all disappear on lengthy Christmas breaks, but in Hollyoaks, Brendan Brady and Warren Fox’s bitter confrontation for villain of the year in Chester reaches new heights. Brendan has a gun pulled on him, is he doomed to end the year in a coffin?
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| HEAD-TO-HEAD: EastEnders v Downton Abbey on Christmas Day |
Taking on EastEnders head-to-head on Christmas Day will be the award-winning Downton Abbey. Nigel Havers, Brendan Coyle and Hugh Bonneville take guest roles in this special episode, which will bring a rollercoaster full of emotions and a mixture of cheer and sadness in Lord Grantham’s country house? On the same day, Matt Smith stars in the seasonal Doctor Who Christmas special. Alexander Armstrong plays a guest role this year and we’ve been promised a story that will show a different side to the Doctor. Other leading dramas see the star of Lewis, Laurence Fox take a lead performance in Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me where he and his wife attempt to bring some much needed cheer to a terminally ill child.
The final of Strictly Come Dancing is tomorrow evening and on Christmas Day, there will be the regular Christmas special for charity. This year, EastEnders wicked woman Charlie Brooks, former Blue boyband member Simon Webbe and boxer Barry McGuigan compete in the dance-off. As Bruce and Tess would say, keep dancing! Chris Tarrant presents another edition of celebrity Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, while Jimmy Carr and guests including Jonathan Ross, Alan Carr and Miranda Hart compete for a lighter look at 2011 in The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. Then there’s Ant and Dec and let’s be honest, a Christmas without them would be as dull as dishwater! They pick up where Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley by hosting the second edition of Text Santa, where the winners at the end of a fabulous night of entertainment and surprises, will be charities. Schofield’s acclaimed show The Cube has a couple of Coronation Street stars attempt to become the first people to beat The Cube and there’s also a Benidorm v The Only Way is Essex Family Fortunes Christmas Special.
Other shows to watch out for in Christmas are a lookback at the news from the year in Mark Austin’s That Was 2011. Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates will provide the music entertainment on Christmas Day with a special edition of Top of the Pops. In sport, Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea and Liverpool v Newcastle United look like the pick of the Premiership festive football action live on Sky Sports. Also, can Kauto Star produce one final piece of magic on Channel 4 with the King George VI at Kempton and stop Long Run’s recent dominance of jump racing. Lastly, Noel Edmonds will present daily editions of Deal or No Deal, which takes a panto feel to this Christmas. However, don’t expect any festive celebrations from the banker.
So there you go, that is your Christmas TV sorted….
