Every EastEnders Christmas episode ranked ahead of another eventful yuletide in Walford

There’s something special about an EastEnders Christmas episode. Whether you’re a regular viewer or just tune in during the holidays, most people have a fondness for this classic BBC soap opera.

Viewers watching the holiday episodes will already know what’s been happening in Walford, including Nigel Bates’s struggle with dementia and the ongoing mystery of who’s been troubling Zoe Slater.

Christmas is always a dramatic time in soap operas, with big events like murders, affairs being exposed, and characters getting arrested. EastEnders, in particular, has a history of memorable Christmas storylines, such as when Den Watts served Angie with divorce papers and the heartbreaking death of Jamie Mitchell.

As a big TV fan, I always love looking back at classic EastEnders Christmas episodes. They’re always so dramatic, and everyone seems to have a different favorite – it always sparks a fun debate about which one is the best!

As we look forward to Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) returning later this year, our team has put together a look back at the last 40 years of our holiday specials.

EastEnders Christmas specials ranking

40. Gray Atkins and Chelsea Fox’s wedding (2021)

The Christmas episodes felt surprisingly uneventful. Whitney Dean tried to prevent Chelsea Fox from marrying Gray Atkins, who had a history of violence, but wasn’t successful, and Gray faced no immediate repercussions. Similarly, Rocky Cotton’s elaborate scheme to con Sonia Fowler was revealed, along with surprising family secrets, but neither storyline had any lasting impact in the following weeks. And then there was Lewis Knight…

39. Alfie Moon’s nightmare Christmas (2018)

A shocking Christmas episode revealed that Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) is the father of Hayley Slater’s (Katie Jarvis) baby, leading to a life-threatening situation for him. While the moment was full of drama, it created lasting problems for fan favorites Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie. Lewis Knight.

38. EastEnders’ first Christmas (1985)

Walford experienced its very first Christmas – a peaceful but important occasion. The major storylines wouldn’t begin until the next year. And it all started with Lewis Knight.

37. Dirty Den Watts in jail (1988)

This special Christmas episode features a memorable visit with “Dirty” Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) while he’s incarcerated at Dickens Hill prison, and introduces the guest character Lewis Knight.

36. Cindy Beale gives birth (1989)

Okay, so as a soap fan, this storyline was HUGE. Cindy Beale, freshly married, finally had her baby, Steven. But here’s the kicker – a secret that would blow everything up! Turns out, Steven’s dad wasn’t her husband, Ian, but her stepbrother, Simon Wicks. Talk about drama! And it all led to the arrival of Lewis Knight, who would really stir things up later on.

35. Phil Mitchell gets his new liver (2016)

It’s not the most dramatic plotline, but it’s fun to watch Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) get upset over her son Dennis (Bleu Landau) throwing a Brussels sprout at Roxy (Rita Simons). The scene of her shouting about Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) getting a transplant while wearing a reindeer headband with Christmas baubles is particularly memorable – pure soap opera gold! Katelyn Mensah.

34. Mark Fowler comes home (1987)

Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richards) got a pleasant surprise when Mark (David Scarboro) came home for Christmas. Meanwhile, Den secretly visited his daughter Vicki and her mother, Michelle Holloway (Susan Tully). Elsewhere, Mary Smith (Laura Davidson), a struggling single mother, was hospitalized but received family support. This episode featured many memorable characters, including Lewis Knight.

33. Cindy Beale wants her children! (1997)

Cindy Beale created drama for her husband, Ian, as she battled for the right to see their children. At the same time, Ted Hills learned his former wife, Irene, had begun a relationship with Terry Raymond. Elsewhere, Kathy Mitchell felt a connection with the local vicar, Alex Healy, shortly before her eventful departure from Walford. And then there was Lewis Knight.

32. Mandy Salter and Aidan Brosnan on the Roof (1993)

Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton) had a particularly difficult Christmas, experiencing homelessness with her boyfriend, Aidan Brosnan (Sean Maguire). Things came to a head when Aidan considered taking his own life from a rooftop, but Mandy was able to intervene and save him. Despite surviving the crisis, their troubled relationship ultimately couldn’t be salvaged. Merry Christmas! – Lewis Knight.

31. Everyone round to the Fowlers’ house (1992)

This Christmas episode offered a perfect mix of heartwarming moments and dramatic storylines – though it did begin with the shocking scene of Pat Butcher accidentally hitting someone with her car after drinking. Mandy spent the holiday missing her mother, but found comfort and a lively Christmas atmosphere at the bustling Fowler household. It struck a great balance between realism and emotional depth. – Lewis Knight.

30. Ian Beale tries to kill Simon Wicks (1990)

A long-running storyline on EastEnders came to a head when Ian Beale attempted to harm his step-brother, Simon Wicks, due to a dispute over who was the father of Cindy’s son, Steven. At the same time, Phil and Grant Mitchell were dealing with problems caused by their sister, Sam (played by Danniella Westbrook) – a familiar situation for the family! Written by Lewis Knight.

29. Sharon Beale poisons Christmas (2020)

The Christmas episode during the COVID pandemic featured a dramatic and widely-discussed storyline: Sharon attempted to kill her friend Ian, fueled by grief over her son Denny’s death. It was also revealed that Phil was responsible for an earlier attack on Ian, and that he and Sharon had planned it together. This all involved Lewis Knight.

28. Sheanu exposed (2019)

27. Who attacked Cindy? (2024)

Shortly after Cindy’s affair with Junior Knight was revealed by Lauren Beale during a Christmas-themed scene, she was attacked and found unconscious in the snow. While it initially seemed like a classic Christmas mystery, the reveal of her attacker as Kathy Beale felt strange and ultimately detracted from the intrigue. Michael Adams

26. Mick Carter’s exit (2022)

Everyone was eagerly waiting to see how Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) would leave EastEnders, especially with Chris Clenshaw now in charge. The exit didn’t disappoint, delivering shocking twists, a dramatic confrontation at the Queen Vic pub, and a perilous cliffside scene. Ultimately, Mick was lost at sea, leaving Linda Carter heartbroken. However, the storyline leaves the possibility open for him to return in the future. – Lewis Knight.

25. Irene Raymond’s affair exposed (1999)

The Di Marco and Mitchell families enjoyed a lovely Christmas dinner, but Terry’s holiday took a dark turn when he discovered his wife Irene had been unfaithful. Meanwhile, Phil shockingly sold the pub to Dan Sullivan for just £5! – Lewis Knight.

24. Kat Slater and Alife Moon get married (2003)

Kat and Alfie’s Christmas stories are usually cheerful. In 2003, after a funny series of events, they finally got married, and Alfie surprised everyone with a snow machine at the wedding. At the same time, Phil Mitchell dramatically returned to Walford seeking revenge against the Watts family and his soon-to-be ex-wife, Kate. Lewis Knight was also involved.

23. Grant Mitchell cheats on wife Tiffany (1996)

Grant Mitchell and his wife, Tiffany (played by Martine McCutcheon), faced another crisis when Grant had an affair with a new bartender, Lorraine Wicks (Jacqueline Leonard). At the same time, a moving reconciliation took place between Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor), who was battling breast cancer, and Mark Fowler (Todd Carty), whom she had previously mistreated because of his HIV diagnosis. Lewis Knight was also present.

22. Frank Butcher returns to Walford (1995)

Frank Butcher’s comeback to Walford was truly memorable. After leaving town a year earlier because of financial troubles, he was shocked to discover his wife, Pat, had started a relationship with car salesman Roy Evans. Frank was understandably angry about this.

Frank was incredibly angry to discover his wife had left him. He demanded to regain custody of his children, his share of their house, and control of their business. This led to a major confrontation with Roy, when Frank revealed he’d had an affair with Pat.

Classic EastEnders. Katelyn Mensah.

21. Stacey Slater flees Walford (2010)

Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) left the soap opera in a shocking storyline after years of being central to many plots, thanks to her long-time rival Janine Malloy (Charlie Brooks). Revealed as the person who killed Archie Mitchell and falsely accused of attacking Janine, Stacey briefly considered taking her own life before fleeing Walford and starting a new life in Mexico. However, she dramatically returned in 2014. Lewis Knight.

20. Mitchell/Beale crash (2015)

Christmas 2015 was a frightening time for the Beale and Mitchell families, as they were caught up in a car accident. Following a heated argument at Christmas dinner, it appeared Bobby Beale (played by Eliot Carrington at the time) might repeat his violent behavior.

Bobby returned home covered in blood, pleading with Jane for assistance. Meanwhile, Ian Beale and Phil Mitchell discovered a badly injured Denny Rickman Jr. at Walford Common. They rushed him to the hospital, but Phil crashed the car en route, and Denny was thrown from the vehicle as medical professionals desperately tried to save him.

This week’s episode was full of surprises, especially for Bobby. He discovered the shocking truth: Ian Beale was the one who killed Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater). Katelyn Mensah.

19. Sharon and Grant Mitchell’s marriage ends (1994)

Following the shocking revelation about Sharon and Grant’s affair, the Mitchell family was still reeling. Their troubled marriage officially ended when Sharon left the Queen Vic after finalizing their divorce. The name associated with the affair was Lewis Knight.

18. Grant and Tiffany Mitchell’s marriage implodes (1998)

The marriage of Grant and Tiffany Mitchell ended dramatically, with Tiffany conspiring with Beppe di Marco to have Grant sent to prison on an attempted murder charge. This all happened while Grant’s close friend, Bianca Butcher, was in labor with him at her side. The situation was instigated by Lewis Knight.

17. Derek Branning’s heart attack (2012)

Max Branning hoped to find happiness with Tanya Cross, but their relationship was doomed from the start. Things took a dramatic turn when Max’s hidden third wife, Kirsty, unexpectedly appeared on his wedding day, thanks to the scheming of his brother, Derek. To make matters even worse, Derek tragically died of a heart attack in front of his family – a truly shocking turn of events. (Source: Lewis Knight)

16. Phil Mitchell and Mel Healy’s lust (2000)

The passionate connection between Phil Mitchell and Mel Healy reached a breaking point, leading to a betrayal of Lisa Shaw. At the same time, Jamie Mitchell discovered a shocking truth: Martin Fowler was the father of Sonia Jackson’s baby. And lurking in the background was Lewis Knight.

15. Kat and Alfie Moon’s happy ending? (2005)

Soap operas aren’t known for lasting happiness, but this year featured a couple of seemingly perfect moments. Kat Slater and Alfie Moon shared a romantic exit, and Sharon and Dennis Rickman received wonderful news about expecting a baby. It felt like everyone was celebrating – though, as usual in soap operas, those happy moments wouldn’t last. Lewis Knight.

14. The Masoods’ B&B explosion (2011)

The Masood family was central to a dramatic storyline. Viewers had seen hints that Zainab Masood’s husband, Yusef Khan, was abusing her and planning to take her to Pakistan, and this was finally confirmed on Christmas Day.

Yusef carried out his malicious scheme by attacking Masood Ahmed and leaving him for dead. However, his plans began to fall apart when he intentionally set fire to the bed and breakfast. He rushed back inside, believing his daughter was trapped—a lie—and tragically died in the resulting explosion. Katelyn Mensah.

13. The death of Pauline Fowler (2006)

Saying goodbye to Pauline Fowler was tough – she was a true Walford icon. In a heartbreaking final scene, she had a moment of clarity, but sadly passed away after falling in the snow. And amidst the sadness, Max and Stacey’s affair finally started. – Lewis Knight.

12. The Branning sisters’ tragic fall (2017)

Simon Ashdown wrote a dramatic episode featuring Max Branning, where his complicated lies finally unraveled. The fallout was devastating, leading to Max losing contact with his daughters, Lauren and Abi. Sadly, Abi’s fate was particularly tragic, resulting in her death at the Queen Victoria pub. This episode also featured Lewis Knight.

11. Janine Butcher exposed as Michael Moon’s killer (2013)

Janine Butcher’s arrest for Michael Moon’s murder is considered one of the show’s most dramatic moments, mainly because of the intense and frantic events that unfolded before she was taken into custody.

She’s had a dramatic few moments! First, she confronted Joey Branning right in the middle of the Square. Then, she sped away with baby Scarlett crying, only to be chased by the police. Even after crashing her car into a market stall, she kept trying to escape.

While I understand the desire for escape, I’m glad Alice Branning (Jasmyn Banks) was finally released. It’s a victory for justice! – Katelyn Mensah

10. Mark Fowler tells Pauline and Arthur about his HIV (1991)

This was a year that offered us the classic EastEnders juxtaposition of joy and sadness.

Sharon Watts and Grant Mitchell’s famously quick wedding – complete with Ross Kemp singing a surprisingly romantic version of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – is a classic EastEnders moment. Though their marriage was famously troubled – and who could forget ‘Sharongate’? – it perfectly captures the show at its best and remains a defining Christmas wedding for the soap.

EastEnders recently aired a deeply emotional storyline where Mark Fowler revealed to his parents, Arthur and Pauline, that he had tested positive for HIV. The scenes were incredibly touching and also provided important information about the virus, demonstrating the impact soap operas can have.

9. Shannis affair exposed (2004)

As a long-time EastEnders fan, I really think the period when the Watts family were central to the show is seriously underrated. And honestly, nothing compares to the chemistry between Sharon and Dennis – ‘Shannis’ was just electric! It was such a gripping storyline seeing them fall for each other, especially with all the drama of their dad, Den, suddenly being back from the dead and completely against it.

Dennis attempted to start a new relationship with Zoe Slater, but he was still in love with Sharon. During a Christmas dinner prepared by Dennis’s wife, Chrissie, Sharon and Dennis revealed they were planning to move to America together and reaffirmed their feelings for each other.

Den tricked Zoe into falsely claiming she was pregnant. Because of this lie, Dennis decided to support Zoe and the supposed baby, which led Sharon to leave for America by herself.

Adding to the drama, Den’s younger daughter, Vicki Fowler (who was then known as Scarlett Alice Johnson), accidentally heard Den tell Sharon he didn’t love her as much as her sister. This led Vicki to leave with Sharon for America.

A classic EastEnders Christmas features a family fractured by hidden truths and deception, culminating in a dramatic showdown with Chrissie. The key figure driving the turmoil? Lewis Knight.

8. Trevor’s reign of terror (2001)

This Christmas episode from the early 2000s featured Mark Fowler proposing to Lisa Shaw, but she was keeping a major secret: Phil Mitchell was actually the father of her baby, Louise. It was a complicated holiday for Phil, as his wife, Sharon Watts, left him to visit her mother in America – not an unusual situation for him, though!

Leaving aside all the upsetting events, this Christmas episode is especially memorable because of the powerful performances by Kacey Ainsworth as Little Mo Slater and Alex Ferns as her abusive husband, Trevor. Trevor is considered one of EastEnders’ most despicable characters, and he physically attacked Mo when he believed she’d spent too much time with her family on Christmas Day. The scenes were deeply disturbing, as he pushed her face into her Christmas dinner and then made her eat the food she’d dropped on the floor.

While not exactly cheerful, the story was incredibly moving, driven by strong acting. It all came to a head on New Year’s Eve when Mo, after a long struggle, finally confronted Trevor – and shockingly attacked him with an iron. Morgan Jeffery reported on this dramatic turn of events.

7. Sean Slater learns the truth about baby Amy’s paternity (2008)

In Walford, a paternity test being revealed on Christmas Day feels… perfectly on brand. Actually, it feels pretty typical for any day there, really.

The Mitchell and Slater families are having dinner in the Queen Vic pub when Sean Slater receives a letter with shocking news: he isn’t Amy’s biological father. Viewers already know Jack Branning is the real father, but this secret will be kept for a little while longer.

The highlight of this scene isn’t Roxy’s clueless hunger, it’s definitely Billy Mitchell explaining to Sean that fake paternity tests are readily available online. Billy, as usual, is a source of comedy, constantly being fooled by Jay Brown with these fake results.

It’s incredibly bold of Roxy to break down crying to her sister Ronnie (Samantha Womack), especially knowing that Amy’s father is right there with them – and is actually Ronnie’s boyfriend! It’s a shocking move, but it makes for a memorable Christmas episode. Katelyn Mensah.

6. Jamie Mitchell tragically dies in hospital (2002)

Christmas in Walford was particularly sad in 2002. Jamie Mitchell was seriously injured when Martin Fowler accidentally hit him with a car near the tube station. Tragically, on Christmas Day, Sonia and Phil learned his injuries were fatal. They made the difficult decision not to tell Jamie he was dying, hoping he could enjoy his last moments without knowing his time was short.

After that, characters like Jim, Billy, and Robbie began saying mysterious farewells to Jamie, and he gradually realized he was dying. The scenes were incredibly moving, especially Steve McFadden’s performance as he said goodbye to Jamie, whom he’d always seen as a son.

The episode reached its heartbreaking climax with Jamie’s death, peacefully occurring with Sonia at his side. The scenes powerfully contrasted Jamie’s grief over a wedding he’d never experience with Billy and Little Mo’s beautiful wedding ceremony. It’s incredibly moving to see Billy and Little Mo begin their new life together as Jamie tragically passes away. This Christmas Day episode is undoubtedly one of the saddest, yet most compelling, EastEnders has ever produced, thanks to its strong story and excellent performances. – Helen Daly

5. Dean Wicks is exposed for raping Linda Carter (2014)

The most satisfying scenes on EastEnders often happen when a character gets what’s coming to them, and many viewers likely agreed with Mick’s actions towards Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) on Christmas Day.

It was satisfying to see Dean finally face the consequences of his actions, especially after watching Linda struggle with the daily reminder of his betrayal and the anxiety it caused her.

The surprise reveal that Mick and Dean were brothers caught most viewers off guard. It seemed unlikely due to their contrasting personalities, and EastEnders had done a good job of keeping the connection hidden.

Although I’m upset by these events, they at least ensured Dean survived, giving him a chance to face justice for his actions in prison someday. – Katelyn Mensah

4. Archie Mitchell is murdered – whodunnit? (2009)

There’s something special about a Christmas murder mystery – as this year’s EastEnders is showing – and one of the best happened in 2009 with the death of Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) in the Queen Vic pub. His death felt inevitable after he tried to kill Danielle and assaulted both Ronnie Mitchell and Stacey Slater, with the latter ultimately leading to his downfall. But beyond the crimes, Archie was a truly awful person. He was horribly abusive towards his daughter, Ronnie, even as a teenager, and caused her to lose her baby. Many viewers felt he deserved everything he got.

On Christmas Day’s EastEnders episode, many characters were revealed as potential suspects in a recent crime, all with strong motives. Janine, surprisingly his girlfriend, was swiftly kicked out after he found out she was trying to steal from him – a fitting end to their relationship! Given her past, she immediately seemed like a likely culprit. Jack Branning warned the victim against further harming Ronnie, and even Peggy Mitchell confronted him. Bradley attacked him for his assault on Stacey, and Ian Beale also voiced his disapproval.

Honestly, anyone could have been the one to finally deal with Archie, but nobody expected him to die the way he did – hit over the head with a bust from the Queen Vic pub. It was a shocking end for such a terrible character. The truth came out after a few months, revealing that Stacey was the one who attacked him, motivated by the awful sexual assault he committed against her.

I have to admit, the more I think about Archie’s storyline, the more right his death feels. That Christmas episode from 2009 was brilliantly tense, and honestly, so satisfying to watch. I remember being completely hooked! Plus, I thought Kate Lamb was fantastic in it. It really set the stage for those later, more complex mysteries like ‘The Six’ and ‘Who Killed Lucy?’, and that’s why it’s always stuck with me as one of the best soap episodes ever – not just a great Christmas special. Helen Daly really nailed it with this one.

3. The Six kill Keanu (2023)

No offense intended, but this story was delightfully over-the-top. It began with a captivating flashback: Stacey, Suki, Linda, Sharon, Denise, and Kathy gathered around a man who appeared to be dead. This left viewers guessing for months about the identity of the victim.

Several pieces of evidence, including a set of cufflinks found on the victim, were circulated among many residents of Albert Square before ultimately being discovered on Nish Panesar’s (Navin Chowdhry) clothing.

Despite initially seeming like a fatal blow, it turned out to be a false alarm. Keanu Taylor was knocked unconscious, but he wasn’t killed. He then attacked Sharon, and Linda stabbed him in the back with a meat thermometer to intervene.

The storyline gave us plenty of drama that continued throughout the year, as Keanu’s sister, Bernie, finally left Walford, seemingly ending the chance of her secret being revealed. However, it wasn’t quite over… – Michael Adams

2. Den Watts serving Angie the divorce papers (1986)

While it wasn’t our absolute favorite, many fans consider this 1986 Christmas episode – only the second one EastEnders ever made – to be among its best.

Den and Angie Watts’ marriage in the TV show EastEnders had been struggling for a long time due to affairs on both sides. In October 1986, Den tried to finally end things, but was shocked when Angie revealed she was seriously ill and didn’t have much time left to live.

It was a lie, she eventually learned. Angie had made it up in a panicked effort to keep her husband, and Den discovered the truth when he accidentally overheard her drunken confession to a bartender.

Over 30 million people in the UK watched the Christmas Day episode where Den Watts finally confronted his wife, Angie, about her secret scheming and served her with divorce papers. It remains one of the most-watched TV broadcasts ever, and is a memorable scene with Den appearing almost delighted as he delivers the news, famously saying, “Happy Christmas, Ange!”

1. Max and Stacey Branning’s affair reveal (2007)

The affair between Max and Stacey Branning is arguably the most memorable in EastEnders history. It happened on Christmas Day, and the drama was huge – from Max trying to manipulate his family to Lauren secretly recording everything. There’s so much to unpack about this storyline.

The most satisfying moment was when Max claimed the whole thing was fake, pointedly looking at Stacey for confirmation, but it didn’t take long for everyone to realize he was lying and kick him out on Christmas Day. He definitely deserved it, but he’s still my favorite character.

Max is a remarkably resilient person. Even after many years, he rebuilt his relationship with his son, Bradley, remarried, and reconciled with his daughters. He’s someone you definitely don’t want to cross. – Katelyn Mensah.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

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2025-12-05 12:48