With Jim still recovering from his illness at his daughter Carol’s, Dot is missing him especially as Christmas approaches. Emotions are running high in the Branning household as Max has a row with his brother Jack (who wants to take Lauren and Abi to visit Jim) and Jack allows Lauren and Peter to play truant in the sanctuary of the R&R club. Phil later sees the youngsters sneaking out of the club with some bottles of alcohol. He phones Max who finds the pair knocking back the champagne in the playground – a cue for another row between Max and Jack.

After being taken home by Roxie, Steven Beale is bragging that he has slept with her and is humiliated in the Queen Vic when Roxie makes it clear that nothing happened. Stacey is upset that her new friend was unable to tell her the truth. He reveals that he is 17 and never had a proper girlfriend.

Billy Mitchell’s troubles get from bad to worse. Unable to pay the rent, he tries to get some housing for the family to be told it is going to take at least 4 weeks.

Phil and Max conspire to “get rid of” Jack.