Christmasses are always quite dramatic in Albert Square (with Den serving divorce papers on Angie, the revelation of Sharon’s affair with Phil) and this was the setting for the story that has been on the boil for months. The Brannings were all gathered together with the Slaters for a nice family Christmas. Max is dressed as Santa and hands out the Christmas presents, which includes Lauren’s DVD. Lauren tries to stop it from being played but fails and everyone is shocked as they see Max and Stacey kissing in the wedding video. Max creates a story and tries to get Stacey to back him up but she admits to having an affair. Bradley starts to fight with Max, pushing him into the Christmas tree, but then runs into the square. Sean stops Stacey from following Bradley.

Tanya orders the girls upstairs whilst she confronts Stacey and Max. She slaps Stacey and then throws the pair outside, before becoming amorous with Sean (who she then throws out). Meanwhile, Bradley is being sick in the square and comforted by his Uncle Jack with a drink in the Queen Vic, where Max appears and is punched in the face by a drunk Bradley. Max tries to convince him that the affair was not Stacey’s fault and to give her another chance.

At the Brannings, Tanya feels unable to cope with Oscar and finds a bottle of pills but is stopped from taking them by Abi. Max returns home to find bags packed and his family about to leave. He runs up stairs and tries to stop Tanya from leaving but she falls down the stairs and lays motionless at the bottom.

There is drama elsewhere on Eastenders as Steven turns up for Christmas Dinner (Ian has invited him, but Jane does not know this); Phil is handed a picture of his daughter Louise by Jack Branning (who gets a kiss from Ronnie) and Shirley and Heather are disappointed when Vinnie fails to turn up for dinner.