Soap preview: Mon 23 - Fri 27 December

Kylie’s on the edge in ‘Corrie’, an actual happy Christmas in ‘EastEnders’ and second time lucky for David and Alicia on ‘Emmerdale’.

EastEnders
Phil is ready to hand over the keys to the Vic’s new owner and Kat and Alfie are going to have to say goodbye for ever to the pub. And even Charlie Slater turns up for the occasion (bit weird that he didn’t want to be there for any of the times she might have needed him, but still).

For once however, that doesn’t mean that it’s going to be a totally horrible Christmas in Walford (To continue this illusion, please ignore the “Also this week” below). Kat doesn’t respond to being kicked out by hitting the bottle – and why not? Because she’s preggers!

[EastEnders role for McBusted's Matt]

That’s the best possible news for Alfie – better even than when it seems Phil’s buyer has fallen through. Something to do with David Wicks. But there’s a new buyer lurking in the form of Mick (Hello Danny Dyer!) and soon Kat and Alfie are kicked out to number 23.

Mind you, they’ve got their love to keep them warm, whereas Phil is going to be shocked to discover than Mick’s surname is “Carter”. He’s Shirley’s brother – which means that she’s going to be Queen of the Manor.

Also this week: Joey leaves town after ensuring that Max knows all about Lauren and Jake. And also, Janine is under big pressure when David blackmails her for £250,000 – either she pays up or he takes the recording of her confession to the police.

Coronation Street
If you’re worried your family might have a bit of a bust up over trivial pursuits, just imagine if your surname was “Platt”. Before the sprouts have even hit the pan,  David and Nick have a truce that’s even more uneasy than that football match in WWII and so Nick couldn’t be more on edge if he was stood on U2’s guitarist. Kylie can’t deal with David at all, and has hit the bottle and Gail, well, Gail’s Gail.

Things get off to a great start when Leanne teases Nick about a cracker joke – he flies into a rage. And slaps her round the face.  Not cool, dude. Not cool. The family wrestle him down but it’s just the excuse Kylie needs to have another go at David.

The festive fun continues when Kylie storms over to the Rovers and begins yelling at Tina. Nice work. Tina is already cross, ‘cause her love Peter is playing nice and friendly with the woman, he married five minutes ago. And so she’s bristling for a scrap. It’s not long before the two of them take matters outside and have a set-to on the cobbles.

As you’d expect, Kylie is starting to get the upper hand – but soon gets caught by the Fuzz.  That’s right, the police arrive and take her to the station to calm down. Ah, Christmas.

Also this week: If Kylie had been arrested the day before and spent Christmas Eve in the drunk tank, then the old man said to her ‘won’t see another one’ might have been Roy. He’s so depressed even after a snow fight with Hayley when he discovers she only has weeks, not months left. To be honest, it’s so heart-breaking there’s only so much of this story we can take.

Emmerdale
Following on from their fake wedding two years ago, David and Alicia are all set for the real thing. Isn’t that a lot of pressure? What if the fake one was more fun?

Anyway, before the big day – persistent Priya makes a last minute bid to try and convert David to her idea: have a proper family with her and their unborn baby.

And of course, because of gossipy Val news of Priya’s visit gets back  to Alicia and she’s terrified. Will David actually go through with the Christmas Day nuptials?

[The most miserable Soap Christmases]

But of course he will. After all, what could go wrong with a wedding in Soap Land? Well, how about a groom with a vomiting bug, a dress and hair disaster for the bride and a visitor – a former favourite – who is sure to put the cat among the pigeons?

Also this week: Declan is at his lowest ebb – and determined to destroy Home Farm. He sets fire to it – but he doesn’t realise that Megan is searching through the flames to try and find him…