Christmas soap storylines: Everything you need to know this festive season

Waking up the day after the boozy Christmas party, Tim Metcalfe has a terrible feeling something bad has happened. As he heads out to visit Sally in prison, Tim is horrified when Faye tells him she saw him in bed with Gina. He's disgusted with himself for stooping so low, and tells Gina as much. But Tim can't hide his guilt forever. On Christmas Day he goes to visit Sally in prison, and comes clean about sleeping with Gina – despite knowing his marriage probably won't survive it. Back home during lunch, Gina admits she's in love with Tim.

Lewis Archer arouses suspicion when his phone rings and he leaves the table to answer it. Gail follows him out into the yard, and is shocked by what she hears. She follows him to a hotel where he meets a glamorous middle aged woman for a fancy dinner.He takes her upstairs, and Gail manages to snap a picture of them as they disappear into a bedroom... Gail tells Audrey everything and urges Nick to move Audrey's inheritance to an account where Lewis can't get it. But she's accidentally taken a selfie instead of snapping Lewis with the other woman. Over dinner, Audrey confronts Lewis. Admitting defeat, the two of them leave together, with Audrey fearing that Gail had been right all along about Lewis and that he wasn't to be trusted after all. On Nick's request, Audrey calls her financial adviser as they have some urgent news. As Audrey listens, her face falls and she collapses. She tells Gail, David, Nick and Sarah that the £80k has been stolen from her account.

Carla Connor visits Peter at the snooker hall and warns him it has a history as a total money pit. She challenges him to a game, suggesting that if he wins, he pulls out of the sale. Over a charged game of snooker, the two of them relive their past together and it's clear there is still feeling between them.

Alfie Moon tries to give Kat her wedding ring back but she rebuffs his attempts, leaving him annoyed. On EastEnders' Christmas special, Kat is determined to have the perfect family festivities but unbeknownst to her, the Slater family's lives are about to be turned upside down. Kat is still unsure about wearing her wedding ring, and Alfie continues to try and win her over - but things take a turn for the worse when he learns an alarming truth and a dramatic chain of events lead to Alfie and Hayley's baby secret FINALLY being exposed to Kat and the rest of the family.

Mick Carter might be out of prison but it's safe to say he's not the same and when Linda spots an exchange between her husband and Phil she begins to worry. She then makes a worrying discovery and is left stressing about what Mick has done. Towards the end of the week, the Carters prepare for the Christmas karaoke at The Vic but as the celebrations get started, Mick and Linda struggle to put all the recent drama behind them.

Phil Mitchell gets the shock of his life when he gets locked in the Minute Mart with Kim - who goes into labour. Denise begins to worry about her sister and when she spots an ambulance at the Minute Mart she fears the worst...Luckily, when they arrive, they discover Kim with her newborn baby. Following the arrival of her little one, Kim is in high spirits but Denise sees through her sister's act and begins to worry she's struggling without Vincent. Later on, Kim decides to have another Christmas for her family – seeing as she was in labour – and suggests to Denise that they invite Phil over to join them.

Ray Kelly arrives and has a surprising request for Phil but as tensions reach breaking point, Phil sends Mel's fiancé away. Ray makes a mysterious phone call and shortly after he gives Phil a worrying ultimatum. Finally, Mel gets herself into full preparation mode for her wedding day and refuses to let her fiancé Ray distract her from her goal – to bring him down. Unfortunately, it looks like she may fail when Maddie admits she has doubts about their plan. Will Mel be able to convince Maddie to help her?

Poor Bob Hope is no closer to paying off any of his debts, even after his ill-fated stint as a Christmas Elf. Eventually, he pawns his new watch for extra cash, but even that falls flat when he buys the wrong gifts for the kids. Dejected and desperate, he even considers stealing from the charity Christmas box, but will he stoop so low?

Marlon and Sam Dingle are kicked out of the Woolpack when Charity finds them drinking from the taps. Stumbling along Main Street, they're happily surprised to find the van with Charity's booze delivery unlocked, and climb inside. Unaware of his extra cargo, the layman drives off. Waking up in a van in the middle of nowhere with banging headaches, Marlon struggles to see the funny side and reveals they have to get back – for Sam's surprise wedding. When Marlon eventually arrives at the venue – late and hungover – he's surprised to see Jessie in a wedding dress. But it's not just Marlon in for a shock – the rest of the guests are oblivious to the fact they're attending a wedding too, thanks to Jessie's elaborately constructed surprise. Will the wedding go smoothly, especially after Marlon learns it is in fact his wedding – and faints?

Still feeling insecure about hitting her 50s, Bernice Blackstock decides to take drastic measures and orders some Botox off the internet, asking Kerry if she will inject her. But after they start the process, the two of them panic as they realise Bernice is having an allergic reaction. They call an ambulance, and Bernice is told her face could be permanently paralysed. Liam is furious at Kerry's stupidity, but when she explains she was pressured by Leanna, Leanna can't defend her involvement and rushes from the room.

Matty Barton is humiliated when, leaving a New Year's eve party, he's accosted by an ex and a few of his friends. Rushing to compose himself after the attack, Matty vows to bulk up and asks Ellis to help him with some training sessions. But it soon becomes clear that Matty is struggling with something else. The next day, a furious Cain tracks down the lads who attacked Matty, seeking revenge. Outside a pub, Cain watches in wait for Isaac to arrive. Once he appears, Cain heads over to confront him. Grabbing him by the collar, Cain suddenly freezes, stopped in his tracks by the memories of Joe and what he did to him. Isaac and his friends seize their opportunity and lay into Cain. The next day he arrives home bloodied and bruised and Moira begs them to go to the police. But Cain says they can't tell the police – the pressure of questioning might lead him to confess what he did to Joe.

Following all the drama at Christmas, Mercedes McQueen and Sylver go out for dinner but their plans end up with a disaster. Later on in the week, she waits for him at The Folly, but he doesn't turn up – where is he?

The biggest event set to take part in the village is of course Louis Loveday and Leela Lomax's wedding day. It all kicks off with Leela full of excitement about her big day, but Simone isn't ready to let go of her ex-husband and meets him in Price Slice. One thing leads to another and the pair end up kissing - unaware that Zack has caught them!The next day is Leela and Louis' wedding, but it soon becomes clear that it will be full of drama - especially as all of Louis' secrets begin to unravel for the whole village to see... As Leela walks down the aisle and takes Louis' hand, Zack and Simone walk into the ceremony. Will the pair be able to stop the wedding from going ahead?