The one soap bubble I'm most looking forward to this Christmas Day is EastEnders, of course.
It's always been that tradition to sit and see how the residents of Walford are spending the most wonderful day of the year, It usually isn't happily and this year, for a fact, will be no different.
However, I want to begin by musing over a story which will really kick off on Christmas Eve, as Stacey gives birth to her son.
It's been revealed recently that Stacey will suffer from postpartum psychosis, which leads to a heartbreaking rooftop scene, where the troubled mum goes to the top of The Vic, to be closer to God. It's also the same place where she lost her husband, Bradley.
We also know that Kush is secretly harbouring the secret that he is Stacey's sons father and not his best pal Martin. Even more heartbreaking is, of course, that Kush's wife, and Stacey's best mate Shabnam recently lost their own son through stillbirth.
With Shabnam now going through a medical worry of her own, waiting to find out if she can have more children, Stacey's upsetting storyline has lead me to wonder whether Kush, with Shabs' persuasion will go for custody of his son.
I think that this would be a hard-hitting plot, especially as Shabnam will also find out that her hubby is Stacey's baby's dad over Christmas.
Shabs is fragile, from losing her own son, and her fragility will be made worse should she discover that it's unlikely that she will be able to have any more children. Imagine her pain, especially as Kush was a driving force in her backing out of going for custody of her daughter, Jade, who's now living with grandmother Shirley Carter.
If Shabnam does stick with Kush, and with Stacey's postpartum psychosis, the feeling of hurt and betrayal could easily drive Shabnam to push Kush into using poor Stacey's mental health to gain the family she so desperately wants.
But what about Martin? He's already dealt with Sonia cheating on him in the past, so will he forgive Stacey and Kush, especially as he's so excited about becoming a dad again. James Bye has effortlessly stepped into Martin's shoes and I think that this would be a perfect opportunity for him to really shine, should Martin go off the rails after this latest set-back. Deep down, Martin is a real Fowler, he's a family man. But then so was Arthur, and he went off the rails at least once in his life...
I'd love to see Martin mix with characters he may not have been involved with since his return, say, Vincent for example. Another guy who wants to be a family man, but has come off the rails because of the way his life has led him.
That's if Vincent isn't the victim of the Christmas Day tragedy... I had wondered if it would be him, but I'm now changing my mind. Especially since last night's ep - which I'd like to just take a moment to appreciate drunk Phil once more! Steve McFadden plays a blinder, and as horrid as it was watching Kim worry for baby Pearl, the comedy moments of Phil creeping out, kept the scenes a little lighter. His one liners to Sharon, and her massive disapproving looks were a chuckle!
Phil also revealed to Vincent that his dad actually 'did a runner', and you could maybe see Vincent believe him? Or at least see a seeded doubt.
I've always wondered if Claudette was the one who killed her hubby, after he possibly had an affair (maybe with Aunt Sal!). But now it seems that he could have ran off... Either way, Claudette has a vendetta against the Mitchell's.
Vincent ended last night's episode by telling his mum that Phil Mitchell is a dead man, tomorrow... We know that there will be a showdown, but I'm wondering if someone innocent will be caught in the crossfire. Fatboy, maybe? He's been about at the Hubbard's household quite a bit, and we know that he's leaving the Square.
We know it definitely won't be Phil, as he has a new battle of his own coming up in the New Year. Cirrhosis of the liver. Will this be the storyline to get Phil back on the wagon?
I think it's an amazing storyline to tackle, and as far as I believe, it's not yet been done in soap before. This could also see the Mitchell's really pull together again, after fraying over the past few months. There's no other family who forget their differences in a crisis like this one - and with Phil's teenage daughter Louise on her way home, maybe this time next year, Christmas at the Mitchell's will be a happier affair... But then again, maybe not!
I'll leave you with one final thought...
Remember that Bobby Beale is still about, and I'd look out for that one this Christmas Day, too... That's one kid definitely on Santa's BAD list!
MORE SOAPS
SOMEWHERE OVER MY RAINBOW
DRAMA NEWS
