Cindy's affair is revealed
Secrets and lies are set to throw a wrecking ball into the Beale family festivities this year as the shocking truth about Cindy is revealed in spectacular fashion on Christmas Day. The incriminating evidence captured on tape will expose Cindy鈥檚 true love for ex-husband George and her scandalous affair with his son, Junior.
As Cindy鈥檚 admissions are played out for all to hear, she soon realises that she has nowhere to hide as all hell breaks loose in the Beale and Knight families, with fury and accusations flying on all sides鈥�
Past lovers attempt to reunite
As the yuletide warmth strikes up old feelings for some, Martin and Stacey find themselves conflicted when old feelings rise to the surface following a kiss.
With Martin trying to save face, Stacey continues to doubt her feelings, but full of Christmas spirit, and a whole heap of Slater advice, will Stacey find the courage to tell Martin how she really feels, and will all go to plan鈥�
Despite being surrounded by family and friends, Phil struggles to get into the party mood as he sits down to a Mitchell family dinner at No.1, but after being reminded of ex-wife Sharon鈥檚 new romance with cousin Teddy, it鈥檚 clear Phil has never felt more alone鈥�
Across the Square, Kim attempts to buoy the Walford choir for their annual Christmas carol service, but as disaster strikes during rehearsals, Kim鈥檚 teaching methods start to fall flat with all involved. Meanwhile, sister Denise will be getting an unexpected Christmas present from an unlikely gift-bearer and will find herself enjoying a very different day from the one she had last year鈥�
With festive drama expected for all involved, the residents of Walford just might find themselves haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past in more ways than one鈥�
Michelle Collins
How does it feel to be involved in this year鈥檚 Christmas storyline?
I feel very honoured to be involved in the Christmas storyline because it鈥檚 almost like a tradition to watch EastEnders on Christmas Day. It鈥檚 always a classic [episode] and it was a classic last Christmas, so it鈥檚 great to be involved in this one. I think the episode this year is a real EastEnders classic, so I鈥檓 really excited to be a part of it.
How did you react when Chris Clenshaw initially told you about Cindy鈥檚 affair storyline?
It鈥檚 kind of strange because when I first came back people kept on saying 鈥榳hen is Cindy going to be bad again?鈥�, and it鈥檚 almost like people鈥檚 expectations of Cindy are that Cindy is always going to be up to no good. That she鈥檒l be up to her old antics, and that a leopard never changes its spots. I must admit, it鈥檚 every actor鈥檚 dream, I think, to play a character like Cindy where even I never know what she is going to be doing from one moment to the next. I read the scripts and sometimes I go, 鈥極h gosh, what is she up to now?鈥� [Laughs] So, it didn鈥檛 surprise me when I found out about the affair.
We can reveal that her efforts will be in vain, as the shocking truth is revealed in The Vic. What was it like to film those scenes?
Why do people always like playing the villains in panto? Because sometimes they鈥檙e a bit more fun [laughs]. As an actor playing Cindy, I go through a whirlwind of emotions, so you have to enjoy it a bit and have some fun in between. She is always a challenge.
Do you think there is any space for redemption for Cindy, or do you think this is a step too far based on her previous track record?
She is a complex character to play, she鈥檚 very self-destructive and she doesn鈥檛 have an off button, but I do think she needs some kind of redemption for the character to be believable. Nobody鈥檚 perfect.
How will you be spending your Christmas?
I love spending Christmas at home, and then I tend to go away for a little bit. Christmas is always different one year to the next. I will be resting as it鈥檚 been a big year for Cindy.
What EastEnders character (past or present) would you invite to your Christmas dinner and why?
I think I would invite Dot Cotton, played by June Brown, to lunch. I鈥檇 also choose Pauline Fowler played by Wendy Richards, because it would be very spikey but also very funny [Laughs]. I loved those two characters, and maybe Mike Reid because he would make everybody laugh and he could also sing as well. I鈥檇 also like David Essex because I never worked with him, and I was a massive fan of him when I was younger. He was in EastEnders when I wasn鈥檛 there, and I was so annoyed I didn鈥檛 get to work with him. I鈥檇 love some of those legends to come to my Christmas lunch.
What is your favourite festive memory on set?
It鈥檚 hard to say, as I鈥檝e had a lot. [Laughs] I do love Christmas on EastEnders, and I particularly love being in the Square at night because there is something really beautiful, and calm about it as it resonates so many feelings. I was shooting on there recently doing a night shoot, and there is something really romantic about it. I think it conjures up so many memories of me as a young woman, working in the Square. There is something really special about spending Christmas in Albert Square. We also get to have two Christmases, one in Albert Square, and one of our own.
In three words, tells us what the viewers can expect from this year鈥檚 Christmas Day episode?
You鈥檒l certainly be on the edge of your seats, but I would say it鈥檚 dramatic, powerful and moving. A classic EastEnders. Sorry I know that鈥檚 more than three! [Laughs]
Lacey Turner
You鈥檝e taken part in some of the show鈥檚 most iconic Christmas Day storylines including The Six. How does it feel to be involved in this year鈥檚 Christmas episode?
It鈥檚 always lovely to be involved in the Christmas storyline. EastEnders at Christmas is sort of a tradition in most people鈥檚 houses, so it鈥檚 always an honour to be involved in the Christmas episode, and it鈥檚 always a bit dramatic, and a bit explosive, so I always look forward to that.
Stacey and Martin have always had an on-again, off-again relationship. What has sparked this latest shift?
I think what it is between Martin and Stacey is that she has always had feelings for him, it鈥檚 just they never quite work out whenever they鈥檙e together.[Laughs] I think they are one of those couples that shouldn鈥檛 be together, but they really want to be together. Every time they try it never really works. I think seeing Ruby with him has probably made her go 鈥極h, I definitely do have feelings for him, but maybe I鈥檓 a bit late.鈥�
Do you think Stacey is threatened by Ruby, and the fact that Martin has a new family?
I don鈥檛 think she feels threatened, and she鈥檚 quite understanding in terms of his son, Roman, but I think she doesn鈥檛 trust Ruby as far as she can throw her. She鈥檚 very wary of her and what her actions or her motive is, as it feels like everything she does always has something behind it.
Do you think it would work if Martin and Stacey got back together, and do you hope they do?
I always think Martin and Stacey would be a wonderful old couple, but I don鈥檛 know. I鈥檇 love to see them together forever, but who knows. It always seems to go a bit pear-shaped when they are together, so maybe they鈥檙e like Ross and Rachel [from Friends].鈥�
How will you be spending your Christmas?
Hopefully sitting on a sofa, not doing anything anywhere near as dramatic as what is going on in Albert Square [Laughs].
Which EastEnders character (past or present) would you invite to your Christmas dinner and why?
I鈥檇 have to have Pat and Peggy. I mean they鈥檙e the ultimate icons really, and I just love them together. I鈥檇 want them to have a good old row at the Christmas table.
What is your favourite festive memory on set?
Every year. There is something about walking up to the Square to do a night shoot that is just so magical. You really feel the history, and I just love it.
Nish's Final Act
Drama ahead for Suki and Eve as Nish's return sets to derail their nuptuals
This New Year, the residents of Walford congregate to watch star-crossed lovers Suki and Eve say 鈥業 do鈥�, but unbeknownst to the pair, escaped fugitive Nish threatens to jeopardise it all in his final act of revenge鈥�
Having reneged on Nish鈥檚 dying wish that Suki never remarry in return for The Six鈥檚 freedom, Nish returned to Albert Square in early December with a vengeance to bear.
As the wedding celebrations begin with Suki and Eve鈥檚 joint hen-do, Suki gets cold feet after the police inform her that there has been a sighting of Nish in Walford. Although fearing for her safety, and for the safety of her fianc茅e, Suki decides to forge ahead with their plans, but unbeknownst to the happy couple, Nish is lurking in the shadows waiting to strike鈥�
With dying Nish living on borrowed time, and having proved time and time again that no level is too low to stoop, just how far will he go to ensure that beloved ex-wife Suki鈥檚 marriage to Eve doesn鈥檛 go ahead?
Heather Peace
This week, after a mountain of hurdles, Eve and Suki finally prepare to say 鈥業 do鈥�. How is Eve feeling at the prospect of marrying Suki?
She鈥檚 the love of her life, and it鈥檚 the start of forever for Eve. The start of forever with a clear road, and no lies. It鈥檚 a dream come true, definitely.
This is a Walford wedding, so is it safe to say that there is going to be drama?
Absolutely not, it will all be completely plain sailing because that鈥檚 how Walford weddings always go! [Laughs]
The pair have a joint hen-do in Harry鈥檚 Barn. Were these fun scenes to film?
They were. Whenever you get all the girls together, we just have a scream and I feel desperately sorry for the first Assistant Director and the Director because trying to shut us all up is really, really difficult. [Laughs] We don鈥檛 mean to be trouble, but it just sort of follows us around, and we can鈥檛 really get silence. It is a laugh, and it doesn鈥檛 feel like work.
Tell us about Eve鈥檚 wedding outfit?
We worked really closely, myself and Balvinder, with design and all of the wardrobe department. It was a real collaborative project. Eve鈥檚 outfit; she would always wear a suit, but Suki鈥檚 outfit was so stunning that we felt we had to up it a little bit with some sparkles. We wanted it to look like a fairytale, and I think that the costume department absolutely excelled with that. I wanted to stay within the world of Eve with the trousers and the flat shoes, but a slight little feminine twist with the halter neck underneath the jacket. I was really pleased with it. I wanted a feather in my lapel to match the colour of Suki鈥檚 dress, and costume found a little peacock feather and it was absolutely perfect. If you look up peacock feathers they have all sorts of references that we really felt resonated with Suki and Eve.
How will you be spending your Christmas?
We鈥檙e just at home! My wife and I used to go the Thailand every other Christmas before we had the kids, and we asked them if they would want to go but they were adamant they wanted to stay at home. I remember feeling like that myself as a kid. They want their little traditions; we go to the carol concert in the local park, and we go to the little church for the nativity so we鈥檙e in a nice little routine that we do with the three kids but probably the same as everyone else, just spending time with family and close friends.
Which EastEnders character (past or present) would you invite to your Christmas dinner and why?
I would probably have Stacey because she鈥檚 a laugh, and she鈥檚 my favourite.
What is your favourite festive memory on set?
I always love the night shoots. The festive turn on of the lights is always really magical. I think we all enjoy being in the dark with the lights. There鈥檚 just something really magical about being outside on the Square at night. It鈥檚 my fourth Christmas!
In three words, tell us what the viewers can expect from New Year week, and Suki and Eve鈥檚 wedding?
Love, chaos and romance.
Balvinder Sopal
This week, after a mountain of hurdles, Eve and Suki finally prepare to say 鈥業 do鈥�. How is Suki feeling at the prospect of marrying Eve?
I think she is obviously very nervous, and anxious, but I think this has been a long time coming, and I think that Suki can鈥檛 believe that she鈥檚 finally allowed to, or rather has allowed herself, to invite a little bit of happiness in that is going to change the rest of her life. It鈥檚 quite a pivotal moment in Suki鈥檚 psyche, as she鈥檚 given in to happiness which hasn鈥檛 really happened before for her character but in true soap style, nothing goes smoothly.
With Nish on the loose, is Suki concerned for her and Eve鈥檚 safety, especially as she backed out of her deal with Nish?
I think so. I think there is a huge cloud that is hanging over this happy moment in Suki鈥檚 life, and Nish isn鈥檛 somebody to let things lie, and if he gets wind of it, there is always the danger of him getting involved somehow, and just destroying any bit of happiness that Suki has. Not just her, the whole family as this is a really lovely moment for everyone involved, and Nish has the potential to totally rip that from under her feet. Everyone is bracing themselves as Nish has a vendetta.
Did Suki ever expect Nish to break out of prison, or did she think he was out of sight, out of mind?
Suki knows Nish too well, and I think she may have led herself to believe that this was the last of him, but I don鈥檛 think she is entirely surprised that he has broken out. What has surprised her is the length that he has gone to show his face again. I also think she鈥檚 a lot stronger now, which is why she makes the decision to continue.
This is a Walford wedding, so is it safe to say that there is going to be drama?
There鈥檚 always a lot of drama. I mean forget Walford, you鈥檝e got the Panesar鈥檚. They were born into drama![Laughs] Drama follows them everywhere, so yes in true EastEnders, Walford-style, you can expect the Panesar鈥檚 to bring a whole load of high-intensity drama.
Tell us about Suki鈥檚 wedding outfit?
The whole thing looks stunning. The colours, the style, even down to the flowers. We鈥檝e really looked at tying it all in. Suki is wearing a blue Anarkali dress, which is like a shoulder to floor length dress that goes in and out from the waist. It鈥檚 a peacock blue, which also ties in with the flowers as we have peacock feathers in the flowers. They both have different personalities so we wanted to reflect that.
How will you be spending your Christmas?
We will be with family, with my sister and her in-laws. It will just be a lovely day for all of us to connect soulfully and just feel how lucky we all are to have each other. I鈥檓 really looking forward to be able to eat nice food, and just honour our loved ones.
Which EastEnders character (past or present) would you invite to your Christmas dinner and why?
I鈥檇 love to have everybody! [Laughs] I think, because I鈥檓 spending Christmas with my sister and her family, that I鈥檇 like to invite Grant Mitchell. We鈥檇 like to have him at the table and pick his brains about his relationship with Phil Mitchell. Actually maybe both of them! [Laughs]
What is your favourite festive memory on set?
My very first memory of being on EastEnders was a behind the scenes interview in a Christmas bauble. I really loved the way it was all edited together, and I liked the feel of it as it felt very Christmassy and very new. I鈥檇 only just joined [the show], and it was my first time being part of something this big, so I think that will always sit with me.
In three words, tell us what the viewers can expect from New Year week, and Suki and Eve鈥檚 wedding?
You can expect beauty, in every sense of the word. High intense drama, I mean that was three words within itself. [Laughs] And edge of your seat drama!