NOTHING’S SWEET IN THE LAND OF HONEY

Here we go. You know when a Mitchell plans a ‘special’ Christmas Day it’ll end in tears. Sharon’s plans go instantly awry when Phil reveals he wants to spend it alone. So, what is Sharon’s great idea? Give him his present early – a fancy armchair (given the way Phil is going, that’s just an upright coffin in my book). Calling a fairm-ly meeting to say she’s booked a pub lunch for Christmas Day (talk about taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut – it’s hardly the Gettysburg Address), she says everyone must face reality: Phil may not get a donor.

Just when you thought the Christmas buildup could be no more misery-laden, Billy and Honey’s flat is burgled. The wedding fund has gone, along with Janet’s presents (a likely story – do they ever buy her anything?), and, worse, Billy is forced to reveal that they have no insurance. Will that man ever have a penny to his name? Forget Phil’s GoFundMyLiver project, somebody, anywhere, just fund Billy with a bit of common sense so that he doesn’t keep getting into these financial messes.

Linda’s not in a festive spirit, but Billy’s optimism spurs her on (yes, that’s how bad she’s feeling) and she makes plans for the grotto (Santa, that is; not a euphemism for her dreadful family). The spirit of Christmas is also alive with the children’s Nativity play (pictured), with Stacey stealing the limelight, as always, expressing her nerves about visiting the church. Oh, somebody push her in the font.