EMMERDALE

OH, COME, ALL YE UNFAITHFUL There’s nothing like a robbery to kindle romance, and when Beth reveals she knows Lisa stole the Christmas tree with Zak, everything becomes clear – Zak still has the hots for Lisa. It’s even clearer when Belle opens her new laptop to discover a recording on it by Zak, declaring that he doesn’t want to move away with Joanie. Wow. You wait for ages for a bird to come along, then three come along together (counting the turkey).

Jimmy and Nicola have a fraught Christmas when he becomes suspicious of a necklace she is wearing [above right]. Tired of their arguing, the children disappear to hatch a plan.

Will it be a happy Christmas for Laurel, despite Ashley not appearing to register the day, or the fact that it’s Gabby’s birthday? But there’s a happy surprise when Gabby finds a box of wrapped presents and realises Ashley has remembered after all. Given that you can count on one hand the number of gifts she’s ever received, it’s little wonder she’s ecstatic.

It’s singles night at the Woolpack, and Kerry goes along to stop other women getting their mitts on Dan. Flirting with Tommy, she gets outrageously drunk (which should make her even more incomprehensible than usual), but will anyone rescue her when he tries to bundle her into his van? What is it with this lot and vehicle-based abductions? Ever thought of just jumping behind the wheel and driving off alone? It would make life a heck of a lot less complicated.