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It's Vincent's birthday, but with tensions high and secrets rife, will all go to plan? Denise is surprised when a familiar face returns to the square.

Kim’s disappointed when Vincent leaves before she can give him the birthday fry-up that she’s made for him. Vincent meets Ronnie and claims that he’s handing over the last bit of information that he has on the Mitchell family. Ronnie hands Vincent back the gun and the drugs and states that she wants to just get on with her life. At The Albert, Phil asks Vincent why the police are suddenly interested in the place – Vincent feigns innocence. Once Vincent leaves, Phil assures Sharon that he doesn’t believe there’s anything going on that they don’t know about. Claudette corners Vincent and reminds him that Phil was supposed to be taken care of – Vincent states that things didn’t go according to plan, but that everything is sorted now. Kim is relieved when Vincent assures her that his feud with the Mitchells is over. Vincent grimaces as he opens his present from Kim – a pair of hideous candelabras. Phil makes a mysterious phone call and asks to call in a favour as he clocks Vincent’s house.

As the party kicks off, Kim revels in showing the guests her new home and in collecting Vincent’s presents. Vincent takes a mysterious phone call and reluctantly agrees to meet with the person on the other end immediately – Claudette clocks this exchange with interest. Vincent meets DS Pike outside McKlunkys who claims that Vincent can’t see past his problems with the Mitchells – for that reason, they’re cutting him loose. Claudette finds a despairing Vincent in the kitchen, who firmly states that it’s over – it’s Kim and Pearl that matter, not the Mitchells. Claudette purports that this only ends when the last Mitchell is six feet under, reminding him that his father was cut down in his prime. Vincent’s firm that he wants to try being a family man. With all the guests gone, Kim brings in an unlabelled present for Vincent to open. Vincent, Kim, Claudette and Donna are sickened when a pig’s head rolls out of the box...

Patrick asks Denise how long she’s going to be angry with Kim for – Denise claims that it’s her who is the victim. Patrick reminds Denise that Kim needs the house money for her family and suggests that Denise should be happy for Kim. The doorbell goes – it’s Libby. When Libby suggests going to Kim’s party, Denise gathers that Patrick asked Libby to show up to try and talk Denise round. Denise spits that Libby can go to Kim’s party alone; she’s off to work. Libby finds Denise in the café, clearly not on a shift. Libby admits that Patrick suggested to her that Denise might need some support. Denise comes clean, she’s struggling to see Kim moving on with her new life; she feels redundant. Libby reminds Denise what an amazing job she’s done of looking after those around her. Kathy catches up with Denise and asks how Jordan is – Denise claims that he’s doing well for himself.

As Denise walks away with Libby she admits that she knows that Jordan has been in trouble with the police. Libby fills Denise in – Jordan showed up on Chelsea’s doorstep claiming that he had nowhere else to go. Libby brands Jordan a liar and a thief – Chelsea had to call the police to get rid of him. Denise suggests that potentially Jordan needs their help, but Libby’s far from sold. Denise accompanies Libby to Kim’s party; it’s initially frosty between Denise and Kim. As Denise leaves the party, she admits that it’s been nice and Vincent thanks her sincerely for coming. As Denise and Libby arrive back at Patrick’s, Denise states that she’s going to find Jordan, even if it means contacting Lucas; she’s going to go and see him.

Kathy corners Ben on the market and admits that she’s found out that he did six months in prison for assaulting Jordan. Ben assures Kathy not to worry about it; it was a long time ago. Phil’s unimpressed when Kathy berates him for letting Ben get in trouble at such a young age – questioning where she was when he was growing up. Kathy suggests that Phil doesn’t know Ben as well as she does. Ben and Abi walk in as Kathy questions whether Ben’s told Phil that he’s worried about his sexuality. Ben and Phil both order Kathy to leave. Jane suggests that Kathy doesn’t give up on Ben and states that they’ll work it out together. Alone with Abi, Ben assures her that he loves her – Kathy doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

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30 minutes

Audio described

Music Played

  • Kylie Minogue

    Christmas Wrapping (feat. Iggy Pop)

  • Chase & Status

    End Credits (feat. Plan B)

  • Ella Eyre

    We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off

  • Rod Stewart

    Merry Christmas, Baby (feat. CeeLo Green & Trombone Shorty)

  • Michael Bublé

    Winter Wonderland

  • Rick Astley

    Never Gonna Give You Up

  • Bruno Mars

    Moonshine

  • Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Stir It Up

  • CeeLo Green

    You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch

  • Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

    Downtown

  • Rod Stewart & Mary J. Blige

    We Three Kings

  • Disclosure

    Holding On (feat. Gregory Porter)

  • NERO

    Two Minds

  • Martin Solveig & Good Times Ahead

    Intoxicated

  • La Roux

    Uptight Downtown

  • Kool & the Gang

    Celebration

  • Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Stir It Up

  • Gregory Porter

    Hey Laura

  • Chaka Demus & Pliers

    Tease Me

Credits

Role Contributor
Vincent Hubbard Richard Blackwood
Kim Fox-Hubbard Tameka Empson
Claudette Hubbard Ellen Thomas
Donna Yates Lisa Hammond
Denise Fox Diane Parish
Patrick Trueman Rudolph Walker
Masood Ahmed Nitin Ganatra
Tamwar Masood Himesh Patel
Nancy Carter Maddy Hill
Tina Carter Luisa Bradshaw-White
Sonia Fowler Natalie Cassidy
Martin Fowler James Bye
Arthur Chubb Ricky Norwood
Sharon Mitchell Letitia Dean
Phil Mitchell Steve McFadden
Ronnie Mitchell Samantha Womack
Ben Mitchell Harry Reid
Kathy Sullivan Gillian Taylforth
Jane Beale Laurie Brett
Abi Branning Lorna Fitzgerald
Libby Fox Belinda Owusu
DS Craig Pike Charlie De'Ath
Writer Darren Rapier
Director John Howlett
Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins

Broadcasts