Plot
Alec is annoyed that none of the staff will work on Christmas Day. Bet refuses to serve as she's got to cook the dinner. He tells her they'll do without dinner. Deirdre buys presents for Brian Roscoe's children. Ken accuses her of being a soft touch. Ken takes Tracy to Beattie Pearson's when Deirdre breaks down. The Wiltons throw their dinner party but DP doesn't turn up. Percy throws himself into making Christmas Dinner for Emily's guests. Bet gives her turkey to Emily to spite Alec. Deirdre takes the presents round to Roscoe's only to find his wife has left and taken the children with her. He tells her his life is over and he's lonely and depressed. Derek is depressed that DP hasn't come to the party. Mavis thinks it's unforgivable that he hasn't contacted them. Vera gatecrashes the party and starts a knees up. Roscoe tells Deirdre he's not going to spend Christmas alone; she'll have to stay with him. When she tries to leave he stops her.
Cast
Regular cast
- Ken Barlow - William Roache
- Deirdre Barlow - Anne Kirkbride
- Derek Wilton - Peter Baldwin
- Mavis Wilton - Thelma Barlow
- Tracy Barlow - Dawn Acton
- Percy Sugden - Bill Waddington
- Emily Bishop - Eileen Derbyshire
- Martin Platt - Sean Wilson
- Bet Gilroy - Julie Goodyear
- Alan Bradley - Mark Eden
- Mike Baldwin - Johnny Briggs
- Rita Fairclough - Barbara Knox
- Betty Turpin - Betty Driver
- Sandra Stubbs - Sally Watts
- Jack Duckworth - William Tarmey
- Vera Duckworth - Elizabeth Dawn
- Ivy Brennan - Lynne Perrie
- Alec Gilroy - Roy Barraclough
- Sally Webster - Sally Whittaker
- Kevin Webster - Michael Le Vell
- Alf Roberts - Bryan Mosley
- Audrey Roberts - Sue Nicholls
- Gail Tilsley - Helen Worth
- Jenny Bradley - Sally Ann Matthews
- Curly Watts - Kevin Kennedy
- Shirley Armitage - Lisa Lewis
Guest cast
- Brian Roscoe - Rob Dixon
- Pianist - Robert Maxfield (Uncredited)
Places
- Rovers Return Inn - Public, back room and hallway
- 1 Coronation Street - Back room, kitchen and hallway
- 3 Coronation Street - Back room and kitchen
- The Kabin flat - Living room/kitchen
- Turner House - Stairways
- Brian Roscoe's flat - Living room
Notes
- Don Brennan (Geoff Hinsliff) is credited but does not appear.
- TV Times synopsis: Alec is hoist by his own petard when Bet reminds him that she's only got one pair of hands. And Deirdre is in danger of becoming a prisoner of her own conscience when she acts on a charitable impulse.
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 16,150,000 viewers (8th place).
| December 1988 episodes |
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