Soap spoilers follow.
It's nearly that time of the year again. Soaps always deliver their biggest storylines, shocks and surprises each Christmas – and 2020 looks set to be no exception.
Over the past couple of weeks, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks have been dropping dozens of Christmas spoilers in quick succession. Don't worry if your head is spinning, as we're now here to present our pick of the best.
Digital Spy's full Christmas round-ups for each soap will follow next week, but in the meantime, here are the main highlights you can look forward to this festive season.
1. Ian's life on the line (EastEnders)
Like us, EastEnders bosses reckon Ian simply hasn't suffered enough for all of his nasty behaviour over the past few months. Fortunately, it seems that his mystery attacker is still on hand to make his life a living hell.
Over the Christmas period, Ian will face new taunts and threats, making it very clear that someone out there still wants to harm him.
What to Read Next
Events come to a head on Christmas Day when the truth comes to light over who wants Ian dead – and someone makes a lethal move.
2. Lucas and Chelsea return to shock Denise (EastEnders)
EastEnders bosses surprised fans earlier this year with the news that Denise Fox's serial killer ex Lucas Johnson will be making a surprise return to Walford.
A further announcement soon revealed that it'd be a double whammy of comebacks for Denise – her daughter Chelsea will be back too, now played by Zaraah Abrahams.
Lucas and Chelsea's return episode will (of course) air on Christmas Day, when Denise is shocked to come face-to-face with them. Denise is stunned that they're spending time together and naturally becomes unsettled over what this could mean.
Speaking earlier this year, EastEnders' executive producer Jon Sen commented: "Bringing back Don [Gilet, who plays Lucas] to the Square has been on our wish list for some time now as there's definitely some unfinished business with Lucas and he certainly hasn't let Denise go.
"His reign of terror put him firmly up there with Walford's biggest villains and I can't wait for audiences to watch his return unfold."
3. Linda is pushed to breaking point (EastEnders)
Mick's distant behaviour around his wife Linda continues over the festive period, as he still feels unable to confide in her about his traumatic memories of Katy sexually abusing him at the care home when he was a child.
Viewers have already seen Linda turn to Max for comfort as her marriage problems go from bad to worse. The festive fortnight sees this storyline intensify when Max makes Linda an offer to start a new life together.
On Christmas Eve, Linda finds a bottle of whisky and taunts Mick with it, threatening that she'll start drinking again. Linda wants Mick to fight for her and their marriage, but will her desperate tactics cause more harm than good?
4. David and Shona's heartwarming Christmas (Coronation Street)
After the high drama of Corrie's 60th anniversary week, there'll be a shift to some happier times on the cobbles – well, at least for one couple.
The festive fortnight starts on a sour note for David and Shona Platt as a misunderstanding leads to them deciding to go their separate ways. However, when Lily gets a jewellery bead stuck up her nose on Christmas Day, David bonds with Shona when they take the youngster to the hospital.
David and Shona end up recreating their wedding day in scenes which have special significance, as Shona has been unable to remember the ceremony since losing her memories last year.
5. Imran and Toyah become foster parents (Coronation Street)
After largely playing roles in other characters' storylines this year, Imran and Toyah will finally be taking centre stage with a big plot of their own over the festive period.
On Christmas Eve, Imran and Toyah are asked to take care of a baby boy called Mason with just a few hours notice. The emergency placement is initially for 24 hours, but Mason ends up staying for slightly longer than planned.
Imran and Toyah will feature in touching scenes as they get to know Mason, embracing the chaos of looking after him at such short notice.
Sadly, tensions arise when they later have to say goodbye to Mason and Imran turns down an opportunity to welcome in another child, fearing it's too soon for Toyah.
6. Rick's death is revisited (Coronation Street)
Poor Gary – when he's not being beaten up and admitted to hospital, he's being hauled down to the police station for one reason or another. This time, it's Rick Neelan's death that comes back to haunt him following Sarah's decision to anonymously report him to Crimestoppers.
Gary faces tough questioning over his involvement in Rick's disappearance, but he knows that he has the upper hand as the police haven't managed to find a body. He's initially released without charge and hopes this will be the end of it.
Unfortunately for Gary, his nightmare isn't over when his wife Maria stops trusting him and kicks him out.
Rick's daughter Kelly will also return and put pressure on Gary to reveal what he knows about her dad's whereabouts. It seems the truth is still in serious danger of being exposed.
7. Al's mystery woman is revealed (Emmerdale)
After all those mystery phone calls and texts, Emmerdale will finally be revealing the outcome of Al's mystery woman storyline. The Christmas period sees Al continue to behave sneakily as he juggles his relationship with Priya alongside the secret one he's enjoying with his mistress.
By the time Christmas Day is over, viewers will finally be in the picture over what Al is up to. Could this tie in with the big surprise that Emmerdale bosses previously teased for Christmas Day?
Executive producer Jane Hudson recently promised: "When Christmas Day is over and done with and you've opened all your presents, there's a massive present when Emmerdale comes on.
"There's such a surprise box ready to be opened, I think all the viewers will be watching the screen with their hands over their face going, 'No, I did not see that coming!' I can't wait for the Christmas Day episode."
8. Chas and Paddy's wedding day drama (Emmerdale)
Paddy is currently planning to spring a surprise wedding on Chas this Christmas and will be roping in his loved ones to help pull off the grand gesture.
Lucy Pargeter, who plays Chas, has hinted that this could be the start of an exciting new chapter for the couple's relationship – but it may not be if Charity gets her way.
Already full of bitterness following her split from Vanessa, a struggling Charity will consider spoiling the wedding when she falls out with Chas in the build-up to the ceremony.
The final straw comes when Charity realises she has been snubbed with the wedding invites, as nobody seems to want her there.
When Charity gets dressed up in funeral attire on the big day, we're guessing the outcome can't be good.
9. Jamie hopes to win back Andrea (Emmerdale)
As always, the Tate family will be ones to watch at Christmas as we find out whether they can move on after their difficult year. The festive fortnight sees the clan try to focus on Millie, with Jamie, Andrea and Kim all eager to spend time with her.
Jamie is pleased when Andrea agrees that Millie can spend part of Christmas Day at Home Farm, but is he getting carried away when he also suggests to Andrea that they should get back together?
10. Edward's last stand (Hollyoaks)
Edward's reign of terror looks set to end this Christmas, following news that he'll be leaving the Channel 4 soap over the festive period.
The Hutchinsons' ongoing love triangle reaches its shocking climax when Edward delivers the news to Tony that Diane – currently in an induced coma – has passed away. The show hasn't yet revealed whether this is really true or part of Edward's dastardly plan, although we suspect the latter.
As the net starts to close in on Edward, he makes a final play for victory by trying to kill Tony with a poisoned mince pie. It'd certainly be a unique way of killing off an original character…
11. Silas's kidnap plan (Hollyoaks)
As the McQueens continue to speculate over the identity of their mystery blackmailer, Silas disguises himself as Santa and turns his attentions to Bobby. Silas has a plan to lure his great-grandson back to the village, then kidnap him.
Mercedes makes plans to bring Bobby home for New Year's Eve, unaware that Silas has such a horrible plan. The family also continue to argue among themselves following the realisation that the blackmailer may have a mole who's close to home.
12. New Year tragedy (Hollyoaks)
As the action shifts to New Year, we finally reach the day first teased in Hollyoaks' flashforward episode from December 2019, which showed scenes 12 months in advance.
New Year's Eve will see Tom and Yazz prepare to tie the knot in a midnight wedding. The teens' County Lines drug dealing saga will also escalate, leading to a crime scene and body bag outside The Hutch.
Hollyoaks bosses are still keeping the storyline outcomes a closely-guarded secret, but there are sure to be some big shocks in store.
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