Steph is asked to do a promo and clears it with Des. He insists he doesn't mind. Mike keeps taking time off work, leaving Jackie to cope on her own to spite her. Curly tells Kimberley they're not going to Crewe or her parents' house. He wants to spend Christmas in a hotel. Alma tries to get Phyllis to stand in for her at the cafe again but Martin has already arranged for Phyllis to replace him so that he can spend time with Gail. Ivy calls on Marie and reaffirms her offer for her to spend Christmas with them. Marie doesn't want to impose. Steph thinks Des doesn't really want children and is just using it as a ploy to get her to quit her job. Kimberley feels deceived by Curly and refuses to lie to her parents. Don worries about Marie borrowing from loan sharks when he sees a Debt Collector calling at her flat. Steph tells Des that she's giving the job up. Kimberley tells Curly that she will go to a hotel so long as no one knows. Marie agrees to spend Christmas at No.5. Don worries that she's bringing her problems to their doorstep, and may have more that she hasn't told them about. Clive Parnell is given the push and Steph is given the job of running the promotions.
—GusF