Overview
- BBC One will air the Nigel Bates dementia special on 23 December at 7:30pm, with memory-led scenes bringing back Pat Evans, Barry Evans and Debbie Bates.
- Producers recreated a 1990s Queen Vic for the standalone episode, and Pam St Clement and Shaun Williamson described their returns as emotional and surreal.
- Christmas Day centres on the Slaters’ community dinner at The Vic that goes off course following recent revelations, with police involvement shown on Boxing Day.
- Executive producer Ben Wadey says the festive run is structured as ‘past, present, future’, culminating in a New Year’s Day episode that jumps to 2027 and focuses on Max Branning.
- EastEnders confirms the two Christmas Day editions will not drop early on iPlayer, though the Boxing Day aftermath will be available to stream from 6am.