On Monday, a plan forms in Sally’s mind when she discovers that Laurel used to organise the church carol service. Sally tells Sandy not to cancel it and insists that she’ll sort it all out.

Later, she drags a reluctant Ashley into the village and he’s touched to see that she’s had the tree decorated and has sorted the carol service in the village hall. As the service comes to an end, Ashley tentatively steps forward to give a moving speech, and everyone’s touched by his sincerity.

After the service, Ashley thanks Sally for her kindness and apologises for pushing her away. She smiles knowingly and it’s clear that she’s hoping Ashley’s growing closer to her. Has Sally managed to reel Ashley in?

Meanwhile, Ryan’s delighted when Maisie offers to help him buy a Christmas present for Katie. However, as they choose a handbag, they find themselves playfully teasing each other.

Back at Home Farm, Ryan gives Maisie a keyring as a thank you for helping him, and as they hold each other’s stare, both are surprised to feel an attraction. Will Maisie and Ryan act on their feelings?

Terry rises to the challenge and prepares a dinner party for Val and Pollard. Pollard’s unimpressed though to find that Terry’s only cooked a stew, but he and Val eat their words and are forced to agree that it was a lovely meal; it just lacked the ‘wow’ factor.

When Terry tells them how much profit they could make on decent, traditional home cooking, Pollard and Val quickly warm to his idea.

On Tuesday, Ryan covers his guilt around Katie and is relieved when Maisie promises that she won’t tell anyone about their trip. However, he’s clearly torn between the two girls. Later, Maisie arrives at the pub to meet her friends, and Ryan’s bowled over by how stunning she looks. She’s pleased by Ryan’s reaction, but they share an awkward glance when Chas accuses her of “dressing up” for someone.

Ryan’s envious when Maisie calls a truce with Jai and accepts his offer of a drink. However, when Maisie becomes rather drunk, Ryan’s uncomfortable when Katie tells him to help her take Maisie back to Victoria Cottage.

While Katie gets a duvet, Ryan takes off Maisie’s shoes and she questions what he’s doing. With that, Maisie confesses that she likes him looking after her. They share a moment of intimacy and almost kiss, before Ryan pulls back when he hears Katie descending the stairs.

As Katie leads Ryan upstairs, he glances back at Maisie and finds himself in turmoil. Will Katie suffer because of Ryan and Maisie’s growing closeness?

Meanwhile, Jamie hides his disappointment when he arrives at the pub to find that Gennie isn’t there. Later, when she finally turns up, she’s excited to hear that Jamie asked after her.

After plucking up some courage, she heads towards him but misses her chance when a tipsy Chas grabs him with her mistletoe. Finally catching up with him, Gennie invites Jamie to Victoria Cottage for a drink.

Back at the house, they open up and awkwardly talk about what happened between them. When Jamie suggests that it’d be nice if they can be friends again, a deflated Gennie agrees, but she’s secretly hoping it’ll lead to more.

Elsewhere, Lisa rejects Holly’s request to be a nude life model for her art class. However, realising they don’t have enough money to pay for Belle’s laptop, she reluctantly changes her mind.

Holly has to prise an anxious Lisa from the changing room, but thinking of the money, she eventually steps out in front of the class. Returning home, she doesn’t tell Zak where she’s been and feels guilty for keeping her nude modelling a secret as she knows that he won’t approve.

On Wednesday, Debbie’s shocked when Cain turns up at the garage and she fumes at her father for his latest disappearing act. Cain’s shocked when Debbie reveals that Charity’s still in the village and that she gave his money to Edna. Debbie reassures him that she retrieved it but riles him further when she admits to inviting Charity and Noah round for Christmas morning. Sensing his bad mood, Debbie refrains from informing him about Carl attacking her.

Cain insists that Charity will never change and if Debbie needs anything, she should ask him, not her. Furious that she’s being asked to choose between her parents again, Debbie asks him to leave, claiming she’d rather have a Christmas alone with Sarah than with them arguing. Will Cain and Charity call a truce for Debbie’s sake?

Meanwhile, Maisie surfaces with a massive hangover and there’s an awkward moment between her and Ryan when Katie asks her if she remembers anything from the previous night.

At the pub, Ryan feels uneasy when Maisie keeps staring at him, so he abruptly leaves and heads to Home Farm to see Katie at work. However, when Katie insists that Maisie’s her good friend and he should be nice to her, Ryan’s forced to hide his guilt.

Determined to occupy himself, he throws himself into his relationship with Katie and takes her for an evening on the town. Will Katie notice that Ryan’s overcompensating for something?

Elsewhere, Sally continues to tend to Ashley and is pleased when Sandy tells her that she’s kept Ashley from reverting to drink for the first time in days.

In the pub later that day, Ashley’s on the phone to Laurel in the hope that he’ll manage to convince her to return home. Sally tries to hide her delight as Ashley reveals that there’s no change and he can’t see the situation with Laurel being resolved any time soon.

On Thursday – Christmas Eve – despite promising Debbie he wouldn’t cause any more trouble, Cain’s on the warpath when he spots Charity in the village. As a row ensues, Charity lets slip that she was the one there for Debbie when Carl attacked her. Charity’s worried as Cain drinks at the bar, and when he goes to confront Carl, she realises that she can’t stop him and races to find Debbie. Debbie tries to reason with her enraged father who has a spanner in hand in readiness to confront Carl.

As Carl and Jimmy open their door to the commotion, Debbie stands between Cain and the house before congratulating Cain on being a “tough guy” but the worst dad. With that, she leaves him to it. Debbie clearly strikes an emotional chord with Cain and he surprisingly follows her home.

Back at Tug Ghyll, Debbie breaks down and screams at her parents when they begin to argue again. She warns that if they ruin Christmas, she’ll never forgive them. Determined not to hurt their daughter any more, Charity and Cain call a truce. But how long will it last?

Meanwhile, Natasha’s suspicious of Mark’s obsession with making Christmas perfect and is confused by his efforts to spend more time with his family. He’s forced to cover his guilt when she questions his doting dad routine and lies further when he receives a text from Faye.

Later at Faye’s, Mark tries to remain joyous as she wishes him a merry Christmas but confides that it’s hard to maintain his high spirits when he’s about to rip his family apart. Trying to cheer him up, Faye presents him with a gift; it’s a ring.

Faye tells Mark that she understands why he can’t wear it but hopes that he soon will as it’ll mark the beginning of their new life together. When Mark returns home with a huge pile of presents, Natasha’s intrigue is piqued. Is Mark overcompensating for his betrayal?

Elsewhere, Ashley’s filled with sadness as Doug picks up Gabby to take her to be with Laurel for Christmas Day. Sally’s silently celebrating as she watches Ashley go back into Mulberry alone.

Later, seeing a lonely Ashley at the bar in The Woolpack, she steals an opportunity to buy him a drink and spend time with him.

On Friday – Christmas Day – at 6pm in a one-hour episode, Charity’s overwhelmed by how happy Debbie is when she arrives at Tug Ghyll with Noah on Christmas morning. Charity and Cain make an effort to be civil with each other and reluctantly agree when Debbie announces that they’re all going to Wishing Well for Christmas dinner. Cain however receives a stark warning from Zak to be on his best behaviour, but when Chas turns up for a festive drink, Cain’s seething and ignores Debbie’s plea not to start an argument.

Trying to keep the peace, Charity tells Cain to have a beer, but as she opens a can, it explodes over Cain, sending him into a blind rage. Stifling her laughter, Charity winds Cain up, prompting Debbie to storm out when they begin to argue. Everyone’s left sitting in an awkward silence.

At the garage, Debbie pulls out the holdall of money and pours petrol over it, furious that her parents haven’t even noticed that she’s gone. Back at Wishing Well, Charity and Cain are still bickering when they realise that Debbie’s gone and, blaming each another, they go looking for her. They’re horrified though when they see smoke rising from the garage and they immediately realise that Debbie’s set the cash alight.

As they race to try and salvage the charred money, they rage at Debbie who states that she put every last note on the fire to stop them arguing. With that, Debbie heads back to Wishing Well in an attempt salvage her Christmas with Sarah.

Blaming each other, Charity and Cain return to Tug Ghyll. As they continue to snipe at each other, Charity casually states that it can’t get any worse, so perhaps they should just get married. Both are bemused by the suggestion, but as they think about their history together, they seriously consider the suggestion.

Stunned by the decision that they’ve reached, Charity beams as she formally asks Cain to marry her. Accepting, Cain shrugs and they seal the deal with a kiss. Will the passionate pair make it down the aisle and stay together for richer or poorer?

Meanwhile, Mark’s clearly over-indulged on Christmas presents for his family but he’s pleased that his efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, even if it does feel bittersweet. While his family head out to the pub, Mark insists that they need cranberry sauce and goes to surprise Faye. He hands her an empty photo album for all their new memories, but as they embrace, Ryan and Katie turn up. Mark panics but manages to exit unnoticed through the back door.

Back at Home Farm, Mark’s content as he checks his phone before joining his family for dinner. Natasha, however, is clearly suspicious. How long will Mark’s secret remain just that?

Ashley sadly looks around at his empty house, grateful for Sandy and Diane’s presents and efforts to cheer him up. As he’s loading the car with presents to take to the kids, Sally approaches with gifts. He advises her that it’s probably not the best idea, before driving off. Sally then convinces Edna to invite Ashley over for Christmas dinner.

Later, a downtrodden Ashley returns after his strained meeting with Laurel and appreciates the kind welcoming from Edna and Sally. However, his sadness is replaced by awkwardness at dinner when Sally pays him too much attention.

Elsewhere, Nicola and Jimmy enjoy a quiet family Christmas, and Paddy and Aaron head to the Bartons’ hoping for a peaceful end to Christmas day after the drama at the Dingle’s. And although Adam’s uncomfortable when Aaron arrives, he makes an effort with him for the sake of peace and quiet.