Christmas Day at the Vic has unexpected consequences for Angie after Den gives her an important letter. Pauline begins to suspect the identity of Vicki's father, while Christmas cracks Arthur up.

Gillian Taylforth

Anna Wing

June Brown

Anita Dobson

Adam Woodyatt

Nej Adamson

Oscar James

Linda Davidson

Shirley Cheriton

Leslie Grantham

Wendy Richard

Letitia Dean

Leonard Fenton

Peter Dean

Susan Tully

Bill Treacher

Nick Berry

Julia Smith

Tony Holland

1986 in Walford starts with the Fowlers taking a trip to Southend to find Mark. On finding him, one of the first thing he and Michelle realise is they're both now parents.

Den gets an early call from David in Ilford. Angie thinks it was Jan but is even more irritated when she learns that Den is up to his eyebrows in some dodgy goods again.

Angie is at the Walford nick giving her statement about the car accident and they telephone Den since she says she took the car without permission. He lies and tell them that he gave her the car to use. Later Quick comes to the Vic and tells Den that as an accessory after the fact he'll be in trouble as well if he doesn't tell the truth. Den goes back to see the WPC and changes his story.

Den and Kathy go to court with Angie leaving Debbie to take care of the pub lunches and Simon and Lofty to manage the bar. Debbie goes a bit overboard trying to fancy up the plates which go unappreciated by Arthur, Pete and the others. The case is delayed and Den returns in the late.

Ali calls about the flat at 47B to arrange for a look. Sue is anxious to see it so it is agreed that they can see it the same day. Ali gets the key from Naima and they have a few embarrassing moments about what happened when Ali helped her move her things out. It seemed that they had sex in the empty flat.

Two blokes have been in the shop flexing muscles and threatening violence if Naima doesn't cough up protection money, and the old Bill don't much seem to care.

As Ali and Sue open the café before dawn, Beresford and Victor get out of their Merc and force their way in. Victor puts Ali's arm in a lock and Beresford calmly explains Mr Scanlon's scheme to provide the immigrants protection for £10 per week and tells them to think about it for 24 hours.

Andy is surprised when Debbie brings Naima home followed by DS Quick who is lugging a Zed bed for the front room. He is quite upset when Debbie informs him that in order to help with the finances since she quit her job, she decided to take in a lodger.

Beresford and Victor are waiting outside the café in Beresford's Mercedes when Ali and Sue open up. Victor goes in to collect the first weekly £10 protection money. Sue quickly gives him the money over Ali's protest. They then go to Tony's house and Beresford goes in. Tony laughs at his insurance scheme and hits him very hard in the stomach.

Den closes the bar early after Jan appears with the news that her dad died. As soon as Angie realises who the new arrival is she shoots upstairs and sits in the darkened kitchen. With all the tension at the pub, Simon goes home with Lofty to spend the night while John Fisher sleeps on the sofa upstairs at the pub.

Sharon comes downstairs to the bar and just stares at Jan who tries to explain how her situation with Den happened. Sharon doesn't say anything but listens rather sympathetically. When Jan decides it's time for her to leave she asks where she could freshen up. Sharon says upstairs and Jan smiles saying not "up there" (where Angie was). She asks about "down here" and Sharon motions toward the corner saying "but the water's cold".

Lou tells Ethel that she gave Simon Albert's watch. Pauline overhears and is upset with Lou for giving the watch to Simon. Pauline claims it should have been given to her as she was the first born. Lou is taken back by this objection and says nothing.

Some thugs show up in the Square looking for Simon. Angie hits up Dot for her sleeping pills to add to her collection. The café and shop are vandalised with red paint and most everyone including the postman pitch in to help clean up.

Angie plumbs the depths of despair when Den tells her he's moving out. Wicksy's true motive for returning to the Square comes to light when he tries to con Pete into giving him a loan.

Ethel puts posters around the square trying to find her missing little Willie. Angie sends her off early from her cleaning at the pub so she can look for him.

Den returns early morning in a cab as Angie covers for him telling Sharon he is walking Roly. Sharon is in a bad mood and nasty to both of them. John Fisher comes by early on his day off to pick up the rest of his gear. He has been worried about Angie since the night before and probably wants to see that she is OK.

Tony takes his laundry to the launderette and Dot tells him all about her date the night before with "a darky" who wined and dined her. Tony confronts her that he saw her in the "Burger Barn" last night on her own. He tells her to give up the dating stories before everyone finds out the truth and laughs at her. She says they do anyway but gets him to promise not to tell anyone.

Angie's slumped over the kitchen table at the Vic full of gin and pills. Time's moving on and it's the small hours when Den finds her.

'We were made for each other... you know that. Den and me. Made for each other. Whatever anybody says.'

Kath's getting wind of Angie's suicide attempt and it's worrying her. It's her day to watch out for Angie and she's pampering her with hot soup and heart-to-hearts.

Michelle begins to feel the pinch. She's feeling lonely and it's dawned on her that she's got the rest of her life and the baby to care for on her own.

Tony and Lofty are beginning to galvanise the Square into making preparations for the carnival. Kelvin and Ian have been delegated costume dying - and things go badly wrong.

In the Vic, the Melbourne Star promotion is in full swing. Lofty and Wicksy are fighting over customers and trying to spot the 'mystery guest' from the brewery.

Den and Michelle have one of their rare but revealing heart-to-hearts. Den's surprised she's behaving like an immature kid over the birth of their baby.

Carnival time in the Square and it goes with a real swing. Lofty's running round like a demented amateur director on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Hannah and Cassie stayed the night at Tony's after, Hannah's boyfriend hit Cassie once again and Tony gave him a smack.

Kelvin tries to reason with Cassie that she needs to stop getting in the way all the time if she wants Hannah and Tony to get back to together.

Sue starts to lose her rag with everyone treating the café like a doss house. Pete tells Arthur about Michelle asking Lofty to marry her and it doesn't go down well. Later on in the Vic, Arthur gets drunk and comes to the conclusion that Lofty is the father of Michelle's baby. Lofty enters and Arthur nearly breaks into a fight. Lofty soon puts him right by showing his love for Michelle.

Arthur tells Michelle that Lofty has no prospects but Pauline agrees to stand by Michelle's decision to marry him. Tomy employs Arthur to help with the shops refurbishment. Debbie changes the living arrangements, putting Naima in the master bedroom, so Andy sarcastically calls it the "bridal suite" and he and Debbie end up shouting at each other. DS Quick tells Debbie he would have a better chance of promotion if he were married. Mary is back to her punk look and tells Andy she was never interested in him. Kathy tells Dot that her smoking is antisocial, which upsets her. Ethel later reads Dot's fortune and sees a lot of love and marriage, but as Dot is already married, Dot assumes it means Charlie will come back.

Dot's in a state and hot on the trail of Ethel, who's been telling her fortune. Pauline chooses a new carpet but Lou doesn’t like the final choice. Lofty starts reading palms and takes all the business from Ethel. The carpet salesman causes trouble in the Queen Vic when he is caught cheating during his card magic trick. Lofty and Michelle share a passionate kiss.

Angie returns home and wants to know where Den is. Lofty asks Arthur for Michelle’s hand in marriage. Mary apologies to Andy for taking his rejection badly. Den returns home and after a chat with Angie he goes back to Jan, which makes Angie hit the bottle again.

Den provides Lofty with a big diamond engagement ring for Michelle. The day is full of engagement celebrations. The romance rubs off on Arthur and he buys Pauline a ring too. Lofty tells Michelle he is planning to become a traffic warden to look after the family. Mary's propositioned on the street which upsets her and she turns to Andy for advice. Arthur is in demand for all kinds of jobs. Den turns into a Victorian parent when he finds Sharon and Ian necking on the sofa. At the end of the day, Ethel is proved right - Nick appears in Dot's life again.

Nick tells Dot that Charlie is not coming back and gives her some cash. He annoys several residents and offers to be a pimp for Mary but she refuses and he says he knows a secret about her. Dot has Ethel read Nick's fortune and she says she sees money. Simon sees Andy and Angie kissing in the morning and finds Andy's watch. Angie says he stayed because he was drunk. Den visits Jan in the daytime so Angie has Andy over while he is supposed to be meeting Mary. Simon sees him leaving. The Fowlers realise they cannot afford much and Pauline says she will get another job but Arthur says it should be down to him. Sue tells Ali she thinks she is pregnant.

In the middle of the night Andy sneaks into the the Vic through the back to go and see Angie to carry on their secret affair. The both of them thinking Simon is in bed, talk about there affair on the stairs and share a kiss not knowing that Simon was in the bar the whole time listening to everything they said!

Dot is informed by the bank that someone she knows tried to cash her cheques but she can see none missing from her chequebook. Dot then wins £250 at bingo. Dot also visits Doctor Legg, who says she may be approaching the menopause. Nick tells Mary they are both outsiders and should stick together. Naima is visited by Mr Gill from The Firm, who takes cash from her till. Mr Gill then goes to the Vic looking for Den but he is not there. DS Quick asks Nick for help finding information on a bank raid. Den catches Angie and Andy together.

are missing after all and her bingo winnings are missing. Nick almost convinces Mary to get into prostitution, leading to a fight between Nick and Andy. Den attacks Andy over his affair with Angie. Kathy and Angie make amends. Den is on edge due to a high police presence on Albert Square and the imminent arrival of his guest.

Sharon is worried about the stranger in her home, while Den is nervous about all the police in Albert Square. DS Quick tells Andy the police heard there is a "villain" in the area and Ali worries about two men he sees. Pete and Kathy worry that Sharon will be a bad influence on Ian, while Simon tells them that Sharon is unhappy and needs a friend.

The guest at the Vic monopolises the bathroom and when Angie knocks on the door to complain that she and Sharon need to use it, he invites her to join him in the bath!

Tony receives a letter from Cassie's school saying she is bullying another girl. After Sharon tells Den she is fed up of him and the Vic, Simon gives Den some home truths. Pauline calls a family meeting. DS Quick asks Debbie for an answer to his proposal but she says she needs more time. Mary thanks Andy because she got the canteen job. Ethel is mugged for her handbag.

Ethel tells a reporter that Den got rid of the mob and several people thank Den for doing so. Ethel gives Den her husband's war medal because she thinks he is a hero. Tony is confused when Hannah says she wants to buy the flat above his. Simon worries the Vic is too dangerous and considers leaving. Den tells Michelle it was a coincidence that The Firm left the area after he was asked to deal with them. Sharon witnesses Den treating Michelle more favourably than herself so she steals money from the till and sneaks out in the night.

Michelle goes into labour but Pauline is nowhere to be seen. Angie panics as she discovers Sharon is missing. Meanwhile, Mary has her first day's kitchen work in the hospital canteen.

Michelle speaks to a mother of four, Lizzie Burton, about how she would cope bringing up her children on her own, as she is thinking about it all the time. Sharon has been staying with Mary. Ethel sees Ian visiting her. Angie and Den report Sharon missing to WPC Howard. Ethel visits Sharon and advises her to visit Michelle.

ony tells Hannah they should stop their divorce before it is finalised but she says she is not sure about it yet. After reading Mary's Bible, Sharon talks to Dot about Jesus and God. Ozcabs is up and running but Mehmet tells Ali their father wants to buy it. Ali is against his getting involved.

Doctor Legg and Dot both complain about the noise and dust created by Tony's work, while Arthur asks Tony to pay him cash-in-hand, for which Pete reprimands him. Dot starts smoking again, then tells Ethel about a church social, which interests Ethel because of the free tea and biscuits.

Michelle brings Vicki home and Arthur is annoyed when Lofty takes charge of hosting visitors, leading to an argument. Den is also annoyed when Lofty makes comments about wanting to be Vicki's real father and Den having no children of his own. Debbie tells Andy they need to show they are not cohabiting as partners and she finally answers DS Quick's proposal by ending their relationship.

Pat arrives in Walford to a mixed reception. Pete and Kathy have a fight with her in the pub, while Wicksy is worried that she's purely out to cause trouble around Albert Square.

Pat is intent on causing trouble for her ex-husband, Pete. So she tells Pauline exactly what she thinks of him, but Pauline loyal as ever and in defence of her brother, slaps Pat.

Den tells Pete he thinks Pat was lying about Wicksy not being Pete's son. During a band meeting upstairs in the Vic, Harry proposes that The Banned gets an additional member.

DS Quick is bitter when he sees Andy and Debbie kissing in the street. Arthur worries about paying for the wedding. Lofty says he has taken his £50 savings from the bank to go towards it.

Ian offers to make Lofty and Michelle's wedding cake for free and asks Naima for a part-time job in the shop. Lofty asks Simon to be his best man and Michelle asks Sharon to be her bridesmaid.

DS Quick questions the band members over the burglary because he associates being in a band with drug use. he also question Kelvin and Cassie, and Cassie cries over the interrogation. Kelvin and Harry confront ds Quick in the pub, claiming he is using the burglary as an excuse to hound groups he dislikes.

DS Quick goes round to the Beales', making enquiries to the youngsters about the crime of the burglary in the surgery and Ethel's. Lou soon puts him right. Wicksy asks Naima to think about getting a flat with him.

Ali feels he has failed at fatherhood and is depressed, later getting drunk and asked to leave the Vic. A drunk DS Quick tells Debbie he wants her back and that he cannot cope with the hatred from the locals and he wants to quit the police force.

Doctor Legg compensates Ethel and Lofty for the burglary. DS Quick tells people he has quit and has a new job in security. Doctor Legg's car is stolen and he berates DS Quick for doing nothing about it and says the crime rate did not drop since he arrived.

Ethel answers the phone in the Vic to a man asking if Michelle had her baby yet, leaving people wondering who it was, especially Den and Arthur. Mehmet has no alibi for when Doctor Legg's car was taken and admits to Ali he was with a friend who is an illegal immigrant and does not want his name mentioned.

Cassie is bullying again and she accuses Hannah of not caring about her and just thinking about money. Kelvin tells Hannah she has spoilt Cassie recently and he will talk to her. Pete books a holiday but Ian says the band need him so Simon convinces Kathy to let Ian stay behind. Naima is fed up of living with Debbie and Andy, who constantly annoy her.

Sue wants to talk to Ali about IVF but he refuses to. Dot tries to apologise to Sue but Sue sends her away. Sue then confides in Michelle about her phantom pregnancy. Mark returns with his Welsh friend, Owen, who Arthur finds fascinating because of his random comments about marrows.

Arthur is forced to look after the café after Ali and Sue leave without warning and Ali later refuses to pay Arthur for his time. Mehmet invites Ali out to a dog race but Ali refuses to go when he sees Mary in the car.

Jan invites Den to New York in November and Den tells Angie. Angie stops Den seeing Jan that night by inviting Willmott-Brown to the Vic. Cassie hears Tony questioning Kelvin about drugs and then Tony and Hannah talking about divorcing in two weeks.

Today's the day for everyone to go to the community centre to give blood. Andy gets down on one knee and proposes to Debbie, who accepts. Ethel faints and causes quite a stir.

Pauline and Lofty talk about the events with Cassie and Pauline is furious with Mark and Owen. Hannah tries to reason with Naima on what to do with Cassie, Pauline bumps into them and tries to apologize to Hannah, Hannah takes no notice and is a total snob about the situation.

Tony and Hannah consider sending Cassie to boarding school. Arthur confronts the Carpenters, telling them to sort out their own problems instead of blaming others as Cassie is also a bully. Arthur thinks Tony will never employ him again. A youth attempts to mug Arthur but Andy stops it and the youth is arrested.

Sharon wants to leave private school and just be a singer so Den tells Angie they will speak to her after the band's first gig. Tony agrees to give Naima until 4pm to raise the money for the flat, which her father agrees to give her. Cassie visits Michelle but tells her parents she was with Kelvin, however, Hannah realises the truth and decides Albert Square is full of bad influences.

Hannah is adamant that Cassie is going to private school. Arthur upsets Dot after she offends him. Harry and Simon bicker, leading to the gig being cancelled. Andy saves a little boy, but with deadly consequences.

Debbie gets some devastating news from the police. Arthur asks to call a truce with the Carpenters.

A reporter arrives to get information about Andy, puts words into Arthur's mouth, twists what Ethel says, angers Den and enters Debbie's home uninvited. Later Andy is front page news but the article is full of inaccuracies.

Debbie leaves for Andy's funeral and Colin moves into Albert Square. Arthur follows Pauline to her class and sees them meditating, while community centre worker Tom Clements tells Arthur that strange things go on in the class.

Everyone's thoughts are with Andy on the day of his funeral. Sharon and Angie go on holiday to Florida. The band agree to change their name to The Banned and enter a competition, for which Simon will write a song.

Sue sees Michelle without Vicki and assumes that she cannot cope. She asks to adopt Vicki so Michelle slaps her hard and orders her out. Mary accuses Mehmet of spiking her drink but he says he wanted her to relax and nothing sexual happened. The band practice with Harry's sequencer and they improvise - everyone likes Simon's playing apart from Harry.

Michelle has a fitting for her wedding dress and the family attend church to hear the banns being read out. Afterwards, Pauline tells Michelle that Den has offered them the Vic for the reception. Michelle refuses to enter the Vic on the wedding day, saying it is not fair on Lofty as he works there.

Arthur is angry when he sees Den paying Tom cash in hand. Pauline says the reception can be at the community centre if all the guests pay £5 towards it, but Arthur insists it is his responsibility to pay for everything. Arthur later breaks down in tears, telling Pauline he is no use to anyone.

After a rehearsal, Harry declares that Simon is no longer needed - they argue and Simon quits, taking his song with him. Mehmet invites Mary to the café at night while he is working the cab radio but they are interrupted by Sue and Ali. The next day, Mehmet tells Sue that he likes variety so Sue says maybe some variety would help her to get pregnant and it would be okay if it was kept in the family.

Simon writes a new song, Every Loser Wins, and plays it to himself on the Vic piano during afternoon closing. Arthur sneaks off for the day, missing the day at the cemetery on the 21st anniversary of Albert's death. Lou is not pleased.

Pauline wins a Glamorous Grannies competition in the Vic. Afterwards, Arthur announces that he has paid for Michelle and Lofty's wedding in full as well as a honeymoon. He then admits to Pauline he used the Christmas Club money that he has been collecting all year and promises to pay it back!

Pauline tells Arthur he could go to prison and she wants to cancel the wedding to pay the money back, but Arthur says it is too late and reminds Pauline they have until Christmas to get the money. After people assume Arthur took out a loan, Pauline suggests telling people that Arthur borrowed it from a cousin and says if they cannot get out of the mess, the whole family will go down.

It is the day of Michelle and Lofty's wedding. Michelle tells Lou she feels "numb" and "frozen" but Lou says it is normal and she felt the same on her wedding day. Ethel reads Lofty's fortune, saying she sees "someone making a right decision".

Den leaves the church early. Michelle tells Arthur she cannot go through with the wedding so he takes her home. Simon tries to cheer up Lofty when they get home but he wants to be left alone and breaks down in tears. Michelle apologises to Pauline and tells her that she loves Vicki's father and will not marry anyone if she cannot marry him.

Michelle and Lofty sit alone in their respective rooms - Michelle is plagued by a series of well-meaning visitors, Lofty plays the tape of Wicksy's song continually. Pete turns up at the community centre to film a video for The Banned, but Harry has sent Kelvin a note to say the rehearsal is cancelled.

Angie gets test results from Doctor Legg - she has liver damage but it is reversible if she stops drinking, otherwise in six months it could be permanent. He recommends seeing a counsellor. Angie tells Den she needs more tests from a specialist. Michelle and Lofty finally talk - she says she was ready to marry him but when she arrived she realised she does not want to marry anyone and needs her independence.

Den spends a frustrated morning trying to get Angie on her own to discuss Jan's ultimatum. Sensing his motive she thwarts him at every turn. Sharon announces she is leaving school early and won't be going back to do her A-levels.

Den continues hounding Angie, but she evades him once more by saying she's going out. Den takes out his subsequent bad temper on Simon by sending him to search for an absent Lofty who has collapsed in his room from a severe asthma attack!.

Den is ready to walk out on Angie and leave everything behind, including his successful like as a publican, but then some devastating news from his wife turns their love-hate relationship on its head.

Kathy explains to Pete why she'd like to become a Samaritan. He's initially shocked, and rather hostile to the idea. Arthur is slowly falling into depression, spending most of the day sat in the same chair. Michelle tries to make the effort to give him some motivation but Arthur tells her to mind her own business!

It's finally The Banned's big competition night. Michelle and Angie go along to support Sharon, but Pete stays at home as he doesn't want to put Ian off. Simon joins him and together they watch the video Pete made of The Banned instead. The actual performance is a disaster - the drum machine plays a completely different pattern, and The Banned quickly become a laughing stock.

Pauline starts a new cleaning job at Colin's flat. Arthur complains that she's taking on too many jobs. Lou warns Pat to leave Pete alone, and accuses her of a past affair with Pete's brother Kenny, suggesting Kenny is the real father of Simon. At a post-mortem for The Banned in the community centre Ian and Kelvin become suspicious that Harry doesn't seem bothered that their performance was sabotaged.

Kelvin and Eddie have a standoff with Harry in the community centre, and ask him to explain why he sabotaged The Banned's competition performance. Harry says the band was useless and had no chance of making it, so he did it to show them all up.

Pat starts working at the Queen Vic. Sharon goes to the job centre to find work and considers going on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS). Pete has a go at Den for allowing Pat to work at the pub. Carmel goes to look at Tony's flat as she has to move within three weeks, but it's too expensive.

Arthur tells everyone he is withdrawing the Christmas club money that day. At the end of the night, he invites Pete and Kathy back to their home but when they arrive, it appears that there has been a burglary.

DS West investigates the burglary. Arthur and Lou say the club money, the post office account book, jewellery and Lou's watch were taken. Later, Arthur tells Pauline that faking a burglary was the only way he could see out of the situation with the Christmas club money but insists he did not take Lou's watch.

DS West questions Arthur at the police station. Pete tries to make things up with Simon, saying Simon is his son regardless but Simon is suspicious and tells Kathy he wants to know what is going on. Sharon meets Jan to make sure she will not be seeing Den again.

Colin makes morning coffee for his overnight guest, Barry, who is nursing a hangover from the disco they met at the night before. Later, in the Square, Colin re-encounters Barry while cycling through the market. Barry winks at Colin causing him to fall off his bike and crash into Kathy's jumper stall.

Den seeks out Jan in Venice. Back in Walford, Lofty and Dot visit Ethel in hospital. Dot advises Colin to remain single, while Barry watches Colin arriving home and jokingly steals his bicycle. Dot tells Arthur he has her support as it took courage to apologise.

Den and Angie take a trip on the Orient Express. Ethel returns to Albert Square. The Fowlers have disappeared and no one knows where they have gone.

Michelle has moved in with Lofty. Colin tells Barry he likes him as a casual friend. Den and Angie return home and Den visits Jan to tell her the truth about Angie - he says he needs a good lawyer so he can divorce Angie and marry Jan. Ethel worries that Charlie is taking advantage of Dot's good nature and stealing money from her.

Pete breaks with family tradition and plans to spend Christmas Day at the Vic with Den. Pat decides to stay in Albert Square and asks Doctor Legg to rent Ethel's flat.

Pete and Arthur have a fight. Charlie flirts with Pat. Ethel is upset that her room has gone. Den tells Angie she will get a big Christmas surprise and tells Colin he is divorcing Angie. Kelvin tells Hannah that he loves Carmel and wants her to move in with him. Barry unexpectedly tells Colin that he is moving in with him.

Arthur's depression gets the better of him, while Michelle and Lofty head off on their honeymoon.

Rezaul arrives but Naima insists she does not want him there, especially when he says he must be paid. She calls both their fathers but both insist that Rezaul stay and Naima accuses Rezaul of wanting to steal her hard-earned business but he insists he can help her make a profit.

Mehmet introduces Pat to his friend while Wicksy conspires to throw a spanner in the works. Sharon tells Angie she is going out for the day and has a late shift, so will be home after 9pm. Angie fears for Sharon's safety with the Walford attacker on the loose and gives her money for a taxi home. Lou accuses Pete of being a traitor.

The everyday lives of working-class residents of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough.

194

Seasons42

Season 2 Episodes105

Cast17

Crew2

Discussion

Episode Summary