GOOD LORD that scene with Max and Janine was intense! The two best characters in the show - it's weird to think they haven't had much (or any?) contact prior to now. There must be MORE.

 

Amazing episode. It's really picking up pace rapidly now.

One of the most shocking scenes in Eastenders I've seen in a LONG time :mellow:

 

AMAZINGLY TENSE!

Queen Janine better not die.

What do you even say about that? Best soap episode of the year. One of the best character exits ever. When Max kissed Stacey I actually had to blink back tears. It was stunningly executed. It only took one episode for Stacey to become Queen of Hearts once again. 15/10.

Every year I watch it, and complain that it's depressing. So, I'm just gonna admire it instead.

 

It was amazing - like WOW. Mainly the Janine/Stacey thing got me - I was gasping every 5 seconds. The thing I like most is that Stacey has only flown away rather than killed off - so she can come back if she wishes (though she probably won't). Made for enthralling television - but there's no way I'm watching Coronation Street now otherwise I'll be nailing myself to the cross - and Kate Ford after Lacey Turner, just doesn't even compare.

I don't usually watch this but the Christmas specials always entertain me, that was a fabulous episode- I was convinced she was going to die, but they gave her a quiet leave, whilst still being so dramatic- excellent overall :D

Well theres nothing much to add to whats been said. Was overall a fantastic episode, Stacey may not have always been my favourite character in terms of likeability but there was no denying that she was one of the shows best characters. The exit was brilliantly handled, extremly well done and was frankly, brilliant.

 

I did find it rather amusing though that when Max looked up at the plane, it was dark but when Stacey looks down at London it's a CLEAR NIGHT SKY. Hoorah. The whole 'going abroad' as an exit plot devise always seems hideously baddly thought out though.

But yes, to conclude, fantastically executed.

Brilliant episode it was all tense, when she got on top of the Queen Vic, I thought oh no Bradley all over again they couldn't do that again surely, but the ending was perfect. Stacey and Jean together was a bit harrowing, but their acting was superb. I'm going to miss her, one of my favourite characters from the soap.

Incredible episode, I really didn't know what to expect! I was literally on the edge of my seat when Janine stabbed herself, the acting tonight was superb, mainly Stacey, Jean and Janine.

I'M SOBBING.

 

Stacey Slater will be missed. What an epic, epic final episode for her. And as for Janine- what a psycho bitch!

I'm going to have to watch it again, there was so much to take in. But the amount of characters on top form was almost overwhelming - Stacey, Max, Janine, Jean, Ronnie - all absolutely immense. If I have one complaint it's that there was no goodbye scene between Stacey and Kat but that's really a minor thing.

It was amazing - like WOW. Mainly the Janine/Stacey thing got me - I was gasping every 5 seconds. The thing I like most is that Stacey has only flown away rather than killed off - so she can come back if she wishes (though she probably won't). Made for enthralling television - but there's no way I'm watching Coronation Street now otherwise I'll be nailing myself to the cross - and Kate Ford after Lacey Turner, just doesn't even compare.

 

Well Stacey will have to come back for her medication. She's not going to be much use to that child unless she stays on it.

 

Excellent episode though ... liked all of the acting except Alfie, Dot and Roxy.

 

Unfair that you judge Coronation Street just because of one terrible actress (I don't think I need name her). Apart from her Corrie was good tonight ... Jane Howarth was excellent.

 

Kath

But in fairness Corrie has basically been The Tracy & Becky Show this past week, and when Tracy is AWFUL and Becky is (in many peoples' opinions - not necessarily mine) overused, it was always going to come in for some stick. It didn't help that Emmerdale had a huge reveal ep tonight too whereas Corrie could've been any old midweek episode.

Well Stacey will have to come back for her medication. She's not going to be much use to that child unless she stays on it.

 

Excellent episode though ... liked all of the acting except Alfie, Dot and Roxy.

 

Unfair that you judge Coronation Street just because of one terrible actress (I don't think I need name her). Apart from her Corrie was good tonight ... Jane Howarth was excellent.

 

Kath

Oh, don't me wrong, I love Coronation Street. But, on Christmas Day - I can do without watching two depressing soaps (t'is the season to be jolly and all that). And, having seen Eastenders (thinking it was outstanding) - I didn't think Coronation Street would compare, therefore wasn't too sure about missing it. I'm sure it did revolve mostly around Tracy, though I can't judge, I'll be watching it later.

OH JANINE! :( Just as I was beginning to love her, she does that to Stacey! And I could sense that Stacey would've jumped from the Vic if it weren't for Max. I'm glad Stacey managed to leave alive, and I'd love for her to return at some point (I can't see it happening though :(). Overall it was a BRILLIANT episode though, and probably its best this year!

EastEnders was the most-watched programme on Christmas Day, according to early figures.

 

The episode, which saw Stacey (Lacey Turner) leave Albert Square, drew an average of 11.4m (43.2%) for BBC One in the 8pm hour. The figure is up more than 500k on the soap's Christmas Day performance last year.

 

To form, BBC One performed strongly throughout primetime. At 6pm, the Doctor Who special pulled in 10.3m (39.8%), up 300k on last year, then a festive edition of Strictly Come Dancing - won by John Barrowman - drew 9.4m (34.4%), outdoing Coronation Street's 9m (33.1%) for ITV1.

 

The Royle Family pulled in 9.9m (38.6%) in the 9pm hour, down 300k on last year, then at 10pm, Come Fly With Me - the new comedy from David Walliams and Matt Lucas - launched to an impressive 10.3m (41.1%).

 

Elsewhere on ITV1, an hour-long episode of Emmerdale took 7.2m (27.9%) at 6pm, then after Corrie, All Star Family Fortunes appealed to 4.7m (17.8%). Poirot averaged 4.2m (17.3%) between 9pm and 11pm.

 

The most-watched film of Christmas Day was BBC One's screening of Shrek The Third, which put in 7.2m (41.9%) from 3.10pm.

 

The Queen's Speech, broadcast at 3pm on BBC One and ITV1, reached a combined live audience of 8.8m (52.4%), up around 700k year-on-year.

 

 

But in fairness Corrie has basically been The Tracy & Becky Show this past week, and when Tracy is AWFUL and Becky is (in many peoples' opinions - not necessarily mine) overused, it was always going to come in for some stick. It didn't help that Emmerdale had a huge reveal ep tonight too whereas Corrie could've been any old midweek episode.

 

I agree! I was half-hoping that when the character returned (and I must admit ... the character is a much needed soap-bitch) they may actually have a different/better actress ... but no ... they stuck with Ford. The depressing thing is though ... and you can see this coming a mile off ... Amy is going to be in the same mould - nasty character played by awful actress!

 

I thought Simon Gregson has been excellent lately and he didn't disappoint last night, with his character letting his guard slip to Lloyd ... that he was frightened.

 

You're right though ... it really didn't seem like (apart from a couple of excellent performances ... and one or two tragically funny lines) any other, fairly decent week-day episode. Those excellent performances again being from Sally Dynevor, Julia Howarth and Simon Gregson ... and the truly funny contributions coming from the characters of John Stape, Kirk Sutherland ... and Mary.

 

Kath

 

BUT ... back to EE ... and it was great last night ... with 90% of the cast giving it their best and Lacey Turner was just spectacular. I've never been EE's biggest fan but she has made it worth watching over recent years ... and she has just got better and better. If I was an EE producer though ... I'd be a bit concerned about the void that will be left. I know that a lot of fans love Kat and Alfie ... but as actors ... I honestly don't think Jessie Wallace or Shane Richie are good enough to replace Turner. I know I won't be watching EE again for a long time (well I may tune in now and again!)

Edited December 26, 201014 yr by Kathyp

Jessie wallace isnt as good as lacey acting wise but she is still great and before lacey joined the show it was jessie who in a way picked up alot of the awards that lacey has picked up like best actess and best dramatic performances so im sure jessie as an actress will benefit from lacey leaving. Im sald lacey has left as she has been fantastic to watch and has always delivered fantastic scences, i would also have loved alot more of kat and stacey together aswell.

 

 

I loved staceys exit, it touched on almost everything she has been through since she joined the show and it summed it all up nicely and i loved her scenes especially with Max.

 

 

On the corrie thing, tracey came out with a few funny lines but its the same same ole and i hope they develop another side to her, janine and stacey are quite similar and it was nice to see the different side of janine with the ryan storyline. Tracey needs a bit of work and it would be crazt not to acknowdlge that prison hasnt had some effect on her.

 

Again im nota big corrie fan but sally deynvor delivered brilliantly again in corries episode but corrie put no real effort in their x mas day episode as they know people dont see corrie as must see x mas televsion. Eastenders is a huge tradition at christmas which is fantastic and a great achievement as its ahuge family day and its great to know that so many families like to sit down and enjoy eastenders and they never fail to deliver fantastic episodes at christmas.

Tonight's episode was good. A nice enough follow up from yesterdays and I'm actually really looking forward to seeing more from this Ryan/Janine thing! It's keeping me intrigued!

Ryan has turned into a great charactor, they have built him up slowly and he really fits into the show now, im interested to see whats next for him.