Episode 9961 (25th December 2019)

Plot
Michelle shows signs of thawing towards Robert as she brings him a cup of coffee in the bistro van on Christmas morning. Jenny collects Rita from the hospital. Gary finds the furniture shop door ajar and the gun and ammo missing. He suspects the thief had a key as there's no sign of forced entry but his and Fiz's keys are accounted for. The Barlows have Christmas dinner at the bistro. Michelle implores Vicky to call a truce with Robert. Vicky thinks she's pathetic. Shona prepares a treasure hunt at the Winter Wonderland for David's birthday. Gary hunts down the thief on his own, refusing to get the police involved. He thinks he's found the culprit when Maria tells him that Ali was hinting that there's more to the furniture shop than meets the eye. Fiz is concerned that Hope took her key when she went missing yesterday and opened the shop door. Hope throws a tantrum when Fiz asks her if she did. Bethany says hello to Daniel in the street and gets the short shrift. Michelle tells Robert that Vicky has agreed to hear him out provided Michelle is with him. Robert discovers Vicky is moving to Ireland tomorrow with Tyler and the baby. Gary demands Ali hand the gun back. Ali doesn't know what he's talking about. From his car, Derek aims the rifle at Gary but is thwarted when Gary enters the Rovers. At the Winter Wonderland, Shona hides inside one of the Christmas boxes carrying David's present, with David having to find her. Robert excitedly tells the Connors that he's moving to Ireland as well to be near his son. He goes out to the van to pick up the baby's present. The Connors throw a private party at the pub in Rita's honour. Tracy is furious when Steve presents Emma with a £500 phone for Christmas. Gary collars Ali in the gents as a half-cut Derek enters the pub, demanding whiskey. When he doesn't get served, he takes out the rifle and calls for Gary. Gary finds out what's going on when Steve hides Emma in the gents. Derek goes on about his marital problems as waits for Gary to show his face. Gary ventures into the public and tells Derek that the gun is an antique and doesn't work. Derek shoots at the front door, showing that the weapon works perfectly. Outside, Robert stumbles to the ground, having been shot through the chest. Ali leaps at Derek and is hit in the face with the gun. Gary goads Derek, calling him a loser, and flees through the back with Derek giving chase. Gary escapes through the ginnel and Derek finds Robert dying on the pavement just as Aggie and James exit No.3. Derek forces Aggie at gunpoint to help Robert but loses interest when he spots Gary heading for the Winter Wonderland, where the Platts are busy with the treasure hunt. They're trapped there when Derek pursues Gary. At No.1, Michelle believes Robert has stood her up. Carla is disapproving when she tells her that she helped Vicky fake her death. They hear what's happened to Robert from James. David, Sarah, Adam and Harry hide from Derek. David rings Shona to warn her there's a gunman on the loose but she thinks it's a trick to get her to reveal her location. Bethany and Michael walk in, oblivious to the danger, and take refuge as well. Shona lifts the box's lid and sees that she's in real danger. Harry wanders out in front of Derek, prompting Gary to leave his hiding place and usher the boy back to safety. Derek takes a shot at Gary, grazing him on the arm. An armed response team arrives outside, along with the police and ambulance. As they hide, Adam tells Sarah they should get married. She whispers yes. Derek fires at Gary again but misses. The party-goers are not allowed to leave the Rovers. Gary calls Fiz to ask how many bullets the gun takes. Fiz thinks it's four but isn't sure. Derek climbs the tower to get a clear view of the area. As the armed response team move in, he leaves a message for his ex-wife telling her he's going away for a bit and has left presents for the kids. Gary sneaks up on him and attempts to wrest control of the gun. In the struggle, the gun goes off, hitting the box Shona is hiding in. It then discharges again, hitting Derek, who hangs off the top of the tower. Gary attempts to rescue him but he falls to his death. Shona has been shot. Daniel momentarily fears that Bethany was hit. Michelle sits with a conscious Robert in hospital. At his request, she rings Vicky to explain why he missed their rendezvous. Vicky's number has been disconnected but Michelle pretends she's speaking to her for Robert's benefit. Robert tells Michelle he never deserved her as he goes into shock. At the residents reel from the day's events, Sarah tells Gary he's the bravest man she ever met for saving Harry. Shona needs surgery but has avoided major injury. Max blames himself for what happened as he wished Shona dead. The residents decamp to the bistro as the Rovers is cordoned off. Seb tells Emma he's no longer in love with Alina. Ed leads the residents in a sing-song at the bistro. Claudia suggests Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. They raise their glasses to Shona and Robert as Robert dies in hospital.

Regular cast

 * Johnny Connor - Richard Hawley
 * Michelle Connor - Kym Marsh
 * Ali Neeson - James Burrows
 * Robert Preston - Tristan Gemmill
 * Maria Connor - Samia Longchambon
 * Gary Windass - Mikey North
 * Jenny Connor - Sally Ann Matthews
 * Rita Tanner - Barbara Knox
 * Evelyn Plummer - Maureen Lipman
 * Fiz Stape - Jennie McAlpine
 * Tyrone Dobbs - Alan Halsall


 * Hope Stape - Isabella Flanagan
 * Ruby Dobbs - Macy Alabi
 * Adam Barlow - Samuel Robertson
 * Ken Barlow - William Roache
 * Carla Connor - Alison King
 * Claudia Colby - Rula Lenska
 * Peter Barlow - Chris Gascoyne


 * Ed Bailey - Trevor Michael Georges
 * Aggie Bailey - Lorna Laidlaw
 * James Bailey - Nathan Graham
 * Michael Bailey - Ryan Russell
 * Shona Platt - Julia Goulding
 * Sarah Platt - Tina O'Brien
 * Bethany Platt - Lucy Fallon
 * Daniel Osbourne - Rob Mallard
 * Liz McDonald - Beverley Callard
 * David Platt - Jack P. Shepherd
 * Emma Brooker - Alexandra Mardell
 * Tracy McDonald - Kate Ford
 * Steve McDonald - Simon Gregson
 * Amy Barlow - Elle Mulvaney
 * Izzy Armstrong - Cherylee Houston
 * Seb Franklin - Harry Visinoni
 * Gail Rodwell - Helen Worth
 * Max Turner - Harry McDermott
 * Audrey Roberts - Sue Nicholls
 * Lily Platt - Brooke Malonie
 * Bertie Osbourne - Ellis Blain and Elias & Rufus Morgan-Smith (Uncredited)
 * Harry Platt - Freddie & Isaac Rhodes (Uncredited)

Guest cast

 * Jade Rowan - Lottie Henshall
 * Vicky Jefferies - Kerri Quinn
 * Derek Milligan - Craige Els

Places

 * Coronation Street - Main street view and ginnel
 * Rovers Return Inn - Public, gents toilets and yard
 * 1 Coronation Street - Back room/kitchen and hallway
 * 2a Coronation Street - Living room/kitchen
 * 3 Coronation Street - Downstairs rooms
 * 8 Coronation Street - Downstairs rooms
 * 9 Coronation Street - Back room/kitchen and hallway
 * Webster's Autocentre - Bodyshop
 * Viaduct Bistro
 * Viaduct Bistro
 * Weatherfield Winter Wonderland
 * Weatherfield General
 * Hotel - Room 11