Episode 6969 (17th December 2008)

Plot
As the police arrive at Tony and Carla’s flat, Tony prepares for the performance of his life. Having already told Carla about Maria’s accusations and that he knew about the affair, he's confident he can hold it together and put the police off the scent. As they quiz him, Tony is calm. He denies offering Maria money for her silence and paints a picture of a deranged widow looking for revenge. As the police leave, it looks like he's convinced them.

It’s a cosy Christmas scene over at the bookies flat as Leanne helps Peter and Simon decorate the tree. Leanne is enjoying the family atmosphere and is happy to stay after Simon has gone to bed. But she notices Peter’s excessive drinking and as he gets louder and more drunk, she decides to call it a night. But Peter’s having none of it and tries to make her stay – with disastrous consequences.

Gail arrives home to find the Windasses have gone to town with their Christmas lights, she takes a deep breath and heads inside for a quiet night with Joe but when the time for the official switch on arrives she gets a shock – it's not only the Windasses who are lighting up the street.

Elsewhere, Eileen and Jesse hit it off during a post-gig drink; and Liz introduces Michelle to her new friend Poppy who also just happens to be a barmaid.

Regular cast

 * Tony Gordon - Gray O'Brien
 * Carla Gordon - Alison King
 * Peter Barlow - Chris Gascoyne
 * Leanne Battersby - Jane Danson
 * Simon Barlow - Alex Bain
 * Fiz Brown - Jennie McAlpine
 * Anna Windass - Debbie Rush
 * Becky Granger - Katherine Kelly
 * Eileen Grimshaw - Sue Cleaver
 * Betty Williams - Betty Driver
 * Michelle Connor - Kym Marsh
 * Liz McDonald - Beverley Callard
 * Eddie Windass - Steve Huison
 * Gail Platt - Helen Worth
 * Darryl Morton - Jonathan Dixon
 * Pam Hobsworth - Kate Anthony
 * Joe McIntyre - Reece Dinsdale

Guest cast

 * DC Weller - Caroline Paterson
 * Natasha Blakeman - Rachel Leskovac
 * Jesse Chadwick - John Thomson
 * Poppy - Sophiya Haque