Episode 4113 (23rd December 1996)

Plot
Judy tells Gary she's worried about Joyce stealing and feels they should help her by paying her £450 back-rent. Gary agrees even though he was saving the money to buy another motorbike. Don is depressed over being breathalysed as he knows he'll lose his licence and his job. Vera asks the staff not to tell Jack that Alec helped out in his absence. Joyce is thrilled with the £450 loan from the Malletts and promises to find somewhere else to live whilst they are in Spain. Judy and Gary fly to Marbella for Christmas. Vera apologises to Alec and asks him not to tell Jack about helping her out. Bill goes to Bristol to see Carl, promising Maureen he'll be back Christmas night. Jack returns home on crutches and is stunned to find the Armstrongs in residence. He tells Vera she's soft as they can't afford charity cases. He is annoyed to find Vera has coped well without him and the beer quality hasn't gone off. Sean tells Andy he knows Fraser was behind his mugging as he had £2,000 in cash on him and it wasn't taken. Gail and Martin feel sorry for Don and invite him for Christmas dinner but he tells them he'd rather starve and accuses them of provoking him in front of the children. Andy tells Liz about Sean's money but Liz refuses to believe Fraser was involved. Gerry tells Liz that Fraser wants him to take her shopping for a Christmas present. She tells him she's flattered but she doesn't want to get involved. Samantha signs a tenancy agreement on No. 7 for Curly. Jack is horrified when a customer asks to speak to the landlord Alec Gilroy. He confronts Vera who admits Alec helped out. Drunk Don breaks into MVB Motors, gets into Martin's car and turns on the exhaust.