EASTENDERS’ long-awaited Christmas episode burst onto our screens tonight with Sharon being exposed, Phil erupting like a Cockney volcano – and Keanu being shot.
Here, we’ve rounded up the ten most shocking moments from the explosively awesome hour-long special, where Sharon’s cheating was revealed.
1. Phil confronts Sharon in terrifying showdown
Madman Phil Mitchell was never going to expose Sharon quietly, but the Christmas special saw all his usual theatrics – and then some.
He began by telling her: “You can stop laying the table, because no one’s coming.”
But he built to a majestic rage of furniture-throwing and guilt-tripping which culminated in him angrily brandishing a teddy wearing a jumper that read: “Daddy loves me.” A Mitchell masterclass.
2. Sharon announces her affair to the Vic
In true EastEnders style, much of the drama went down in the Vic, with Sharon revealing herself as a cheat to anyone who cared to listen.
“I’m having Keanu Taylor’s baby. I’m not proud of it,” she yelled – sounding ever-so-slightly proud of it.
But she soon silenced the room when she asked: “Am I the only one who’s ever cheated?” In EastEnders? No. Noooo.
3. Ben plans Keanu’s death like a master criminal
Scheming Ben Mitchell masterminded the events that led to Keanu’s demise like an evil puppeteer.
As the episode opened, he told dad Phil: “Keanu Taylor won’t make it to the mince pies.”
And – unless Martin had some on hand at that creepy warehouse he shot him at – the bloke didn’t get anywhere near them.
4. Louise’s black humour at being cheated on
While Phil was struggling to say Keanu’s name correctly, repeatedly referring to him as “Kea-no”, Louise appeared to be struggling to take the whole thing seriously.
Told her boyfriend had been cheating on her, she reached for some bizarre black humour.
She quipped: “Sharon’s been pregnant since before we were together? What is she, an elephant?”
5. Mick collapses in tears after a panic attack
Poor Mick Carter hit the deck in EastEnders tonight as he was reduced to a crying wreck.
After his wife Linda went missing he started weeping uncontrollably before suffering a horrific panic attack.
And with her later seen on a booze bender, we suspect things are going to get considerably worse for Mick before long.
6. Louise’s unbelievable double-cross
Stone-cold Louise managed to get Keanu into the car believing he was off on a jolly holiday to freedom.
She told him: “You’re the father of my child, I’m not having anything happen to you.”
But when Martin Fowler dragged him through a window, she changed her tune, telling him: “Never, ever take a Mitchell for a fool” before opening the door and walking away. Cold!
7. Shots fired in a creepy abandoned building
Things became a little unclear when a creepy old building loomed into shot – with gunfire heard from inside.
Martin Fowler later emerged looking like he’d just killed a bloke, but we never actually saw the bullet leave the gun.
Is Keanu really dead? That appears to be the implication.
8. Mick freaks out as Linda vanishes on booze bender
Freaked-out Mick arrived in hospital to see Linda, only to find her bed being made up.
A nurse told him: “I’m so sorry she’s gone, she said her husband was downstairs.”
Giving the line the full Danny Dyer treatment, he replied with lashings of menace: “Well, I’m her husband. So where’s my wife?”
9. Martin’s horrifying video nasty of the shooting
Keanu’s shooting appears to have been captured on camera, with Ben doubting Martin had bumped him off – until he saw the phone footage.
He gasps in twisted wonderment: “You really did it.”
Like a keen henchman, Martin replied: “And the gun’s disposed of.” Way to make all Ben’s Christmases come at once.
10. The nightmarish East 17 clothes-burning closing credits
The EastEnders episode closed with Martin standing beside a flaming bin.
And if that wasn’t creepy enough, East 17’s Stay Another Day was playing over the top of the scenes.
To quote the Walthamstow pop act: “Baby if you’ve got to go away I don’t think I can take the pain.” And if there’s one thing an EastEnders festive special can deliver, it’s pain.
