Calli Kitson
Published December 3, 2025 9:34am
Updated December 3, 2025 10:00am
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There’s a lot of drama ahead this festive season (Picture: ITV/BBC/Metro)
How to know it’s nearly Christmas? When the festive schedules drop for Emmerdale, Coronation Street and EastEnders of course!
The December episodes for all three soaps are always a big deal, as dramatic moments air in the lead up to the start of a new year.
We now know when Emmerdale, Corrie and EastEnders will air from Monday, December 22, right through till Friday, January 2.
Let’s not beat around the bush! Here’s everything you need to know about when your favourite soap will air over the Christmas period.
When will Emmerdale air over Christmas and New Year?
It’s been another dark year in the Dales (Picture: ITV)
It’s going to be a busy few weeks in the Dales! The episodes will air as follows:
- Monday, December 22: 7:30-8pm
- Tuesday, December 23: 7-7:30pm
- Wednesday, December 24: 6:55-7:25pm
- Thursday, December 25: 6:15-7:15pm
- Friday, December 26: 6:30-7pm
- Monday, December 29: 7:30-8pm
- Tuesday, December 30: 7:30-8pm
- Wednesday, December 31: 7:30-8pm
- Thursday, January 1: 7-8pm
- Friday, January 2: 7:30-8pm
When will Coronation Street air over Christmas and New Year?
Maggie Driscoll is hiding a major secret (Picture: ITV)
There’s a lot of festive drama unfolding in Weatherfield…
- Monday, December 22: 8-9pm
- Wednesday, December 24: 8:40-9:10pm
- Thursday, December 25: 7:15-8:15pm
- Friday, December 26: 7-7:30pm
- Monday, December 29: 8-8:30pm
- Tuesday, December 30: 8-8:30pm
- Wednesday, December 31: 8-9pm
- Thursday, January 1: 8-9pm
- Friday, January 2: 8-9pm
Your soap theories for the Christmas period revealed!
Unsurprisingly, a lot of theories are floating around for all three soaps in the lead up to Christmas Day.
For Emmerdale, hot topic of conversation is the storyline involving Celia and Ray. Plenty of fans are hoping the duo will get their comeuppance during the festive period, but will they get their wish?
Also, now Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle are back together, Robron lovers are crossing their fingers for some wholesome scenes of the couple enjoying Christmas morning together.
Amid the ongoing EastEnders storyline that’s seen Zoe Slater grow convinced she has a stalker, audience members are hoping Christmas will see the concluding part of the plot, and Zoe’s stalker is finally exposed.
All Swarla fans want for Christmas this year is for Carla and Lisa to be back together. The two characters split up recently amid Becky Swain’s ongoing meddling, and now the audience are desperately hoping they will reunite to spend the festive season as a couple.
With a Weatherfield resident set to be attacked soon, fans are speculating as to who will be the victim. We know it’ll be someone in the Rovers, which leaves characters including Eva, Ben, Ollie, Will, Megan and Daniel all within a chance of facing violence over Christmas.
Given the rumours circulating at the moment that Maggie is a killer, it’s left plenty with the theory that she will end up being the culprit as well…
When will EastEnders air over Christmas and New Year?
Pat and Barry Evans are returning to the soap (Picture: BBC)
Keep an eye out for the double dose of EastEnders!
- Monday, December 22: 7:30-8pm
- Tuesday, December 23: 7:30-8pm
- Wednesday, December 24: 6:55-7:25pm
- Thursday, December 25: 7:45-8:15pm and then 9:45-10:15pm
- Friday, December 26: 9:30-10pm
- Monday, December 29: 7:30-8pm
- Tuesday, December 30: 7:30-8pm
- Wednesday, December 31: 7:30-8pm
- Thursday, January 1: 7:30-8pm
What will happen in the soaps over Christmas?
The ongoing Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) storyline, which has highlighted subjects including drug dealing, modern day slavery, and sex work, is about to reach a conclusion in Emmerdale, with dramatic and potentially life-changing consequences for all.
With April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) confessing her secrets to her family this week, how much danger will they be in in the aftermath?
On top of that, Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) remains trapped in her cruel world, but there may be a chance to finally break free of the ordeal – unless it’s too late…
Kim Tate (Claire King) will be at the centre of the action where she belongs and someone is set to make a mistake that could cost them – and others – everything.
Will Bear be found in time? (Picture: ITV)
In Weatherfield, Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor) is determined to give foster children Joanie, Shanice and Brody the best Christmas ever. However, as she makes a promise to the trio, Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) cannot help but worry that it might end in disaster.
Elsewhere, we will also learn about Maggie Driscoll’s (Pauline McLynn) past, as a flashback episode reveals she is hiding a huge secret from her family.
We’ve also got Debbie Webster’s (Sue Devaney) wedding to look forward to, which looks set to be chaotic judging by these pictures.
‘So there’s loads going on Christmas Day,’ producer of Corrie Kate Brooks smiled. ‘Christmas Day itself is a real family affair. And the Driscolls are very much at the heart of Christmas Day. It’s a proper pub Christmas Day.
‘It’s very community based, very lively. And there will be secrets are exposed and whatnot. So it’s a real feel good episode with a lot of drama as well thrown to the mix.
Can’t wait for the next twist?
Hi, I’m Calli Kitson, Soaps reporter at Metro. I cover Emmerdale, EastEnders, Corrie and more.
If you want to stay up to date on the latest spoilers, sign up to our daily Soaps Newsletter.
Sign up to receive my latest stories (Picture: Calli Kitson)
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Over in EastEnders, Shaun Williamson and Pam St Clement are reprising their roles as Barry and Pat Evans for a special episode focusing on Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley).
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The New Year period will focus on Max Branning (Jake Wood), as a an intriguing flashforward instalment airs that reveals storyline teasers for 2027.
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‘2026 is going to be full of drama in Walford, especially for the Brannings, and the episode is sure to raise plenty of questions on how Max has got himself, and his family, into such predicaments, but all is not what it seems, so stay tuned for 2026 to find out how and why…’
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