WHAT could be better than a visit to Santa’s Grotto at this festive time of year. The Carters are certainly trying to make it a happy Christmas by creating a winter wonderland in the Queen Vic, complete with Father Christmas ho-ho-hoing in the corner in EastEnders (BBC1).

He’s having a very merry Christmas. Very merry. He’s full of good cheer (40 per cent proof) thanks to the hip flask he’s carrying – and swigging away as he hears what Walford’s youngest want for Christmas. You can tell things aren’t going to go well when you see Surely (Looks like she’s still sucking lemons) Shirley dressed as an elf. This is like dressing Attila the Hun as the tooth fairy.

No wonder Fill the Fug is smiling as Surely Shirley holds out her bucket for a financial contribution. I’d be careful if I was her, drunken Santa might need the bucket to throw up in later in the day. The smile is wiped off Fill’s face when he and Lola take little Lexi to see Father Christmas only to discover that Santa’s habitat is more grotty than grotto.

This bad Santa does have a reason to get tipsy. Underneath the red costume and grey beard is Stan Carter, who has terminal cancer and knows this Christmas will be his last. He can’t bear the thought he’ll never hear that Slade song again.

Someone else facing an unhappy Christmas in Albert Square are Alfie and Kat. They’re homeless and, with no room at the inn, could be spending December 25 on the streets. Alfie has only himself to blame. His bit of arson, starting a fire to claim the insurance, saw things, ie the flames, get out of hand. Wife Kat still doesn’t have a clue about his fire-starting activities. He might finally be forced to tell the truth as eviction from their flat comes ever closer.

Money troubles too for Terrible Tracy in Coronation Street (ITV1). She faces saying goodbye to her business, Barlow’s Buys, as bankruptcy looms. Hang on a minute, help is at hand. Tony offers to help and why not? He views the business as the perfect place to get rid of his dodgy goods. But he’d better watch out because Tracy might be after more than letting him put his hand in her till.

A familiar face treads the cobbles. Well, the face is familiar (she’s a dead ringer for Emmerdale’s Kim Tate) if the character, Erica, isn’t. She does know Liz of the Rovers because the pair became friends in Spain where Erica runs a bar. Back home to visit her mum, she decides to pop in on Liz too.

It doesn’t take her long to snare a man. She goes into the Bistro for a quick drink and has a quick chat-up instead. That’s after annoying Gail the hamster by going behind the bar and pouring her own drink. She runs a bar herself, so why not? She also catches Nick Nick’s eye (and his wandering hands). Before you can say “bottoms up” the pair are snogging each other’s faces off in the back room of the Rovers.

Down on the farm in Emmerdale (ITV1) all is not well. Robert is not happy about brother Andy’s wedding plans (a Christmas Day wedding so you know something is going to go horribly wrong) and seeks comfort with secret boyfriend Aaron. Robert doesn’t know which way to turn – he’s engaged to Chrissie (a woman) and snogging Aaron (a chap). This is known as having the best of both worlds.