EASTENDERS fans are set to witness the soap’s most brutal Christmas shows.
Heart-wrenching episodes over the festive period will involve two deaths, three attempted murders, a rape bid, a kidnap, a car crash, mental illness and a brain tumour.
The trail of trauma begins next week when Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) kidnaps Kim Fox-Hubbard’s baby daughter Pearl.
In revenge, Vincent Hubbard (Richard Blackwood) threatens Phil with a gun, then tries to throttle him.
On Christmas Day, a drunk Phil rolls his car, leaving Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) injured and Sharon’s son Denny in a coma. Days later Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) tries to rape Roxy Mitchell (Rita Symons).
His mum Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) finds out and tries to drown him in the bath. On New Year’s Day, Dean then tries to kill Shirley.
On top of that, Charlie Slater (Derek Martin) dies of a heart attack and Stacey Branning (Lacey Turner) develops postpartum psychosis and starts hallucinating after giving birth.
Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) is distraught after being diagnosed with a brain tumour and another mystery cast member dies.
A source said: “EastEnders has become renowned for serving up misery and death over the Christmas period, but this year it will be taken to a new level
