Steve and Mel Owen’s son Hunter is set to arrive in EastEnders

Meanwhile, as his life unravels, Max is hellbent on making Ian Beale pay for having him wrongfully banged up behind bars for Lucy's murder.

He pays Squeale a visit and things soon turn very violent indeed as the two men go head to head...

As their bitter warring rages on, Ian attempts to defend himself as Max threatens to kill him!

All Max's crimes - including the fact he was responsible for Steven's death and later threatened to bump off Jane - are in the incriminating recorded message, and with the mobile now recovered and on charge, the device is a ticking time bomb!

With Jane's voicemail message still lurking on Stacey's phone and with the whole terrible truth about Max set to emerge at any second, he, Lauren and pregnant Abi are on borrowed time…

And as events escalate, it's not long before the turkey dinner is plunged into catastrophe and the Brannings lives are destroyed forever as the full extent of Max's ruthless deeds are exposed in all their gory detail! That smile is about to be well and truly wiped off Abi's face!

Things explode in catastrophic style for murderous Max and his daughters when Stacey's phone, containing Jane's voicemail messages, suddenly resurfaces. YIKES!

With Max out in the cold and with no-one else to turn to, Stacey later softens and tells him he and his girls can spend Christmas Day with her, Martin and the rest of the Fowler clan. But is she about to bitterly regret that decision?

Later on and with everyone against him, Max realises his only ally is his ex Stacey. The frazzled mum is gearing up to play an angel in the Walford Nativity play, but Max lures her back to her house pretending he's left his wallet there. The ginger plotter is keen to get Stacey on side but when she realises he's lied to her, a furious Stace tells him to leave. However, Max isn't finished yet and when he goads her, telling her that she's lost her, "Slater spark", she angrily lashes out and slaps him. OUCH!