This time, Annette says no to Leon.

Radio Times: Father Christmas is a no-show at Lower Loxley.

Characters: Annette, Bert, Elizabeth, Helen, Joe, Leon, Vicky

• Fearing Joe would be cross that she had not been available this morning, being on Abbie duty, Vicky turns up with some trepidation at Lower Loxley. On the contrary, Joe is happy that preparing later leaves less time for nosy-parkers to work out his latest money-making wheeze – selling cider punch. Vicky notices the punch but doesn’t work it out.
• Elizabeth is still busy and not receptive to Bert’s request for a dress rehearsal of his Charles Dickens in front of her and Nigel. He’ll be fine; he won’t dry. Right now she needs to confirm Father Christmas but, oh dear, she gets the wrong answer.
• Delivering yogurt to the village shop, Helen is convinced that there is more than meets the eye to Annette being so fed up. She admits being turned down by Sonja and Helen accepts that as the reason. They will go out tonight, just to The Bull – no buts!
• Elizabeth is checking on preparations and notices Joe’s punch but is called away before she has time to work it out. She still needs to find a Father Christmas and, of course, it has to be someone with CRB clearance. At great personal cost, Bert agrees to give up the Charles Dickens part that he has prepared for so diligently; he is a life-saver.
• Oh deep joy! Annette finds that Helen has invited Leon to join them in The Bull. Left alone with her briefly, he loses no time to propose a repeat of the other night; they had fun, didn’t they? Annette tells him to get stuffed: she wouldn’t touch him if her life depended on it.