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The Christmas TV schedules are here at last, which means only one thing: we know when the soaps are on!

The festive season is always a dramatic one for all of our soaps, having produced many classic moments over the years.

Coronation Street has a wedding on the cards this year, while one character continues to struggle in the wake of the hate crime storyline that saw Seb Franklin murdered.

Meanwhile, EastEnders sees the prospect of a double wedding arise, but could time be up for killer Gray Atkins?

Elsewhere, speaking of serial killers, could Meena Jutla strike again in Emmerdale?

Finally, an eviction is on the cards over on Hollyoaks.

So when should soap fans expect to be able to watch their favourite shows? Read on to find out.

Coronation Street - ITV

Fiz Stape in Coronation Street
Fiz Stape in Coronation Street ITV

It looks set to be a dramatic period on the cobbles this year.

Tensions rise for former partners Tyrone Dobbs and Fiz Stape over the festive season as they share a kiss.

Will the pair get back together after all their recent dramas?

Meanwhile, Emma Brooker has faced a disastrous wedding to Curtis Delamere after his mental health issues and lies were exposed to the street.

In the aftermath of the wedding falling apart, will the pair be able to find happiness?

Sarah Barlow struggles to bring together both the Platt and Barlow clans for a Christmas dinner, prompting more chaos.

Finally, Nina Lucas will continue to struggle despite justice having been done for her murdered boyfriend Seb Franklin, prompting Carla Connor to reach out to her.

Here is when Coronation Street is on our screens for the big festive dates.

Christmas Eve (24th December) - 8:30pm

Christmas Day (25th December - 8pm (hour-long special), on ITV Hub from 7am

Boxing Day (26th December) - 7:30pm

27th December - 9pm (hour-long-special)

28th December - 9pm (hour-long special)

29th December - no episode

30th December - no episode

New Year's Eve (31st December) - 8pm (hour-long special)

EastEnders - BBC One

Brian Conley in EastEnders at Christmas 2021
Will Tom "Rocky" Cotton find his and Dotty's lies exposed on Christmas Day? BBC

It’s set to be quite the occasion for Walford this Christmas.

Two weddings are fast approaching, with Denise Fox set to marry her long-term boyfriend Jack Branning and her daughter Chelsea Fox engaged to marry Gray Atkins.

Of course, unbeknownst to Chelsea, Gray is a serial killer who has taken the lives of his wife Chantelle Atkins, Tina Carter and Kush Kazemi.

However, could Christmas be the season for Gray’s downfall?

Whitney Dean is adamant that she will stop Chelsea from making the biggest mistake of her life, but will the wedding go ahead?

Elsewhere, Tom "Rocky" Cotton attempts to have a Christmas celebration with both girlfriend Kathy Beale and 'daughter' Sonia Fowler.

Yet when Dotty Cotton brings mum Sandy Gibson to the dinner, could Rocky and Dotty find their con plan exposed?

Meanwhile, Janine Butcher wants to capture some attention and give daughter Scarlett a Christmas to remember, whilst also turning her attention to Mick Carter and paying a visit to his wife Linda.

Finally, Kat Moon dislikes how close Phil Mitchell remains to his ex-wife, Sharon Watts, but could Phil soon face bigger worries than just this love triangle?

So, here is when EastEnders is on over the Christmas period.

Christmas Eve (24th December) - 8pm

Christmas Day (25th December) - 9:35pm (45-minute special)

Boxing Day (26th December) - 10pm

27th December - 7.30pm

28th December - 8.10pm

29th December - no episode

30th December - 7.40pm

New Year's Eve (31st December) - 7.10pm (50-minute special)

Emmerdale - ITV

Emmerdale
Meena Jutla holds Dr Manpreet Sharma captive in Emmerdale ITV

Christmas in Emmerdale will see villagers wake up to a dusting of snow, but all is not as it seems.

Flashbacks will show the hours running up to the scene and the answers will change the village forever.

More danger could possibly be on the cards again from serial killer Meena Jutla, who currently has her eyes on Billy Fletcher and is doing all she can to make his girlfriend Dawn Taylor's life a misery by faking a pregnancy.

However, Meena's sister Dr Manpreet Sharma is on to the nurse's lies and does some digging of her own.

Could the good doctor become the next victim of her nefarious sister?

Elsewhere, Will Taylor finds that the body of Malone has been dug up and learns that girlfriend Kim Tate is responsible and no longer wants him to feel tethered by it.

Will is touched and proposes to Kim in response. How will Bernice Blackstock react?

Meanwhile, the machinations of Al Chapman regarding the Woolpack will also soon likely come to a head.

We now know that the Woolpack will explode in devastating scenes, but who is responsible? Will everyone survive?

So, here is when Emmerdale is on over the festive days.

Christmas Eve (24th December) - 7pm

Christmas Day (25th December) - 7pm (hour-long special), on ITV Hub from 7am

Boxing Day (26th December) - 7pm

27th December - 7pm

28th December - 7pm

29th December - 7pm

30th December - 7pm (hour-long special)

New Year's Eve (31st December) - 7pm (hour-long special)

Hollyoaks - Channel 4

Hollyoaks will not have any special Christmas episodes during the most festive days.

It will air its Christmas episodes in its usual slot on December 22 and 23, 2021.

These episodes will focus on the eviction being faced by the McQueen family.

Will a protest change the mind of Tony Hutchinson?

However, there will be no new episodes on the three festive days following this.

Christmas Eve (December 24) - None.

Christmas Day (December 25) - None.

Boxing Day (December 26) - None.

An episode will air at 5:20pm on December 27, before airing at 6pm from December 28 to December 30.

There will be no new episode on New Year’s Eve.

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If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV Guide.

Authors

Lewis KnightTrends Editor

Lewis Knight is the Trends Editor for Radio Times, covering trending titles from TV, Film and more. He previously worked at The Mirror in TV, Film, and Showbiz coverage alongside work on SEO. Alongside his past work in advertising, he possesses a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Film Studies.

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