In Soapland, 'tis the season for melodrama, heartache, freak accidents and sudden deaths. Sit back, relax and enjoy our favourite Christmas crackers from years gone by…

Stacey’s affair with Max is revealed: EastEnders, 2007
Stacey Slater’s affair with Max Branning was over by the time she married his son Bradley – but, in true soap style, their dirty little secret came spilling out into the open on Christmas Day. It happened as the entire Branning family sat round to watch the wedding video Lauren had kindly made for the happy couple, only for the disc to reveal Stacey and Max having one final canoodle. Festive cheer went out the window, closely followed by most of Stacey’s belongings in hastily packed binbags.