Coronation Street’s Evelyn Plummer is given the fright of her life this Boxing Day, when she comes across a fellow cobbles resident fighting for their life. While her neighbours deal with the catastrophic fallout from Christmas, following a massive showdown between Maggie Driscoll and Eva Price in the pub, Evelyn takes a stroll down the ginnel behind The Rovers while walking Freddie.

And it’s right there that Evelyn stumbles across a victim of a monstrous attack. Can she rescue the helpless figure – or is she too late?

“It’s a big shock!” exclaims Cath Tyldesley, who plays Rovers landlady Eva. “Christmas is supposed to be that time where seemingly everyone is supposed to get on, you hang out with friends and family, and everything’s supposed to be lovely, but it’s not like that in Weatherfield on Christmas Day.”

The festive fortnight begins with drama kicking off in The Rovers, as Eva feels unsettled by her daughter Susie’s request for a sibling. Afterwards, Eva tearfully confides in Adam Barlow that she’s been keeping a secret from Ben, which leads her ex to offer his reassurance.

“Other than this particular thing, Eva doesn’t hide anything from Ben,” Cath assures us. “She’s always been super honest, but this was the one thing that she’s found really difficult.

“In a way, she has absolutely done it to protect Ben from feeling hurt. She’s had to live with a lot of hurt for a while now, and that all comes out.”

On Christmas Eve, Adam suggests that Eva should put her feelings down on paper. Then Alya Nazir turns up, which triggers Adam to hand Eva a present for her to hide.

Maggie spots the exchange, then rifles through Eva’s handbag to try to catch her out. Maggie is let down to find a necklace engraved for Alya, but when she returns it, she finds Eva’s note…

The next day, Maggie is disgusted to see Ben and Eva merrily swap gifts.

Later, Eva discovers that her letter has vanished, which she explains to Adam. After hearing the news, Adam takes Eva’s hand, but Ben spies them from afar.

Next, the Driscolls and their guests sit down to eat, while Maggie casts daggers at Eva – then dishes out a gift that stuns Ben!

“Things very quickly backfire,” grimaces Catherine. “What Eva probably should have done is burn the letter after writing it!”

Is Ben and Eva’s relationship done for? And will the mystery attack victim pull through – or will 2026 begin with tragedy in Weatherfield?