Max's plot to fleece Ian takes a surprising turn

Max is still in a predicament as Phil's demanding the £13,000 he owes to set the Mitchells right for the scam insurance he sold them. After asking Masood if he can help with his post round, Max's financial concerns escalate when Abi and Lauren present their Christmas lists, before insisting on a real tree. At his wit's end, Max decides to sell his watch on the internet and begins to look around the house to see what else he can sell. After a failed attempt at usurping compensation from Ian, Phil suggests that Max rethink their plan to scam Ian. Max maintains that Phil must be hoping for a small miracle if he seriously believes he can raise £13,000 by the end of the following day. Phil points out that Max has no money in his wallet and with Christmas on the horizon, he needs all the money he can get. With that, Phil gives Max until 1pm to decide whether he's in on the plan or not.

When the Christmas tree salesman refuses to take a cheque as payment, Max is livid. Max then watches Ian buy a tree and when he opens his wallet, Max sees that it's full of notes. When Ian mentions how close he and Tanya grew during the wife swap, Max boils over - it looks like the con is on. Max turns up on Ian's doorstep with his toweland trunks ready for the hot tub. As the pair bathe, Max happens to mention a property development that will potentially pay huge dividends - and it'd be a privilege to work with Walford's most successful entrepreneur. Max reveals to a flattered Ian that he has to raise £150,000. Masood stops Ian and offers him the rent to buy Amira time to find a more suitable flatmate. Intrigued, Ian asks where he's found the cash.

Later, Ian turns up at The Vic and tells Max that the property development plans have changed as Masood's now in on the deal, too. Phil looks on as Max squirms in an attempt to wriggle out of the deal, but it's too late. Before Max knows what's going on, he's shaking Masood's hand…

Meanwhile, a seemingly happy Ronnie returns home and signals her presence by barging into Roxy's bedroom where she and Dr Al are snuggled up. Al soon leaves to let the sisters catch up but Ronnie leaves to unpack. Roxy lets Phil know that Ronnie's returned but she knows nothing of Sam's disappearance or the family'sfinancial woes. As Roxy searches for her sister, Bianca bumps into Ronnie first and reveals that Sam's left Walford. Ronnie seeks answers from Roxy who reveals that Sam had an affair with Jack and ran off with Archie's help, ultimately skipping her bail and losing the family thousands. Ronnie, however, doesn't seem to care and with that, she confides in Roxy that she's pregnant.

Elsewhere, Ian complains that he has no-one to share his hot tub with; Phil wonders where the payment for the Arches is; Janine tells Ryan that they'll be in The Vic by Christmas; Janine's frustrated when Archie hears that Peggy's in Portugal with Grant, meaning that she'll probably return with some money; Ian introduces Amira to her new flatmate Nicky but she's surprised to find out that Nicky's male; Bianca and Whitney learn that Tony recently tried to commit suicide but that the trial will go ahead as planned.