EastEnders review: Jack and Ravi made Zoe's shooting all about them as their feud escalated
The boys played tit for tat
It’s the calm after the storm in our EastEnders review for this week, as the residents of Walford attempted to come to terms with last week’s shooting. In an altogether more subdued week, Jack and Ravi were at loggerheads over the gun, as Jack put into motion a lunkheaded plan to frame his former love rival.
Meanwhile Callum was reunited with his father, and Nigel undertook a philgrimage to the countryside. Elsewhere, Zoe continued her reintegration into Slater family life, while there were also first signs of a reconciliation between Suki and Eve.
Join us as we take a look back at last week’s EastEnders.
EastEnders review: Jack tried to double cross Ravi
As the week began, Jack was feeling the pressure. Forced into bed with Ravi (not like that, although the homoeroticism was off the charts), Jack initially tried to play along, before spotting a way out thanks to DS Spencer.
Realising that he could just frame Ravi instead of further compromising himself, Jack decided to sneak into the flat to plant the gun. This marked a week of spectacularly bad decision-making for dopey Jack, who decided to do so in broad daylight, mere minutes after Ravi and Priya had cleared off.
Jack’s house of cards came tumbling down when foghorn Denise inadvertently revealed what he’d been up to. After finding the gun half-heartedly stashed under his bed, Ravi hit back by telling Denise about Jack’s part in the shooting.
And that’s not all – he also demanded £100,000 to ensure the gun stayed buried.
No way out for Ravi
Following his blackmail attempt, things were looking up for Ravi. After smoothing things over with Priya (who he treated atrociously this week), he took the family over to The Vic where he went public with their relationship.
Ravi’s plan to get out of the drug trade might not be as easy as he’d thought, though. After being summoned by Okie, Ravi received a chilling message from his superiors – pictures of Avani and Nugget, out on Albert Square. e
Both men contributed to a frustrating week of double-crossing and petty threats. Our main takeaway from all of this? Incompetent Jack wouldn’t make it five minutes in the AC-12 interrogation room, and Ravi doesn’t deserve Priya. Even if, yes, he does look very nice in a pinafore.
Clearly neither man is over the Denise affair, and it’s causing them both to spiral out of control as a result.
EastEnders review: What about Zoe?
And where did this leave Zoe? Thanks to Jack and Ravi’s mach0-off, the true victim in all of this had mostly been forgotten. Their games overshadowed Zoe’s second week back, which she spent in a hospital bed, being mean to her mum.
Zoe divulged nothing we don’t know already about her past, even lying to Kat about the twins’ death. Meanwhile, the Slaters continued to prove Zoe right in staying away with their awful hospital etiquette.
No Max Branning this week, either.
Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off 2025: Who won the festive special as Vito Coppola returns
The Christmas special starred four brand new famous faces and it also saw the return of 2024 Celebrity MasterChef champ, Vito Coppola.
Vito was on hand to help judges John Torode and Grace Dent critique the celebs' dishes.
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Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off brought some festive cheer tonight (Credit: BBC)[/caption]
But who impressed them the most? And who was more recipe for disaster than recipe for success?
Here's who took part in the Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off on BBC One - and who won this year's show.
Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off: Who took part?
Social media star GK Barry took part in the 2025 Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off, along with Love Island narrator Iain Stirling.
They were joined in the kitchen by Watchdog and The One Show's Nikki Fox. Completing the line-up was Ted Lasso actor Kola Bokinni.
GK admitted that she leaves all the cooking at Christmas to her parents, while Iain said he didn't have the "temperament" to be on Celebrity MasterChef.
Nikki claimed to have last cooked in 1998, while Kola said he his experience in the kitchen was also very limited. Although he did study food technology at school!
Secret Santa Mystery Box
The first challenge in the Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off was the Secret Santa Mystery Box. Each celeb was handed a gold box containing ingredients and a recipe.
John had told them they would each be making "something with pizazz".
Iain unboxed the ingredients for a Tiramisu chocolate roulade and amaretto ice-cream, while Nikki had to cook Neapolitan octopus and polenta.
Kola received ingredients for a pistachio sponge and white chocolate and lime mousse, and GK had to make pork porchetta with a tonnato (tuna-based) sauce.
The celebs had two hours to make their dishes, which all had an Italian theme. Cue the arrival of Vito!
Vito said: "To be back here on Celebrity MasterChef Christmas special is just blowing my mind. I would have never imagined it. Italy in Christmas is all about food."
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Celebrity MasterChef's 2024 champion Vito Coppola returned for the Christmas special (Credit: BBC)[/caption]
Iain's dessert practically took John's head off due to the amount of amaretto. Grace said it was "wonderful" but did say his cooking style is "chaotic". Vito described the roulade as a "masterpiece".
John described Kola's pudding as "fantastic". Grace agreed, while Vito said: "This is so complex, you brought Italy here on this plate."
Nikki was told her octopus was "cooked perfectly", but was slated by John for using too much garlic. Vito cleared his plate and told Nikki he "loved" it.
Finally GK's porchetta also got the thumbs up from the judges and Vito. The Italian Strictly star told Grace her dish was "beautiful".
John and Grace ended the challenge by concluding it was "an even playing field".
Ultimate Christmas dinner
Next, the celebrities were told to cook their idea of an "ultimate Christmas dinner". They had two hours to make their meals.
Kola opted for a Nigerian red stew and "pounded" yam, followed by a puff puff dessert. This West African pudding is sweet, deep-dried dough balls.
Nikki cooked chicken, Yorkshire puddings, caramelised Brussels sprouts and carrots. She topped her dinner off with a sprinkle of crisps, which was her grandfather's tradition. For dessert, she served her mum Steph's trifle, made with custard powder and sponge fingers.
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Grace Dent was horrified by Nikki's 'green' gravy (Credit: BBC)[/caption]
Iain wanted to show John and Grace he "can cook". He whipped up cheesy cauliflower with crispy chicken thighs. His dessert was peach and banana crumble with rum and raisin ice cream. He promised less booze second time around.
GK was going to make a giant Yorkshire pudding and "make a face out of carrots and mashed potatoes". But she said: "I got embarrassed because I saw how good everyone else's was going to be".
Grace Dent told her to put a face on it, as "it's Christmas". For dessert, she made her mum's caramelised biscuit muffins. Unfortunately, her biscoff topping melted all over the cakes...
Green gravy and a 'hard' dessert
Kola was first to serve up his Christmas dinner. Grace told him she "loved" his beef stew, but both she and John criticised his puff puff balls for being "hard" and "heavy".
Nikki hit a big disaster with her gravy. John's jug full was "split", while Grace grimaced: "Mine's green!" They did, however, enjoy her trifle - lumpy custard and all. Eek.
John said he "loved" Iain's cauliflower cheese and said his chicken thighs were "delicious". Grace said she was "loving it". They also thoroughly enjoyed his crumble and ice cream, although John said it was "more muesli than crumble".
Finally, GK served up her smiley Yorkshire pudding faces. John enjoyed her dish and said the "star of the show" was her Yorkshire. Grace said the plate was "unforgettable". They also enjoyed her muffins.
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Iain won Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off (Credit: BBC)[/caption]
Who won the Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off?
After much deliberation, John and Grace chose their winner. They picked Iain Stirling as this year's Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off champion.
John said of Iain: "He is definitely a person who understands how to please a crowd. Not just on the stage, but in the MasterChef kitchen."
Grace said she would be "happy" to visit Iain's house for dinner.
Iain was handed the Golden Whisk as 'snow' fell from above. He said: "Wow! I'm made up!" Iain then joked he will quit comedy to embark on a professional career as a chef.
Read more: Celebrity MasterChef 2025 winner crowned after close-run final as bookies' favourite is defeated
