Episode 2461 (23rd December 1998)

==Plot==
There is consternation among the Tate household when Eric walks into the Home Farm auction and starts to bid against an incredulous Chris. In a fit of pique, Chris asks for the auction to be halted as Eric clearly hasn't got the kind of money he's bidding. But Chris is left helpless when he's informed Eric is bidding by proxy. It's all a fabulous game for the one time auctioneer as he plays with Chris as the bidding shoots well past the expected selling price and Eric sweeps the Tate empire from a distraught Chris and informs the lucky winner of their win who turns out to be Stella Jones. Butch is beside himself. He's been kicked out of his home and now he's badly beaten up Marlon. Later, Marlon hobbles off to the Dingles and confronts Zak. He's got to do something about Butch before the whole thing gets out of hand. As the household threatens to erupt, Zak suddenly bellows that everything has been sorted and they will all enjoy a Christmas together. He's clearly the only one who believes that. Billy gets Andy to find out whether the Post Office will be manned on Christmas Day.
==Cast==
===Regular cast===
*Roy Glover - Nicky Evans
*Biff Fowler - Stuart Wade
*Lyn Hutchinson - Sally Walsh
*Marlon Dingle - Mark Charnock
*Betty Eagleton - Paula Tilbrook
*Butch Dingle - Paul Loughran
*Seth Armstrong - Stan Richards
*Billy Hopwood - David Crellin
*Andy Hopwood - Kelvin Fletcher
*Kathy Glover - Malandra Burrows
*Mandy Dingle - Lisa Riley
*Eric Pollard - Christopher Chittell
*Donna Windsor - Verity Rushworth
*Christopher Tate - Peter Amory
*Zoe Tate - Leah Bracknell
*Laura Johnstone - Louise Beattie
*Lisa Dingle - Jane Cox
*Zak Dingle - Steve Halliwell
*Vic Windsor - Alun Lewis
*Viv Windsor - Deena Payne
*Stella Jones - Stephanie Schonfield
===Guest cast===
*Auctioneer - Richard Mapletoft
==Locations==
*Tenant House - Living room/kitchen
*Keepers Cottage - Living room
*Holdgate Farm - Empty living room and hallway
*Kathy's Diner - Diner
*The Antique Barn - Attic
*Village Store, Post Office & Off-Licence - Shop floor and back room
*Auctions
*Dingle Automotives - Forecourt
*Home Farm - Living room and stables
*Stella Jones' house - Living room
*Wishing Well Cottage - Living room/kitchen
==Notes==
*Viewing Figures: UK broadcast - 11,470,000 viewers (17th place).
Category:1998 episodes
Category:Emmerdale episodes