I don't think it should be either a Branning, or a Mitchell Christmas next year.
In recent years, the Brannings have taken centre stage far too often IMHO, when really as a unit they are quite poor with only a few stand-out characters these days; Max and Abi. Derek is almost like what Jon Culshaw would mimic if he were to parody an EastEnd mafia supremo, rather than a well-rounded convincing villain. Carol as become a parody of herself; the mother earth thing of her having 90% of interaction with her kids, grandkids, and her brothers has been so prevalent in the last four years it has absorbed her completely removing any other interesting aspects to Carol's character. The only other time Carol hasn't been defined in this respect is with men; the David Wicks thing was just a waste of time and a retcon of history, and the Connor storyline was incredibly contrived.
Bianca has too, become a parody. Bianca was always fiery, narrow-minded, and hot and harded headed, but she had softer qualities brought out in her friendship with Tiffany, as well as her relationship with Ricky. In her last stint, poverty completely defined Bianca, in the process not only somewhat turned her into Carol 2.0 but the bitterness and the resentment from these things began to overwhelm her character completely; Bianca had become a chav, a violent, lawless chav at that who had no concept of responsibility, and was a self-proclaimed victim of a situation that was self-inflicted. Bianca was one of many self-proclaimed victims on the square; it's the same narrative slapped on different characters.
Jack too, has become a joke; his frosty relations with Max and golden boy status in his family, as the young un' with the dark past had much potential, but this was thrown away and Jack became nothing more than Walford's glorified male sex-object in this emerging to be what can only be called a baby-daddy for three Mitchells; two sisters and a cousin. And because Jack was so defined by the Mitchell girls, especially Ronnie when they left there was little else too him. They tried to squeeze desperately some small mileage between him and Roxy that simply wasn't there in that shite custody case storyline earlier this year.
The reasons go on. But at least half of them need some character development, over a long-term period to get a character-driven Xmas storyline at the least; with the Brannings it has been all plot-driven rubbish 90% of the time - bar Stax. The Mitchells are literally at their lowest. The only interesting one left, is Phil. Who cares about Lola? The only interesting thing about her is the fact she's the mother of Ben Mitchell's kid, and thus Phil's grandkid, and therefore Lexi’s the next Mitchell generation. There's nothing in her personality, of which screams entitled chav, and little else that really draw the viewer in. A poor cardboard cut-out attempt at Saint Stacey Slater via the Mitchells. Billy can be interesting, but only when bouncing off others like Phil, Janine, and MM. Roxy, although I like her with Alfie sn't as interesting as she was with Ronnie, and I feel in a Ralfie union Alfie will obviously be the stronger half. Jay and Shirley, are no longer apart of the clan. The Mitchells need to re-build themselves, and inject some life into them before they take the stage again as a unit. Because Phil Mitchell cannot carry the whole family. The loss of Peggy has already prized a gaping hole in the Mitchells.
Actually, shockingly enough I agree with vaslav the Moons as a full unit may not really be around. By next year, Kat Moon may be Kat Slater, Tyler could be gone, leaving just Alfie and Michael - and I guess, if they're still together Janine with MM and Scarlett too. But I don't see Janine as a Moon, more of a Butcher, and some contrived reveal I don't think really suits Janine's character. Nor do I want to see an affair, or whatever contrived disasters happen to her and MM; in the long term it does nothing for her character (or his). The Masoods should only get another Xmas storyline if they do a character-driven one; no more plot driven rubbish ala Yusef. Really, the Beales need Peter back, and they need a Xmas storyline. We should have the Lucy/Peter feud explored more, with maybe Cindy's relatives - sister Gina, Cindy Jr, and Grandma Williams being introduced for such a plot.
and any of their other family members!