Phil Mitchell was revealed to be Ian Beale's attacker in tonight's Christmas Day episode of EastEnders.

At the start of the episode, police arrested his son Peter Beale for the savage assault - but while he confessed to tormenting Ian for his own enjoyment, he denied being the one who had tried to kill him.

Later, in a shock twist at Denny's graveside, it emerged that Sharon had been aware of Ian's involvement in her son's death for some time as she played back Denny's frightened voicemail from the night of his drowning.

Her ex Phil then joined her at the grave, where she chastised him for not killing Ian sooner. "My son died locked in a room while that dirty great river swallowed him hole - and the man responsible, the man I have to pretend to like - love, even - is still alive," she said. "I want Ian dead... and I want it done today."

She added: "Ian should be dead by now, instead I'm married to him!"

Phil then set off to kill Ian, but when he arrived at the Vic, the sight of Ben gave him pause for thought.

Having not gone through with it, he later told Sharon: "He's still my son's brother - he's a father, a son. You're grieving Sharon, you ain't thinking straight. You should get help."

Sharon then vowed to get the job done herself and as Christmas night drew to a close, she served up a Christmas pudding laced with pills to an unsuspecting Ian.

EastEnders continues tomorrow at 8.45pm on BBC One.