As another year of Shortland Street comes to a close, the official Shortland Street website brings you a sneak preview of the drama still to be played out on our screens.


We thought we'd go straight to the top and so we asked Shortland Street Producer Steven Zanoski for an insight into 2009's final weeks.

Keeping his cards close to his chest, he did let a few things slip.

"Recent years in Shortland Street have ignored the fact that it's Christmas; this year we're celebrating," Zanoski says. "As we push further towards Christmas, tensions, secrets and rivalries that have bubbled through the season push to the surface. It leads to an explosive end of year. Everything viewers know and expect is about to be shaken up."


Hmm, sounds intriguing!


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Meanwhile, the impossible romance between hospital receptionist Yvonne Jeffries (Alison Quigan) and ambulance officer Ben Goodall (Shaun Edwards-Brown) heats up again, when Ben and Yvonne decide to spend Christmas together in Adelaide.

The only problem is that Yvonne has to come up with a plausible excuse for missing the holiday season with her daughters and grand-son.

Backed into a corner, she is forced to admit that she is planning a romantic get-away, although she refuses to divulge who with.

But when her impossibly nosy daughters keep pushing, she comes up with a name from the past - Sammy Diamond, a cruise ship entertainer who she once had a fling with.

Thrilled that their mum is dipping her toes into the pool of love once more, the girls insist she tell them the full story - how come they're in touch again? What do their secret plans involve?

Sick of the lies and deception, it seems only a matter of time before Yvonne slips up. Or will a frustrated Ben reveal the truth to Tania before Yvonne gets a chance?

It seems inevitable that someone involved is going to get their heart broken. But who will it be?


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In early December Sarah Potts (Amanda Billing) welcomes husband TK Samuels (Ben Mitchell) home from his paediatric course, but it's not long before the issue of them not having children of their own rears its ugly head once more.

Despite TK's protestations that he doesn't want kids of his own, and that a life with Sarah is enough for him, Sarah can't help obsessing on what he is giving up for her.

Perfectly placed to witness the growing rift between them is temporary house guest, Brooke Freeman (Beth Allen).

Newly single after her split with hospital CEO Callum McKay (Peter Mochrie), Brooke subtly offers a sympathetic ear to TK.

But all the while, she's playing confidante to Sarah and encouraging her to follow her heart when it comes to TK.

Not recognising that Brooke is the cuckoo in the nest, can TK and Sarah's solid relationship really be rent apart?

Or is Brooke's deviousness destined to be uncovered once and for all?


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Rachel McKenna (Angela Bloomfield) has certainly injected new energy into Shortland Street hospital recently.

Since her unexpected appointment as DHB auditor, she's left many staff quaking in their shoes with her brusque and direct manner.

But her agenda is more personal - we have learned that her sole motivation to take the job is to get close to old flame Chris Warner (Michael Galvin).

And she's on a one-woman, take-no-prisoners mission to win him back!

Being steamrolled by Rachel is something Chris has taken in his stride so far, but when she blatantly confesses her intentions, Chris takes action.

Calling in the cavalry, he makes contact with Rachel's estranged husband Jeremy.

Feeling betrayed by Chris and appalled that Jeremy dares to cajole her back to Wellington, alcoholic Rachel hits the bottle with dire consequences.

Fuelled by booze, Rachel lashes out and her revelations will shock everyone!


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Another Shortland Streeter in the hot seat this month is bar-owner Kieran Mitchell (Adam Rickitt).

Over the

Rachel McKenna (Angela Bloomfield) receives an unwanted visitor on Shortland Street when her plan to get closer to Chris Warner (Michael Galvin) backfires.

When Chris determines to disentangle himself from Rachel, he decides to get in contact with her estranged husband Jeremy (Eryn Wilson).

Intent on winning Dr Warner back, Rachel does everything within her power to spend time with him.

But when Chris' girlfriend Gabrielle (Virginie Le Brun) expresses her unease about the situation, Chris determines to rid himself of Rachel for good.

Using a dinner date as a ruse, Chris surprises Rachel when he brings Jeremy with him.


"Rachel really thought that she was making progress with Chris, so she's gutted to realise that Chris has palmed her off on Jeremy," says Bloomfield. "Refusing to believe that anyone other than Chris can help her, she orders him back to Wellington."


But still in love with Rachel, Jeremy asserts to her that he is going nowhere until she accepts his offer of help.

Giving her an incredibly moving plea, Jeremy asserts that he will do anything to have her back.


"Rachel still has her sights set on Chris, and she tells him so," says Bloomfield. "I think she has utterly convinced herself that he is the only man that can save her from her demons and nothing he or anyone does can dissuade her from her plans."


Distraught, that her dream to be with Dr Warner again may not come true, Rachel succumbs to her alcoholism and drowns her sorrows.

Completely intoxicated and out of control, Rachel shocks all when she lets her tongue slip in front of everyone.


"Rachel feels really hurt, so her instant reaction is to hurt others," says Bloomfield. "What she announces truly shocks everyone in the room."


How will Chris and Jeremy react to Rachel's surprising information?

Yvonne Jeffries (Alison Quigan) and Ben Goodall (Shaun Edwards-Brown) try their best to put their feelings for each other aside on Shortland Street this week, when they realise just how much Yvonne stands to lose.

But will this unlikely pair be able to walk away from each other?

When Yvonne learns that her daughter Tania (Faye Smythe) is still hurting from her breakup with Ben, she can't help but blame herself for Tania's unhappiness.

Filled with guilt, Yvonne comprehends how heartbroken Tania would be if she knew the truth - that she and Ben are now on the verge of a relationship.

When Yvonne bumps into Ben at the hospital, she is unsettled that things are so tense between them. But when he encourages her to be true to her feelings, she reiterates that she can't.

"Yvonne hates the way things are between her and Ben, but she can't see any way around it," says Quigan. "Family is the most important thing in Yvonne's life, so she would hate to jeopardise that."

Sick and tired of the frustrating situation, Ben decides to take the matter into his own hands and tell Tania himself.

"Ben chats to Tania with the intention to tell her how he truly feels. But when Tania reveals how much she relies on her close relationship with her mum, he chickens out," says Quigan. "Realising that he can't be truthful either, he worries how to move forward."

Will Yvonne and Ben be able to move on from their deep feelings? Keep watching Shortland Street to find out.