Christmas Specials

[David Brent]

Over the years there have been many Christmas Specials made for British Television.

Some of my favourites include Men Behaving Badly, Vicar Of Dibley (first one), The Office, Porridge, Steptoe & Son, Till Death Us Do Part, League Of Gentlemen, Only Fools And Horses and Morcambe and Wise.

I'm sure there are many Christmas Specials that member's of this forum have kept and replay faithfully every festive season.

What are your favourite British television Christmas Specials, drama or comedy, past or present? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/newyear.gif[/img]



Dave.

[Bobj]

Can't believe I'm the first to reply to this.



As a youngster always looked forward to Christmas telly. As was the case for for many Morecambe & Wise was always the highlight but there have been some great Christmas Specials down the years. Caught a couple of them this last Christmas on the satelite channels. The Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads special culminating with the fancy dress party was a treat as was the Rising Damp special featuring a not very festive Rigsby.

The Carry on Christmas specials were an opportunity to see the carry on stars on TV. I'll always remember Sid James as Santa with Babs Windsor on his knee.

I think there was also something which I believe was called Christmas Night with the Stars which featured an array of talent either singing or involved in comedy sketches.

[Harbottle]

Missed this thread too, some great choices already. Quite often though the Xmas "special" editions of comedy shows were often below par. Porridge usually kept up the standard and I remember the Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads special was a good one too. The Stanley Baxter seasonal specials were nearly always excellent, I recommend the recent DVD. We never really saw enough of Stanley Baxter a terrific talent I always thought.

[sadistic]

the two ronnies spring to mind always waited with some joy for the christmas special.

also enjoyed the terry and june,steptoe and son and the early only fools and horses christmas episodes.

[lawrence710654]

One Foot in the Grave, did a special called One Foot in the Algarve, cant quite remember whether it was at Christmas though, perhaps someone out there can remember, it was a classic with the late and great Peter Cook stealing the show.

[lawrence710654]

Are You Being Served has just sprung to mind with the flashing santa and a much younger Pauline Fowler or Wendy Richards, she had the best pair of pins on telly at that time.

[Dai Bando]

As we've probably only got a month or so before the shops start putting up their decorations I thought it might be nice to get into the festive spirit.



We've seen Only Fools and Horses, Vicar of Dibley and last year to the Manor Born revived for a Christmas special, what other sitcoms would you like to see revived for a one off to help us through Christmas day.



I'd like to see Red Dwarf, The Good life and Fawlty towers. Maybe ITV could get in on the action too.



Ho, Ho, Ho.

[lupinpooter]

Alan Partridge please!

[batman]

name='lupinpooter']Alan Partridge please!

Indeed ..... failing that Saxondale.

[winsfordtown]

Apparently their will be a Royle Family Christmas Special. Welcome to the wonderful world deminishing returns.

[jaycad]

name='lupinpooter']Alan Partridge please!

i 'third' that! remember the only xmas alan partridge with alan replying to the tv transvestite tv cooks double entendres ''I AM NOT AROUSED'' ha ha ha

[bhowells]

I think I would like to see some vintage ITV shows, I know they are on DVD and some are shown on some of the Sky channels like Granada Men and Motors and ITV 3.



Please Sir, Doctor In The House, Father Dear Father, all the Ronnie Barker and Corbett shows from LWT, Arthur Haynes, Sez Les.



On BBC along with Morecambe and Wise a side order of Mike Yarwood and maybe Christmas Night With The Stars I know there is one in the archives from 1964, with a Likely Lads segement.



Also some Val Doonican yuletide specials and those Perry Como specials would go all around the world to spend Chirstmas in very cold countries.



In memory of a friend of ours who passed away earlier this year,aged 46 repeats of Russell Hartys specials recorded in his own home. I think my mate thought Russell was a little naff like us all but he liked all the cosiness of Russells mates especially people like Thelma Barlow and Barbara Knox from Corrie dropping in.

[Dai Bando]

Here another revive The Young Ones for a Christmas one off, should be interesting especially as now they are the Older Ones.



I think it might be difficult to revive some of my favourite ITV comedies as most of the original actors/actresses are probably no longer with us.

[jch]

I would like to see "Keeping Up Appearances" revived again for a Christmas special. One of the best comedies from the 90's.

[James Fox]

name='lupinpooter']Alan Partridge please!

Absolutely!



Also if Michael Williams was still alive would have loved to have seen a Christmas special for "A Fine Romance." Watched that entire series a few months ago and thought it was really charming.

[Dai Bando]

name='jch']I would like to see "Keeping Up Appearances" revived again for a Christmas special. One of the best comedies from the 90's.

I forgot about this one, it would be great.

[batman]

name='James Fox']Absolutely!



Also if Michael Williams was still alive would have loved to have seen a Christmas special for "A Fine Romance." Watched that entire series a few months ago and thought it was really charming.

MW was also superb as Dr Watson in the Sherlock Holmes radio series with Clive Merrison. IIRC they are the only two actors to have performed the entire Doyle canon.



A new production of a Holmes mystery would be a Xmas treat for me and other Holmes fans.

[James Fox]

name='batman']MW was also superb as Dr Watson in the Sherlock Holmes radio series with Clive Merrison. IIRC they are the only two actors to have performed the entire Doyle canon.

Thanks! I will check that out.



Williams was so funny in "Romance." (At several points you can see Judi Dench pissing herself with laughter.) I'd only seen him in a few film roles--"Educating Rita," "Henry V," etc. Wish I could have seen him on stage back in the day.

[EHV_Emmetts]

name='lupinpooter']Alan Partridge please!

There is a rumour circulating that there is going to be an Alan Partridge movie.

[EHV_Emmetts]

name='jaycad']i 'third' that! remember the only xmas alan partridge with alan replying to the tv transvestite tv cooks double entendres ''I AM NOT AROUSED'' ha ha ha

Also, when the transvestite cook says "her" fifth double entendres Partridge says "It's getting very tiresome now".