Our take
A Boxing Day hangover of an episode, built around the show's most put-upon young husband and one very long night shut in the pub. It is a neat inversion of the usual set-up, with the old men coming to the rescue of the younger one, and a treasured Christmas present pressed into service. Short and silly. One of the four Christmas Specials DVD episodes.
What happens
Barry gets himself locked in the pub on Christmas night and makes the most of the experience, but afterwards he is too scared to go home. By Boxing Day he is in big trouble, and he turns for help to Compo, Clegg, Foggy and Wesley, leaving Glenda to reach her own conclusions about his behaviour. The question is whether Foggy's prized Christmas present can come to Barry's rescue.
Can the kids watch it?
Not rated by the BBFC as a separate episode; the story involves drinking, but it is gentle and fine for most families.
Cast and crew
Starring
- Bill Owen as Compo
- Peter Sallis as Clegg
- Brian Wilde as Foggy
- Kathy Staff as Nora Batty
- Mike Grady as Barry
- Sarah Thomas as Glenda
- Jean Fergusson as Marina
- Robert Fyfe as Howard
Guest stars
- Juliette Kaplan as Pearl
- Jane Freeman as Ivy
- Gordon Wharmby as Wesley Pegden
- Thora Hird as Edie Pegden
- Danny O'Dea as Eli Duckett
- Peter Diamond as Motorist
Writer
- Roy Clarke
Director
- Alan J. W. Bell