Our take
A road-trip farce that gets the couple out of the house and keeps piling on the obstacles, from a stolen wallet to a bull and a frightening lorry driver. It is a shaggy-dog story in the best sense, with a soundtrack of Christmas pop standards, and the home-front scenes with the grandparents and Frank give it the family warmth the later specials rely on.
What happens
On Christmas Eve, Lee and Lucy pop out on a last-minute mission for the kids, a giant inflatable Santa, leaving Lucy's mum Wendy to mind the children and her father Geoffrey being more of a strict and stuffy Victorian gent than usual. They regret leaving the Christmas shopping so late when Lucy's wallet and mobile phone are stolen from a department store. Lee wants revenge, and in pursuit of the thief the couple are led further and further from home and deep into the countryside, where an aggressive bull in a field and a terrifying lorry driver lie in wait, with a cargo ship somewhere along the way. Meanwhile, back at the house, Lee's feckless father Frank turns up to offer gifts and his own unique festive flavour.
Can the kids watch it?
No BBFC rating was found; it went out after the 9pm watershed with the show's usual innuendo, so it best suits teenagers and adults.
Cast and crew
Starring
- Lee Mack as Lee
- Sally Bretton as Lucy
- Geoffrey Whitehead as Geoffrey
- Deborah Grant as Wendy
- Bobby Ball as Frank
Guest stars
- Christopher Sciueref as Lorry Driver
- Danny-Boy Hatchard as Thief
- Jamie Kenna as Police Officer
Writer
- Lee Mack
Director
- Nick Wood