Our take
A Boxing Day opener that piles on the seasonal set-ups: a disguise, a reluctant customer who wants no part of Christmas, and a street choir with a grudge. It is broad, gentle and built for a family sitting together after the big day. The marriage-guidance plot is a neat fit for the guest stars, and the carol rivalry with the next street is the episode's best running joke.
What happens
Granville and Gastric find themselves playing marriage counsellors, while Leroy adopts a festive disguise to dodge relationship trouble of a different kind. Mrs Featherstone is struggling to find any Christmas spirit at all. Kath, meanwhile, is trying to bring the whole street together as one harmonious choir of carol singers, determined to beat their rivals from a neighbouring street once and for all. The question is whether the ever-scheming grocer has a trick up his sleeve to help the carollers out.
Can the kids watch it?
Rated PG by the BBFC for mild innuendo; fine for most families.
Cast and crew
Starring
- David Jason as Granville
- James Baxter as Leroy
- Stephanie Cole as Mrs Featherstone
- Maggie Ollerenshaw as Mavis
- Brigit Forsyth as Madge
- Johnny Vegas as Wet Eric
- Kulvinder Ghir as Cyril
- Tim Healy as Gastric
Guest stars
- Sally Lindsay as Kath
- Nina Wadia as Mrs Hussein
- Geoffrey Whitehead as Mr Newbold
- David Cann as Cliff Bridges
- Janine Duvitski as Elsie Bridges
Writer
- Roy Clarke
Director
- Dewi Humphreys