Our take
A romantic, grown-up Christmas special that finally gives the show's heroine a love story worth waiting for. Richard Armitage is well cast as the newcomer, and the book club and Alice's Da Vinci Code theory keep the comedy ticking. It topped the Christmas Day ratings in 2006, and it is easy to see why: it is warm, funny and properly romantic, and it sets up the finale a week later.
What happens
Geraldine starts a book club to bring some culture to the parish, which means Owen has to read an actual book. Alice reads The Da Vinci Code, follows its clues and concludes, alarmingly, that she is the last living descendant of Jesus Christ. Geraldine has a bigger grievance: another cottage in the village has been sold to a Londoner, and she is tired of wealthy weekenders hollowing out the community. She marches round to confront the newcomer, Harry Kennedy, and finds him charming, good-looking and, unlike almost everyone else she knows, entirely sane. The attraction is clearly mutual, and for once Geraldine lets herself hope she has found Mr Right. Then a glamorous blonde, Rosie, appears on his doorstep, and Geraldine has to work out who she is before she lets her heart run any further ahead.
Can the kids watch it?
Rated 12 on DVD for moderate sex references and language, so better for 12 and over.
Cast and crew
Starring
- Dawn French
- Gary Waldhorn
- James Fleet
- Emma Chambers
- John Bluthal
- Trevor Peacock
- Roger Lloyd-Pack
Guest stars
- Keeley Hawes
Writers
- Richard Curtis
- Paul Mayhew-Archer
Director
- Ed Bye