Our take
A return nobody expected after the death of co-creator Simon Carlyle, and a warm, faithful one. It changes nothing, which is the point: one living room, the doorbell going, and a row about Christmas songs doing the work. It is lighter and slighter than the best specials, cutting away just as it threatens to explode, but seeing the whole street back together carries a real charge.
What happens
It is late November, and Eric and Beth have found the Christmas tree while clearing out the loft and decided to put it up early. They see no reason for fuss, but they unwittingly kick off the season on their street, and one by one the neighbours arrive to ask what they are playing at: Christine first, then Colin and Cathy, Michelle and Alan, and Ian and Gordon. Christine will not stop talking about her coming trip to Ireland to meet her long-lost family. Colin and Cathy are each pondering the perfect present for the other, Ian and Gordon are planning a quieter, scaled-back Christmas, and Alan and Michelle are wrestling with transport problems that threaten their festive plans, with Michelle's pregnancy and Gordon's new life as a mature student also up for discussion. A row over the best Christmas song turns sour when Gordon gives his views on Band Aid and the Pogues, Cathy loses what is left of her civility, and the gathering builds towards chaos just as the credits roll.
Can the kids watch it?
Rated 15 by the BBFC for strong language, so it is for older teenagers and adults.