The Royle Family

The Royle Family
The Royle Family title card
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Caroline Aherne Craig Cash
Written by	Caroline Aherne Craig Cash Henry Normal (1998) Carmel Morgan (1999) Phil Mealey (2006–present)
Directed by	Mark Mylod Steve Bendelack Caroline Aherne
Starring	Ricky Tomlinson Sue Johnston Caroline Aherne Ralf Little Craig Cash Liz Smith (1998–2006)
Opening theme	Oasis: "Half the World Away"
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of episodes	24 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer	Andy Harries
Producers	Glenn Wilhide (1998) Kenton Allen (1999–2000) John Rushton (2006–09)
Production locations	Wythenshawe, Manchester, England
Cinematography	Dick Dodd
Editor	Tony Cranstoun
Running time	30–60 mins
Production company	Granada Television
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	Original run: 14 September 1998 – 27 November 2000 Specials: 29 October 2006 – present

The Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards. It is about the lives of a television-fixated Manchester family, the Royles.

The series features simple production values and a stereotypical portrayal of state benefit dependent family life at the turn of the millennium. It therefore has something in common with kitchen sink drama. The scripts contain often banal conversations. Almost all of the episodes take place in the Royles' home; most centre on the telly-centric living room. The first series of the show was written by Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, who also acted in it, along with poet and comedian Henry Normal. In the second series Aherne and Cash were joined by Carmel Morgan, and finally the third series was written by Aherne and Cash alone.

The series reunited Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston who had previously played married couple Bobby and Sheila Grant in Brookside from 1982 until Tomlinson's departure in 1987 and Johnston's in 1990.

In a list of the 100 greatest British television programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000 and voted on by industry professionals, The Royle Family was placed 31st. In a 2004 poll to find Britain's best sitcom, The Royle Family was placed 19th out of 100 nominations.

Series

The series is set in the Greater Manchester area. Most episodes appear to take place in real time and all action takes place within the Royle's home. (The passage of time as indicated by the changing programmes on the Royles' TV sometimes suggests that the action has been compressed.)

Unlike most sitcoms the show is filmed in 16mm film using the single camera production style. (Most UK sitcoms are shot on videotape using the multiple camera production style.) This and the absence of an audience or a laugh track gives the show a look and feel different from usual sitcoms.

The one-off specials take a more traditional sitcom structure, though many scenes still run longer than standard in line with the 'real time' nature of the original series. The 2006 special episode "The Queen Of Sheba" was partly set in a hospital. Its narrative moves forward in time in a more typical manner. 2008's Christmas special, "The New Sofa", is set over two days. In it the characters spend Christmas Eve in Royle household in the traditional manner (in front of the television), followed by Christmas Day at Dave and Denise's. Much of the 2009 Christmas special takes place in a caravan at a holiday park. It also features intermediate scenes of Dave driving Twiggy's car there.

The show's theme tune is "Half the World Away" by Oasis, which can be found on the "Whatever" single, the B-side compilation The Masterplan and finally the "Greatest Hits" album titled Stop The Clocks.

Episodes

Main article: List of The Royle Family episodes

A total of 24 episodes of The Royle Family have been aired to date. The latest episode is entitled "Joe's Crackers" and was aired on 25 December 2010

Characters

From left to right, Ralf Little as Antony Royle, Liz Smith as Norma Speakman (Nana), Sue Johnston as Barbara Royle , Ricky Tomlinson as James "Jim" Royle, Caroline Aherne as Denise Best (née Royle), Craig Cash as Dave Best

• Ricky Tomlinson as James "Jim" Royle (Dad) (1998–2000, 2006, 2008–)

Sarcastic, uncouth and temperamental, Jim is a slob who spends his days in his armchair watching the television and doing as little as possible. Jim has a short temper, and regularly berates his family, in particular Antony and his mother-in-law Norma, when not berating celebrities on television. Jim's outbursts are often accompanied by his mocking catchphrase, "my arse!" He is also a miser and enjoys announcing his visits to the lavatory, though on occasions shows a more caring side, especially in moments when his family needs him. In later episodes, Jim is portrayed to be a more spiteful character.

• Sue Johnston as Barbara Royle (née Speakman) (Mam) (1998–2000, 2006, 2008–)

Hard-working Barbara lives for her family, though her caring nature is often exploited by her lazy husband and daughter, who let her do almost everything for them. Barbara worked part time at a bakery, and for a time was the only member of the family to have a job. The strain caused her to snap during series 2 and she stormed out. She is often forgetful and a little scatter-brained. She and Denise chain smoke. Johnston and Tomlinson previously played a married couple, Sheila and Bobby Grant, in Liverpool based soap Brookside.

• Caroline Aherne as Denise Best (née Royle) (1998–2000, 2006, 2008-)

The only daughter of Jim and Barbara, Denise is extremely lazy and self-centred. She married Dave in the first series, and they have two children, Little David and Norma, though she rarely parents her children, instead passing duties onto everyone else. Jim also used to tease her for only serving her husband rudimentary dinners such as dairylea on toast and spaghetti hoops. Denise is known for pulling right back on a ciggie. She and Barbara love smoking and often fill the ash tray.

• Ralf Little as Antony Royle (1998–2000, 2006, 2009-)

Antony is the son of Jim and Barbara, and generally treated as a dogsbody by the family, ordered to do menial tasks such as answering the door, making cups of tea and babysitting Dave and Denise's children. He is the only member of the family (other than Barbara) who actually does any work in the house or otherwise. He is often mocked by Jim and Denise and is surprised when in one episode Denise sticks up for him followed by Jim showing him a great deal of warmth. Although originally unemployed with little prospects (which was in some way surprising since he did a great amount of work for other members of the family), it was revealed in the 2006 special that Antony had gone on to become a successful businessman. He got engaged to Emma, and they had one son, Lewis, though in the 2009 special it was revealed he had a new girlfriend, Saskia.

• Craig Cash as Dave Best (1998–2000, 2006, 2008–)

Denise's boyfriend and later husband, Dave is dimwitted but well-meaning. He is the sole provider for his family, which consists of him, Denise and children Little David and Norma. Dave is laid back and easily browbeaten by his bossy wife, rarely complaining about her selfish habits. Dave does most of their parenting duties himself, including nappy changing and late night feeds. As the series have progressed he seems to have become more slow and dopey.

• Liz Smith as Norma Speakman (Nana) (1998–2000, 2006)

Barbara's demanding elderly mother. Norma regularly visited the family, much to the annoyance of Jim who regularly bickered with her. Norma regularly bored her family with useless information about her best friend Elsie, or things she had seen on television. She was also known for her ability to consume alcohol, despite her protestations about never drinking. She later moved in with the Royles when her health declined, and she died in the 2006 special at the age of 90.

• Jessica Hynes as Cheryl Carroll (1998–2000, 2006, 2009-)

The daughter of Joe and Mary, and the best friend of Denise who treats Cheryl almost as badly as she does her brother. Cheryl lives next door to the Royles, and constantly battles her weight, going from one unsuccessful diet to the next. Cheryl is portrayed as unlucky in love, and had a brief fling with Twiggy following a sequence of unsuccessful speed dates.

• Doreen Keogh as Mary Carroll (1998–2000, 2006)

Mary lives next door to the Royles with her husband Joe and daughter Cheryl. She hails from the Republic of Ireland, and is portrayed as a chatty busybody, in direct contrast to her husband. Although unseen in the 2009 special, The Golden Egg Cup, Mary is often referred to and is apparently now suffering from severe incontinence. In the 2010 special Joe's Crackers, it is revealed that Mary has passed away.

• Peter Martin as Joe Carroll (1998–2000, 2006, 2009-)

Joe is the husband of Mary and father of Cheryl. Joe is a man of very few words, a regular source of mocking by Jim and Antony, though after a few drinks generally became more social, and has on a couple of occasions proven to be a lovely singer, ironically. He also appears to be a lot more talkative and sociable in Mary's absence.

• Geoffrey Hughes as Twiggy (1998–2000, 2006, 2008)

Twiggy is a family friend of the Royles, and regularly visits, usually with rip-off materials or stolen goods to sell on. He has been in prison, and fathered at least two sons, and later dated Cheryl, though the relationship didn't last. Twiggy sees prison as a holiday and describes it as 'recharging the old batteries'. Twiggy's criminal tendencies become more serious as the series progresses, at first he sells knock-offs then in the New Sofa, he appears at Denise's house with spirit bottles he has stolen with optics still attached.

• Andrew Whyment as Darren Sinclair-Jones (1999–2000)

Darren is friends with Antony in series 2 and 3. Darren is portrayed to be slow, unintelligent and of an inarticulate demeanour. Darren often feigns laughter at Jim's jokes in an attempt to gain his approval. Like Twiggy, Darren is light-fingered and has been sacked from every job for stealing. His brothers are all in prison, his father is a drunk who never leaves the pub and his mother (when not in hospital with her failing health) lives with Darren in a house where the bailiffs have taken all the furniture.

• Sheridan Smith as Emma Kavanagh (1999–2000)

Emma is Antony's first girlfriend, first appearing in the series 2 finale, after being mentioned regularly throughout the series. Emma comes from a well-off background, but gets on well with the Royles. In the series 3 finale, Antony proposed and the couple revealed that Emma was pregnant. The 2000 Christmas special revolves around Emma's narcissistic parents Roger and Valerie meeting the Royles for the first time. In the 2006 special Emma is unseen, and it is revealed that she split up with Antony sometime after the birth of their son Lewis, though they remain in contact and share custody of their son.

• Joanne Froggatt as Saskia (2010-)

Saskia is the girlfriend of Antony in the later specials. She started dating Antony shortly before the 2006 special, but doesn't appear until the 2010 special. She is an A&E nurse and is heavily pregnant when she first appears. The Royles have a high level of interest in Saskia and have no respect for her privacy, regularly reading her diary and looking through her clothes. Antony proposed to Saskia on Christmas Day 2010, causing her to go into labor a month early.

1998–2000: Original Run

The first series ran on BBC Two in 1998, quickly gaining a following such that it was moved to BBC One for the second series in 1999, when it became even more popular. A Christmas special appeared in 1999, followed by a third series and another Christmas special in 2000.

After Aherne announced that she would not write or star in any more episodes, Ricky Tomlinson also pulled out to ensure the show's end. However, on 7 April 2006, the BBC announced that Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash were to write a script for a one-off special, which was broadcast on 29 October 2006. The episode received widespread critical acclaim, having been watched by over 8 million viewers.

Two volumes of scripts from the series have been published: The Royle Family The Scripts: Series 1 by Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, and Henry Normal. London: Granada Media/Andre Deutsch, 1999, and The Royle Family The Scripts: Series 2 by Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, and Carmel Morgan. London: Granada Media, 2000.

2006–Present: Return

The 2008 Christmas special, entitled "The New Sofa" was the first that took place mainly outside of the Royles' house. It began at the Royles', but moved to the Bests' house early on. Ralf Little did not appear in this episode, but his character is referenced. The hour-long special aired on Christmas Day 2008, and attracted 10.6 million viewers, making it the 5th most watched show on Christmas Day and the 5th most watched for the entire week ending 28 December 2008 )

The Royle Family returned as part of Comic Relief, on Friday 13 March 2009. It also marked the return of Ralf Little as Antony, who joined Dave, Denise, Jim and Barbara in the one-off mini episode.

Another Christmas special, 'The Golden Eggcup', was aired on 25 December 2009 at 9pm on BBC One and also in HD on the BBC HD channel. The episode was the most watched show on TV on Christmas Day and for the entire week ending 26 December 2009, attracting an audience of 11.74 million viewers and the highest rating episode of The Royle Family.

In November 2010 GOLD broadcast a two hour episode called "Behind The Sofa", with interviews from the cast and crew celebrating the show's return in 2006. Another show entitled "Royle Family Portraits" was aired on GOLD on Wednesday 17 November. The most recent episode, a Christmas special entitled "Joe's Crackers" was aired on 25 December 2010 on BBC One and BBC HD. The ratings for the BBC1 transmission were 11.29 million viewers, making it the fourth most watched programme of Christmas Day and the sixth most watched for the entire week ending December 26, 2010.

A Christmas special will air in 2011, Craig Cash has confirmed.

DVD releases

DVD Title		Disc #	Year	Ep. #	DVD release			Christmas Specials
					Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
	Complete Series 1	1	1998	6	16 January 2007	6 November 2000 & 15 May 2006	6 November 2006	—
	Complete Series 2	1	1999	7	15 January 2008	6 November 2000 & 15 May 2006	3 March 2007	1999
	Complete Series 3	1	2000	7	—	19 November 2001 & 15 May 2006	3 March 2007	2000
	The Queen of Sheba	1	2006	1	—	30 October 2006	—	—
	The New Sofa	1	2008	1	—	26 January 2009	—	—
	The Golden Eggcup	1	2009	1	—	25 January 2010	—	—
	Joe's Crackers	1	2010	1	—	31 January 2011	—	—
	The Very Best of…	1	1998 - 2000	8	—	25 November 2002	—	1999 & 2000
	Complete Series 1 - 3	3	1998 - 2000	20	—	15 May 2006	9 March 2008	1999 & 2000
	Complete Series 1 - 2006 special	4	1998 - 2006	21	—	1 September 2008	—	1999, 2000 & 2006
	Complete Series 1 - 2008 special	5	1998 - 2008	22	—	24 August 2009	—	1999, 2000, 2006 & 2008
	Complete Series 1 - 2009 special	7	1998 - 2009	23	—	16 August 2010	—	1999, 2000, 2006, 2008 & 2009

External links

• The Royle Family at BBC Online
• The Royle Family at BBC Online
• The Royle Family at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com