I'm just watching the xmas special now and Mary is 'appearing' as an urn. It made me wonder, has Doreen Keogh passed away in reality? I've tried googling but not found anything recent about her although if she has or is ill I understand they may be protecting her privacy.

I'm not sure, although my Dad said when we were watching it he thinks she's died. :(

 

Onto the episode, I thought it was the best of the recent christmas specials which have often been a bit poor.

This confirmed last night that the show has "jumped the shark". The further the "mary's in the urn" joke, the worse the episode i got. This show has really gone down hill ever since it came back. The last three specials have been childish. Awful writing. Caroline Ahern has ruined her own show along with whoever else writes it with her. How can talented actors like Ricky and Sue read an awful script and agree to even film it.

 

Such a shame.

 

 

Couldn't disagree more - I thought last night was HILARIOUS, it had me in stitches.

Couldn't disagree more - I thought last night was HILARIOUS, it had me in stitches.

 

It was the best one since Nana died for sure. One of the better episodes all in all as well I think. Couldn't hear what was going on in it for most of it as I was laughing so much.

After being thoroughly disappointed with the last 'special' of this ... we gave last night's a miss. If I'm honest ... I didn't even think the one before that was all that good (The New Sofa). Shame ... as I love Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson (and these two never fail to entertain) ... but Denise just gets on my nerves. Surely no parent could forgive / overlook someone so thoroughly lazy, useless, clingy and needy as she is.

 

Kath

Edited December 26, 201014 yr by Kathyp

I think Sue and Ricky do it for 2 main reasons. For Caroline, who must be a very close friend of theirs. And for the money which is bascially their pension fund now! Shame there was no Twiggy, but Geoffrey Hughes is seriously ill with cancer. :-(

BTW is there another episode or series on the way, cos they finished on a cliffhanger with Sakia getting contractions.

And is it me or are they trying to style and dress Dave a lot younger than Craig really is now, or is that one of the jokes?

After being thoroughly disappointed with the last 'special' of this ... we gave last night's a miss. If I'm honest ... I didn't even think the one before that was all that good (The New Sofa). Shame ... as I love Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson (and these two never fail to entertain) ... but Denise just gets on my nerves. Surely no parent could forgive / overlook someone so thoroughly lazy, useless, clingy and needy as she is.

 

Kath

 

Trust me :lol: this one was a major improvement.

I think Sue and Ricky do it for 2 main reasons. For Caroline, who must be a very close friend of theirs. And for the money which is bascially their pension fund now! Shame there was no Twiggy, but Geoffrey Hughes is seriously ill with cancer. :-(

BTW is there another episode or series on the way, cos they finished on a cliffhanger with Sakia getting contractions.

And is it me or are they trying to style and dress Dave a lot younger than Craig really is now, or is that one of the jokes?

To me they were plugging the whole "2 Royal/le weddings, in ONE year lmfao etc..." quite a bit, like they were planning on doing a special for their wedding and we'll get to see the baby etc.

 

Back to last nights episode, I thought it was brilliant. I really loved it and thought it got back on form. The line that had me in stitches the most was...

 

"Denise missed Baby David's nativity play this year, as she was waiting for the DNA results, on Jeremy Kyle" LOL :wub:

I didn't think this was up to much this year tbh. Joe was completely out of character. I mean he never used to say a word before, now you can't shut him up :wacko:

None of the specials have been upto scratch imo, just too over-acted. The Queen of Sheba worked because it was so emotional. As a HUGE fan of the show, i still look forward to the episodes, it's just such a shame they're all dire! In hindsight, i would have preferred to keep my memories from the magnificent original series.

 

Mary's absense is a real shame, as without her Joe is just unbearable, not even in a comical way. Surely if Doreen Keogh had passed away in real life they would have paid tribute to her in the end credits?

Craig Cash has confirmed to Digital Spy that there will be another Royle Family special later this year.

 

Cash, who writes and stars in the BBC One comedy with Caroline Aherne, said that the sitcom will be back for another festive one-off.

 

"We're going to do another episode at Christmas. We think that the characters still have lots of mileage. They are very popular. And my wife wants a new kitchen," he said.

 

When asked whether they would ever consider writing another full series, he added: "It takes it out of you doing six weeks. And then there's the time it takes to write and edit. I think the public like it as a one-off at Christmas and it seems to work.

 

"But who knows, we may do a series one time... again."

 

Recent Royle Family specials 'The New Sofa', 'The Golden Eggcup' and 'Joe's Crackers' have been ratings hits.

 

Cash and fellow Royle Family star Ralf Little recently reunited for new Sky1 comedy series The Cafe, which will air in the autumn.

Recent Royle Family specials 'The New Sofa', 'The Golden Eggcup' and 'Joe's Crackers' have been ratings hits.

 

I thought 'The New Sofa' was pretty good (and great to see the superb Tom Courtney in a fairly rare TV comedy appearance). However 'The Golden Eggcup' really put me off - I thought it was total and utter pants and because it was so bad I made a point of missing 'Joe's Crackers'. I regret that decision now though as everyone I know who watched it said it was The Royle Family back to its best.

 

Having said that, I think I prefer Cash's other comedy gem - Early Doors - and wish he'd made more series of this than just the two.

 

Kath

Joe's Crackers was amazing compared to The New Sofa I loved it :wub:

I thought 'The New Sofa' was pretty good (and great to see the superb Tom Courtney in a fairly rare TV comedy appearance). However 'The Golden Eggcup' really put me off - I thought it was total and utter pants and because it was so bad I made a point of missing 'Joe's Crackers'. I regret that decision now though as everyone I know who watched it said it was The Royle Family back to its best.

 

Having said that, I think I prefer Cash's other comedy gem - Early Doors - and wish he'd made more series of this than just the two.

 

Kath

Early Doors was brilliant. It seems that not many people remember it :(

 

I loved their little in-joke at the start of series 2 when James McAvoy left.

Early Doors is brilliant, I have them both on DVD and have watched them rather a lot! :D

 

I shall watch this years as I thought the last one was better than the previous couple.

I loved 'The New Sofa' episode mainly due to Dave's mum and dad, I watched it on youtube again the other week actually.

 

They ruined Dave and Denise in that episode though, turning them into complete simpletons. They were always a bit thick but never THAT thick!