The Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff: Christmas Special

TV sitcom
BBC Two
2011 - 2012
4 episodes (1 series)

Ridiculous Dickensian adventure from the writer and producer of Radio 4's hit sitcom Bleak Expectations. Stars Robert Webb, Katherine Parkinson, Tim McInnerny, Sarah Hadland, Kevin Eldon and more.

Like this

Christmas Special

The Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff. Image shows from L to R: Malifax Skulkingworm (Stephen Fry), Victoria Secret-Past (Ambra Lily Keegan), Maggoty (Pauline McLynn), Conceptiva Secret-Past (Katherine Parkinson), Jedrington Secret-Past (Robert Webb), Victor Secret-Past (Finlay Christie), Jolliforth Jollington (David Mitchell). Copyright: BBC

Jedrington's family is incarcerated by evil lawyer Skulkingworm in London's infamous prison The Skint, until they can repay a mysterious and vast debt. Will Jedrington rescue his family in time for Christmas or lose them forever? And is there more to the name Secret-Past than meets the eye?

Preview clips

Broadcast details

Date: Monday 19^th December 2011
Time: 8:30pm
Channel: BBC Two
Length: 60 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Robert Webb	Jedrington Secret-Past
Katherine Parkinson	Conceptiva Secret-Past
Ambra Lily Keegan	Victoria Secret-Past
Finlay Christie	Victor Secret-Past
David Mitchell	Jolliforth Jollington

Guest cast
Pauline McLynn	Maggoty
Johnny Vegas	The Artful Codger
Celia Imrie	Miss Christmasham
Joshua McGuire	Fearshiver
Stephen Fry	Malifax Skulkingworm
Sidney Johnston	Urchin
Terrence Hardiman	Martin Christmasham
Richard Johnson	Uncle Writes Prompt Thank You Cards
Una Stubbs	Aunt Good Spelling
Judy Parfitt	Aunt Chastity
Phyllida Law	Aunt Sobriety
Calum MacPherson	Lumbering Geoff
Jude Wright	Archie
Ellie Hopkins	Urchin
Lee Simmonds	Urchin
Bailey Pepper	Urchin
Hector McCormick	Date-And-Time Boy
Colin Hoult	Customer
Joanna Neary	Lady Spendlots
Mark Evans	The Vicar of St. Weddings
Abigail Burdess	Skulkingworm's Mother
Dominic Coleman	Policeman
Dave Lamb	Ghost of Christmas Past
Gus Brown	Well To Do Man
Freddie Rogers	Young Skulkingworm
Aimee Parkes	Young Miss Christmasham

Writing team
Mark Evans	Writer

Production team
Ben Gosling Fuller	Director
Gareth Edwards	Producer
Mark Freeland	Executive Producer
Ben Blaine	Editor
Chris Blaine	Editor
Dennis De Groot	Production Designer
Grant Olding	Composer

Videos

Poison Port

Malifax Skulkingworm concludes his business with Jedrington Secret-Past over a lovely a glass of poison port.

Featuring: Stephen Fry (Malifax Skulkingworm), Joshua McGuire (Fearshiver) & Robert Webb (Jedrington Secret-Past).

The Skint

Mister Jolliforth Jollington offers to show the Secret-Past family around The Skint prison...

Featuring: Finlay Christie (Victor Secret-Past), Ambra Lily Keegan (Victoria Secret-Past), David Mitchell (Jolliforth Jollington) & Katherine Parkinson (Conceptiva Secret-Past).

The Secret-Past Family Christmas

Jedrington Secret-Past and his family look forward to a traditional Victorian Christmas.

Featuring: Finlay Christie (Victor Secret-Past), Ambra Lily Keegan (Victoria Secret-Past), Katherine Parkinson (Conceptiva Secret-Past) & Robert Webb (Jedrington Secret-Past).

'The Making Of' Red Button Extra

From the Red Button, a behind the scenes look at The Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff which reveals how the programme is part of a unique experiment. It is apparently the first television programme in over one hundred and seventeen years to be made using traditional Victorian television making techniques.

Featuring: Finlay Christie (Victor Secret-Past), Stephen Fry (Malifax Skulkingworm), Ambra Lily Keegan (Victoria Secret-Past), David Mitchell (Jolliforth Jollington), Katherine Parkinson (Conceptiva Secret-Past), Robert Webb (Jedrington Secret-Past), Calum MacPherson (Lumbering Geoff), Gareth Edwards & Mark Evans.

Press

12 Days of Christmas Specials 3: The Bleak Old Shop Of Stuff

This all star Christmas special was a spin off of Radio 4 favourite, Bleak Expectations and it's a show that you need to add to your Christmas watch list!

Rhianna Evans, The Comedy Blog, 16th December 2019

Episode menu