Neil Grainger

For the Hebburn special we join the Pearsons as they anticipate the arrival of Sarah (Kimbereley Nixon), Jack (Chris Ramsay) and their baby AJ as they're flying back from Switzerland. Unfortunately they fail to arrive back before the arrival of Sarah's parents and her grandmother Millie (Miriam Margolyes). The arrival of another old woman in a wheelchair means there's soon a showdown between Millie and Jack's grandmother Dot (Pat Dunn).

Upon arriving home it appears that both Jack and Sarah are enjoying their new life in Switzerland, but secretly they both confess that they hate being separated for so long. Elsewhere Gervaise (Neil Grainger) is soon trying to win back Vicki (Lisa McGrillis) and makes the ultimate gesture to her towards the end of the episode. Soon, Pauline (Gina McKee) finds herself celebrating a non-denominational winter festival when Sarah's Jewish parents are forced to stay after their car is stolen.

One of my most usual complaints about TV shows is that they drag on, but for me this special of Hebburn could've done with being about fifteen minutes longer. The fact that there was so much story to tell meant that some pivotal moments were lost in the shuffle among Joe's insistence that everyone wear hats and Margolyes and Dunn stealing the show as the warring grannies. Despite this, I still love Hebburn and think that this Christmas special was still incredibly funny with characters that I still care about. I hope that BBC2 do the right thing and give this superb sitcom a third series as it more than deserves one.

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