Boomers
- TV sitcom
- BBC One
- 2014 - 2016
- 13 episodes (2 series)
Comedy about a trio of newly-retired couples in Norfolk, rediscovering the joys of having free time to spend. Stars Alison Steadman, Philip Jackson, Russ Abbot, Stephanie Beacham, James Smith and more.
Streaming rank this week: 1,049
Episode menu
Christmas Special - Christmas
Further details
It's Christmas Eve, and the three couples have reached the Eurotunnel in Calais, returning from a long weekend visiting the Christmas markets in Cologne. Everyone is laden with gifts - a gingerbread house for the grandchildren, rude novelty Santas for the boys at the golf club and plenty of duty-free wine.
Disaster strikes when they realise they have read the departure times wrong on their tickets and have missed their train. There is only one more before the French strike for the holiday season, which would be fine, except Alan got his and Joyce's tickets on a voucher deal online and they are not flexible.
While they wait to see if they can switch tickets, John and Alan have their preconceptions about Germans challenged by striking up unlikely alliances in the departure hall. Meanwhile, Carol goes AWOL, and Joyce and Maureen have to track her down.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Wednesday 23rd December 2015
- Time
- 9:30pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
| Alison Steadman | Joyce |
| Philip Jackson | Alan |
| Russ Abbot | John |
| Stephanie Beacham | Maureen |
| James Smith | Trevor |
| Paula Wilcox | Carol |
| Fiona Mollison | German Maureen |
| Stephen Frost | German John |
| Rob Jarvis | Lorry Driver |
| Kate Bowes Renna | Customs Officer |
| Mark Flitton | Security Guard |
| Laila Alj | Laure |
| Richard Pinto | Writer |
| Sarah Cartwright | Script Editor |
| Oriane Messina | Writer (Additional Material) |
| Fay Rusling | Writer (Additional Material) |
| Adam Miller | Director |
| Paul Schlesinger | Producer |
| Jimmy Mulville | Executive Producer |
| Gregor Sharp | Executive Producer |
| Mark Williams | Editor |
| Jonathan Paul Green | Production Designer |
| Ian Masterson | Composer |
Videos
The Dangers Of Calais
Whilst Joyce is a little stuck, the ladies discuss the dangers of travelling through Calais.
Featuring: Alison Steadman (Joyce), Stephanie Beacham (Maureen) & Paula Wilcox (Carol).
Carol On The Run
The ladies are looking for Carol, who's had a funny turn and is seemingly on the run from Trevor and a boring Christmas.
Featuring: Alison Steadman (Joyce), Stephanie Beacham (Maureen) & Paula Wilcox (Carol).
Press
The wry sitcom about three couples entering their winter years returns with an episode set in Calais following a shopping trip to Cologne's Christmas markets. The French are about to go on strike, making it imperative to catch the train. Disaster hits, creating space for one-liners from The Big Book of Sitcom Jokes - a lorry driver on why one of the show's leads should drive away with him: "I've been to Norfolk, she's better off in Dresden" - and a good football-with-the-Germans-in-no-man's land gag.
Jonathan Wright, The Guardian, 23rd December 2015Boomers, TV review
This "special" sitcom was farcical for farce's sake and unbearable to watch, says Amy Burns.
Amy Burns, The Independent, 23rd December 2015Boomers Christmas Special, BBC One, review
Sometimes the point of Christmas telly is to bond with family. But sometimes the point of Christmas telly is to escape them. So surely the last thing anyone spending their festive break with middle-aged relatives wanted to watch was the Boomers Christmas Special (BBC One)?
Isabel Mohan, The Telegraph, 23rd December 2015Radio Times review
If you enjoyed BBC Four's series about retired folk in Dorset, Close to the Edge, here's the sitcom equivalent. The idea is that three 60-something couples (including Alison Steadman as uptight Joyce) are striding into retirement, keeping creaking marriages afloat and leaning on old friendships - the working title was "Grey Mates".
We rejoin them at the Calais Eurotunnel terminal, returning from a trip to a Christmas market. There are surly asides about Germans, gingerbread and saucy Santa toys, while Alan (Philip Jackson) wrestles with a voice-recognition phone line: "Didn't understand me, wouldn't let me finish," he sighs. "It's the computerised ticket line version of Joyce."
David Butcher, Radio Times, 16th December 2015