Click & Collect

12 Days of Christmas Specials 1: Click & Collect

Today's pick in the first day of our 12 Days of Christmas countdown, looking back at just some of the many comedy Christmas specials, is a fantastic little film that might just become a Christmas staple - it's Click And Collect starring Stephen Merchant and Asim Chaudhry, shown just last Christmas.

Stephen Merchant and Asim Chaudhry wallowed in our modern era's campery, as they sent up all the tat of Christmastime in Click And Collect (BBC1).

From the tacky plastic purple unicorn every little girl desired desperately in her stocking, to the blizzard of outdoor lights that could induce epilepsy in a snowman, all the most grating aspects of Yuletide were here.

Throughout most of the hour-long comedy, about two blokes driving across the country to buy the last purple unicorn in stock, Stephen was dressed as an elf. Asim had an illuminated jumper depicting Father Christmas in sunglasses with the slogan 'Banta Claus'.

Despite its cynicism, this wasn't a resentful romp. It even made this old grinch laugh.

It is Christmas Eve and Andrew Bennett (Stephen Merchant) thinks his daughter's yuletide dreams are about to be dashed because he hasn't managed to find the gift she really wants: Sparklehoof the Unicorn Princess. However, when his annoying neighbour Dev D'Cruz (Asim Chaudhry) bags the last one left online - by click and collect - the pair embark on a 300-mile quest to collect it. Andrew expects it to be an exhausting nightmare, whereas for lonely Dev, it is a chance to go on the best road trip of his life, in a comedy that is funny and tender.

This odd-couple road trip high-fives Christmas

Click & Collect offered proof that, in certain circumstances, it is possible to have your cake and eat it. It subjected Christmas to a testy satirical buffeting while also smothering it with reverence as an enfolding nationwide group hug.

Meet the Warrington TV writer behind Click and Collect

TV writer Joe Tucker, who grew up in Knutsford Road, always puts his ideas through the 'Warrington test' before he pitches them to commissioners.