The Royle Family - BBC1 Sitcom - British Comedy Guide

TV sitcom
BBC One / BBC Two
1998 - 2012
25 episodes (3 series)

The Royles are a family of couch potatoes who watch television in their dirty living room whilst chatting, arguing, and drinking copious amounts of tea and alcohol. Stars Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Caroline Aherne, Ralf Little, Craig Cash and more.

Series 2, Christmas Special repeated tomorrow at 9:25pm on U&Gold
Streaming rank this week: 139

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The Royle Family. Image shows from L to R: Dave Best (Craig Cash), Antony Royle (Ralf Little), Denise Royle / Best (Caroline Aherne), Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson), Barbara Royle (Sue Johnston), Norma Speakman (Liz Smith). Copyright: Granada Productions / Jellylegs

Genre

Sitcom

Broadcast

1998 - 2012

Channels

BBC One, BBC Two

Episodes

25 (3 series), plus 2 charity shorts

Stars

Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Caroline Aherne, Ralf Little, Craig Cash, Jessica Hynes, Liz Smith and Andrew Whyment

Writers

Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, Henry Normal, Carmel Morgan and Ricky Tomlinson

Directors

Mark Mylod, Steve Bendelack and Caroline Aherne

Producers

Glenn Wilhide, Kenton Allen and Andy Harries

Companies

The Royle Family is the tale of a painfully average - if not somewhat slobbish - working class family living in the north west of England.

Head of the family, and with TV remote at his side, is Jim. He belches, farts, scratches his arse, and is often heard updating the family on the status of his bowels. Then there's Barbara, Jim's long-suffering, dutiful wife. She cooks and cleans with negligible effect, and when not in the kitchen is more than likely to be found slobbing it out in front of the telly with Jim.

Their youngest child, Antony, is constantly referred to as a 'lazy streak of piss' by his father, but in actual fact is hardest working of the family, and certainly displays more aptitude than everyone else put together - although he's still no major bright spark.

The clan is rounded off by Nana, Barbara's slightly dotty mother; Denise, and her husband Dave. Whilst Dave does show an inkling of normality at times, neither he nor Denise have a spare braincell between them - not that that stops the peroxide blonde's ability to manipulate and shirk any and all responsibility, even with her own child!

Throw in a light sprinkling of neighbours, girlfriends, extended relations, casual acquaintances, and the formidable but unseen Beverley Macca, and the very special Royle brew is complete.