The Royle Family

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The Royle Family
The Royle family: (l-r) back - Anthony, Barbara, Dave, front - Nana, Jim, Denise
Genre	Comedy
Running time	28 min (18 episodes) / 45 min (2 episodes) / 60 min (2006 special)
Creator(s)	Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash
Starring	Ricky Tomlinson Sue Johnston Caroline Aherne Ralf Little Craig Cash Liz Smith
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original channel	BBC
Original run	1998–2000, 2006
No. of episodes	21
IMDb profile

The Royle Family is a popular television situation comedy (sitcom) by the BBC which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000 with a special episode in late 2006. It concerned the lives of a working class Manchester family, the Royles.

The series was remarkable for its simple production and realistic portrayal of working class family life at the turn of the Millennium. The scripts contain often banal conversations but episodes commonly revolves around a family occasion such as the marriage of the family's daughter Denise, the birth of her first child, and the child's christening. All the episodes take place in the rather cramped family home. The show was written by Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, who also acted in it, along with poet and comedian Henry Normal, who left after the first series. It was produced by Granada Television for the BBC.

In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, and voted on by industry professionals, The Royle Family was placed 31st. In a 2004 poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom, The Royle Family was placed 19th out of 100 nominations.

It returned with most of the original cast for an hour long special on 29 October 2006.^[1] The episode was entitled The Royle Family: The Queen Of Sheba.

1 Description
2 Series
3 Characters
4 Miscellany
5 DVD Releases
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Description

The show is a comic and poignant satire of family life in the Manchester area or perhaps Britain as a whole. It is most commonly supposed that the series is set in the Manchester suburb of Wythenshawe, where creator Caroline Aherne was raised. In one episode, Dave Best (Craig Cash) asks Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson) "did you see County the other day?". This is in reference to Stockport County. It is often assumed that the programme may be set in the Heaton Norris area of Stockport 8 miles south of Manchester, birthplace of co-creator Craig Cash.

The family rarely do anything other than watch television, banter and occasionally eat, smoke and drink. It could be called a modern comedy of manners. Every episode takes place in the family home, in the living room and/or kitchen. Most episodes lack a plot but most have a theme or at least a topic of discussion to hold it together. The show lacks set piece jokes. Many of the humorous situations involve awkwardness, badly told jokes, crassness (usually on Jim's part), irony and the fact that the Royle family on the television often reflect the lives of the families watching it. In this it has similarities to the docu-comedy format.

Although it is sometimes claimed that the series has no jokes, there are in fact many one-liners but these are spoken casually by the characters and not signposted like jokes in a regular sitcom. There is no laugh track.

[edit] Series

The first series ran on BBC2 in 1998, quickly gaining a cult following and was moved to BBC1 for the second series in 1999, when it became even more popular. A Christmas special appeared in 1999, followed by a third series and another Christmas special in 2000. This episode was the last when Caroline Aherne decided to move to Australia to escape the press, after a bout of depression and a suicide attempt. After Aherne announced that she would not write or star in any more episodes, Ricky Tomlinson also pulled out to ensure the show's end. However, on April 7, 2006, the BBC announced that Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash were to write a script for a special which was broadcast in the UK on 29 October 2006.^[2] Ricky Tomlinson claimed that "there may well be more episodes after this one".^[3]

[edit] Characters

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] The Royles

Jim Royle, played by Ricky Tomlinson, is the father and patriarch of the Royle family. Jim was born in the early 1940s and is overweight, unemployed and lazy. Ignorant and boorish, he is prone to being quick-tempered and scathing to those around him. Since he was made redundant Jim has been unemployed and is preoccupied with family expenditure and frequently loses his temper over money matters, particularly the burden of daughter Denise's wedding. He is loud-mouthed, opinionated, and very public about his bodily functions (for example, by announcing his visits to the toilet). However, he can also be very affectionate and sentimental. A competent banjo player, he has a raucous belly-laugh (usually in response to his own jokes) and is something of a party animal. He spends an overwhelming amount of time sitting in an armchair watching television.

Barbara Royle, played by Sue Johnston, mother and domestic drudge to the Royle family is married to Jim. Barbara is the family's only wage-earner, working part-time at a local bakery. Barbara is a typical motherly figure and is a lot more hard-working than her husband. She often scolds Jim for bad language or improper conversation. Barbara is the most diplomatic family member, often using her soft voice and motherly charm to settle arguments.

Antony Royle, played by Ralf Little, born in 1983, is the dogsbody of the family. Son of Jim and Barbara, he is constantly ordered around by the family, performing nearly every errand that needs doing, and seems incapable of standing up to them. In an ironic twist in the later series, Antony becomes street-smart and in the second and third series, becomes the character with a possible 'better' future, in the form of wealthy girlfriend Emma. In series three, it is announced that Antony and Emma are to wed and Emma is also pregnant. He is now a business man and in the 2006 special he was on the way to a conference in Milton Keynes and dropped into the Royles household. By the 2006 special, Antony and Emma have split up, and it is implied that he has a new girlfriend.

Lewis Royle, played by Connor Marsh, Antony and Emma's son.

[edit] The Bests

Dave Best, played by Craig Cash, is Denise's husband and father to Baby David. He works as a furniture remover and part-time, mobile disco proprietor. Dave is hen-pecked by Denise, unable to stand up to her unless he is slightly drunk. He settles in with the Royle family well, taking pride of place on their sofa.

Denise Best née Royle, played by Caroline Aherne, is the neurotic daughter of Jim and Barbara, wife to Dave and mother to Baby David. Denise is portrayed as fussy, greedy and lazy. She and Dave began dating in 1993 and married in 1998. She is unemployed and does very little besides occasionally going to "The Feathers" pub, with a habit of getting drunk, and sitting in the family living room watching the television. Throughout the show, Denise frequently mentions an unseen character named Beverley Macker, who she seems jealous of. In series two and three, Denise and Dave are living in their own house but still come round to the Royle home frequently, this being common in extended families.

David Keanu Ronan Best, played by twins Matthew and James Hughes and in 2006 by Craig Cash's son Harry Cash, is Denise and Dave's son, born on December 25, 1999. In one episode, Dave mentions that four previous generations of his family were all called 'David', making the baby David Best VI. Baby David is arguably more loved by Dave than Denise, as he spends many hours worrying over the baby and has even constructed a farmyard for him. Denise meanwhile, uses any excuse to avoid spending time with her son. His school suggested he had ADHD but it was revealed instead that he simply could not be bothered to pay attention properly.

Norma Orchard Tallulah Porsche Best, Dave and Denise's daughter, born in 2006, named after Nana.

Mr & Mrs Best are Dave's parents, and are never seen throughout the entire series. Dave's father is apparently disabled, although Jim has implied on occasion that he believes he is faking it to avoid work, the irony being that Jim avoids work at every opportunity and even claims benefits. Dave's mum is a less well known character, although she did buy a suit from Marks and Spencer for Dave and Denise's wedding which prompted Barbara to buy a more expensive suit so as to “not let the side down”.

[edit] The Speakmans

Norma Speakman, played by Liz Smith, is Barbara's mother and is known to the family as Nana. Norma appears in most episodes; in the few in which she is absent, she is a major topic of conversation. Norma and Jim share a mutual dislike and are not afraid to show it. She has an irritating habit of constantly discussing death and recounting trivial anecdotes from her past and is fond of a drink, a fact which she unconvincingly tries to hide. She lived in a flat on the other side of town with her best friend the late Elsie (never seen) who died in late 2000, but by the 2006 episode she has moved into the Royle household and her character is in her early nineties.

In the final episode aired in 2006, Norma is now housebound and has moved into the Royle household. She is cared for by other members of the family and friends. Towards the end of the episode, Norma is found unconscious by Barbara and is taken into hospital. After the regular cast of the show say their goodbyes to her, she later dies in hospital.

[edit] The Carrolls

Mary and Joe Carroll, played by Doreen Keogh and Peter Martin, are the Royles' next-door neighbours. Mary, of Irish descent, is constantly cheery and provides a stark contrast to her husband Joe, who is extraordinarily dull and boring, except when he is drunk. Joe's monotone personality always saps Jim's usually cheery nature.

Cheryl Carroll, played by Jessica Stevenson, one of Denise's friends, and daughter to Mary and Joe. Plump Cheryl is constantly dieting yet she always failing to stick to them, ensuring that she is in a perpetual state of despondency about her figure. Cheryl is frequently the butt of Jim's (and occasionally even her father Joe's) jibes. It is implied at the end of The Queen of Sheba that herself and Twiggy are to become an item.

[edit] Other characters

Darren Sinclair-Jones, played by Andrew Whyment, is Antony's best friend. He often visits the Royles, usually to visit Anthony, however he often pulls up a chair and watches television with the family. Darren is known for often bending the law, and getting himself into trouble. All of his brothers are in prison.

Emma Kavanagh, played by Sheridan Smith, is Anthony's wealthy girlfriend and mother of his son Lewis. She comes from Altrincham, which according to the Royles is 'posh'. She is vegetarian, which poses problems for Barbara, and by the Christmas Special, is engaged to Anthony. By 2006 she and Anthony have split up (Barbara asks Anthony how he and "Sarah" are doing).

Twiggy, played by Geoffrey Hughes is Jim's best friend who always has something second-hand to sell to Jim. His character has a son from his failed marriage.

Beverley Macker is never seen, but is mentioned on numerous occasions. Her older brother Tony, who is a friend of Dave's is also mentioned. All that is known of her is that she had two children before the age of 18, is attractive, and was a one-time girlfriend of Dave. Denise is extremely jealous of Beverley and she and Dave frequently argue about her when drunk.

The Duckers, who are also never seen, are the local, notorious family of "hard-men".

Four characters appear only once in the series. Two in 'The Christening' episode: Pensioner PJ and Michelle (Sally Lindsay), Twiggy's loudmouthed, unpleasant girlfriend. Two more appear in the 'Christmas Special', Emma's father Roger Kavanagh (John Henshaw) and his wife Valerie (Sharon Duce).

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Miscellany

Unlike most sitcoms the show is filmed in 16mm film using a single camera. Multi-camera videotape is standard for UK sitcoms. Along with the absence of a laugh track, this gives the show a noticeably different look and feel to usual sitcoms.
Each episode appears to take place in real time. However, the passage of time as indicated by the changing programmes on the Royles' TV sometimes suggests that the action has been compressed. "The Queen Of Sheba", however, jumps forward in time in a more conventional manner.
All of the action takes place in the Royles' house; the camera never leaves the house. If the Royles look out of the window the camera looks at them and not what they are looking at. The only images from outside are glimpses of programmes on the Royles' TV. This changed on the special episode "The Queen Of Sheba" of which part was filmed in a hospital as Norma Speakman fell ill and passed away.
The show was made famous by Jim ending many sentences with the catchphrase "My arse".
The show's theme tune is "Half the World Away" by Oasis. The song can be found as the B-Side to "Whatever" and on the album The Masterplan.
Each series appeared to lead up to an event. The first led to Denise and Dave's wedding; the second saw Denise now pregnant with their child and led up to the birth (Denise went into labour in the Christmas special) and the third saw the addition of Baby David and the run-up to his christening and his first birthday on Christmas Day. Jim also received Sky Digital as a present.
The name The Royle Family is a pun on the British Royal Family. The rude manners of the Royles are in contrast with the supposed refined manners of the Queen and her family. The joke was taken to its conclusion by impressionist Alistair McGowan on his television show, with a series of sketches featuring the Royal Family as the Royle Family. The Duke of Edinburgh character played Jim, with Queen Elizabeth II as Barbara, The Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker-Bowles as Dave and Denise and The Duke of York as Anthony, wearing the top half of a Royal Navy uniform along with a pair of tracksuit trousers.
Also notable is the pairing of Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson as husband and wife, as the two were well known for playing another married couple, Bobby and Sheila Grant, on Channel 4's long-running soap opera Brookside. Similarly, Ralf Little and Sheridan Smith also went on to reprise their roles as an onscreen couple, Johnny and Janet, in the later sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.
The sitcom Spaced parodied the show's intro sequence on the final episode (Leaves) of its second series. This sequence featured Spaced actors Simon Pegg, Nick Frost et al playing out the actions of the Royles. Jessica Stevenson o-wrote and starred in Spaced after her success in The Royle Family.
Jessica Stevenson is padded out with a fat suit to play Cheryl. She's naturally very slim in real life.

[edit] DVD Releases

DVD Name	Ep #	Release dates
Complete Series One	6	November 6, 2000 / May 15, 2006
Complete Series Two	7	November 6, 2000 / May 15, 2006
Complete Series Three	7	November 19, 2001 / May 15, 2006
The Queen of Sheba - The Finale	1	October 30, 2006 [1] [2]
The Very Best Of...	6	November 25, 2002
The Collection	20	May 15, 2006
The Royle Family Album (with Finale)	21	October 30 or November 13, 2006