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Original poster

To really miss good Christmas specials on tv

50 replies

MyKingdomForACaramel · 20/12/2017 21:06

Maybe it’s an age thing, but I remember really looking forward to Christmas episodes of my favourite shows - so as a kid that was things like Only Fools or similar- but I’ve realised that for a good few years - there just aren’t these type of shows that I really look forward to like that. So aibu to ask - what was the last Christmas special you looked forward to? (And am I missing any)

OP posts:
Original poster
MyKingdomForACaramel · 20/12/2017 22:37

Oh and thank you @shatnersbottom - am right now rewatching the first series of inside Number 9 Grin

OP posts:
scrabbler3 · 20/12/2017 22:54

Thanks for the Number 9 heads up. I never saw that Christmas ep. It's downloading as I type - yay.

I enjoy Call the Midwife but the last Christmas special that I loved is Gavin and Stacey.

The Christmas ep of the West Wing where a vagrant was found wearing Toby's coat was fantastic.

Also like the Frasier festive episodes but I know them inside out now. And they're 20 years old!

GothMummy · 20/12/2017 22:57

Its only Dr Who that I will watch this year! I used to love the Christmas specials, but they are not very good now. I dont like Mrs Brown's boys either.....

GothMummy · 20/12/2017 22:59

Scrabbler - I have been watching Frasier Christmas specials tonight! "Merry Christmas Mrs Moskowitz" just has me in stitches....

jay55 · 20/12/2017 23:05

I loved The vicar of Dibley eating three christmas dinners.
Too many comedies are clever or awkward now and don't lend themselves to christmas.

Eolian · 20/12/2017 23:08

I don't think I've ever watched a Christmas special if anything except Dr Who!

Original poster
MyKingdomForACaramel · 20/12/2017 23:15

@jay while I ageee - the office was major awkward but the Christmas special still managed it... but can’t think of a current show that would lend itself well to a Christmas special - maybe “people just do nothing”

OP posts:
5foot5 · 20/12/2017 23:17

I don't watch that much TV but funnily enough having looked at the schedules Christmas Day evening rocks as far as I am concerned:

Dr Who
Call The Midwife
Victoria

That'll do me 😀

Original poster
MyKingdomForACaramel · 20/12/2017 23:21

Have just switched on gavin and Stacey - some of the lines on there are genius (yes it’s innapropriate but “a shipman never keeps secrets” just make me lol

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Weedsnseeds1 · 20/12/2017 23:37

About 7 or 8 years ago there was a Ruth Jones stand alone called A Child's Christmases in Wales. Every year I hope it will be repeated and it never is. ( It's not the Dylan Thomas one).

Original poster
MyKingdomForACaramel · 20/12/2017 23:40

@weeds - was that the one where the guy went back to meet his wife’s welsh family??

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 20/12/2017 23:45

Radio, not TV, but Cabin Pressure Molokai is my favourite Christmas special.

Original poster
MyKingdomForACaramel · 20/12/2017 23:59

Oh, hadn't even thought about radio @TheFallenMadonna

OP posts:
Paperdolly · 21/12/2017 00:08

I hated Christmas Specials where they go abroad for the storyline. It's just not Christmassy!!!! Confused

scrabbler3 · 21/12/2017 00:09

Oh I loved that Ruth Jones Christmas programme. She hit the nail on the head with the family rRelationships and I loved the retro Christmases.

MrsDilber · 21/12/2017 00:11

Russell Brand's Christmas Ponderland is my favourite.

scrabbler3 · 21/12/2017 00:12

The Upstairs Downstairs Christmas episode set in 1913 was amazing.

Elusiveone · 21/12/2017 00:21

I really miss Downton Abbey specially the specials.

73kittycat73 · 21/12/2017 01:56

I like the Men Behaving Badly Christmas special. I agree there's nothing like that this year. :(
I've even been watching the Royle Family Christmas episodes on Gold. Forgotten how many times I've actually watched then now!

FaithEverPresent · 21/12/2017 04:54

I have also watched the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special twice this year already. Absolute classic! Oh..oh..oh..Merry Christmas!

ILoveMillhousesDad · 21/12/2017 06:00

Nothing ever compared to the Royle Family Queen of Sheba.

My nan had recently died and when they played Scarlet Ribbons (nan sang it to mum and mum sang it to us), well oh my god, the family was a sobbing mess.

So poignant and funny as there were so many similarities between my nan and Norma, including the magnifying glass 😂

The one where Joe meets a new woman is cringeworthy.

I would say they lost it after Denise's Christmas dinner ep.

SchoolMoney · 21/12/2017 06:46

There was a one off Christmas drama on RTE about 15 years ago and every year I am disappointed they don't show it again. It was called Home for Christmas and was advertised as 'gothic in a north cork kind of way'. Nothing will match that!

Gavin and Stacey one is still brilliant, royle family were always fab. The Queen of Sheba is a snotty tear fest every time though 😭

DancingHouse · 21/12/2017 07:28

Dinnerladies - I forget if it was Christmas or New year special.

TV in general just isn't what it was.

Praisebe · 21/12/2017 07:31

I miss all the good old shows and im only 25
Only fools
The good life
Keeping up appearances
One foot in the grave
Heartbeat
Some mothers do 'av 'em
So many more and they all did real comedy especially at Christmas

redexpat · 21/12/2017 07:32

I remember when the Grumpy old women at christmas came out. I think it was thr first grumpy old women rather than men. Sheila Hancock talking about the late John Thaw's christmas antics left me gasping for breath.

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