The Royle Family: Season 1 & 2 Savings Set

Buy Both Seasons and Save!

Slouch on the sofa along with Manchester’s favorite couch potatoes. The one-liners fly fast and furious when patriarch Jim (Ricky Tomlinson, Cracker) and his long-suffering wife, Barbara (Sue Johnston, Clatterford, Waking the Dead) cope with everyday family life. The second season finds newlyweds wily Denise (Caroline Aherne, The Mrs. Merton Show) and deadbeat Dave (Craig Cash, Early Doors) expecting a baby. Barbara is dangerously pre-menopausal, and Antony (Ralf Little, 24 Hour Party People)—the live-in errand boy—is celebrating his eighteenth birthday. At the party, meet Antony’s friend Darren (Andrew Whyment, Coronation Street), whose depression makes the Royles’ banjo playing, singing and smiles seem positively merry! Wonderful ensemble acting brings a warm, honest and extremely funny angle to this working-class family, fueled by a non-stop stream of cigarettes, tea and television.

Series 1
Imagine a secret camera in the sitting room of an ordinary working-class family. The Royle home is no palace. Space is cramped and the walls are stained yellow by nicotine.. Brain-dead conversation is set against the continuous drone of the television.

Filmed in real time without canned laughter, The Royle Family – an intimate, veruccas-and-all portrait of mundane family life – is by the award-winning Mrs Merton writing team of Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash and Henry Normal. There are no jokes and nothing ever happens.The biggest crisis is whose turn is it to go out for cigarettes?

What makes this show one of the funniest on TV are the strong, gritty characters and how they interact.They live in the downtrodden, post-industrial north of England, where people don’t expect much and are reared not to show their emotions. The men sit slumped in front of the TV or go to the pub.The women flick through catalogues and make the tea. Life is humdrum, restricted to clichés, bickering and affectionate teasing.

In charge of the remote control is the skinflint patriarch, Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson), a slob who sounds off while his long-suffering wife, Barbara (Sue Johnston), runs around after him. Daughter Denise (Caroline Aherne – aka Mrs Merton), an aspiring hairdresser, lazes around the house obsessing about her appearance and worrying that her fiancé, Dave Best (Craig Cash) doesn’t appreciate her. The only moving part of the household is the youngest Royle, Antony (Ralf Little), a surly teenager and general dogsbody who is constantly despatched to buy more cigarettes, which the rest of the family smoke like laboratory beagles.

Occasionally dropping in for cups of tea and a chat are Nana (Liz Smith), who is oblivious to almost everything and, according to Jim, the bane of his life; next-door neighbours talkative Mary (Doreen Keogh) and taciturn Joe Carroll (Peter Martin) and their weight-conscious daughter, Cheryl (Jessica Stevenson). Last but not least, there’s family friend and local businessman,Twiggy (Geoffrey Hughes), who specialises in ‘near-the-knuckle’ humour and selling things on the cheap.

Series 2
Season two promises more laughs than ever, as newlyweds Denise and Dave announce that they are soon to be parents. Mom is delighted and Dad is quietly thrilled at the prospect of becoming a grandfather. Now Denise has even more of an excuse to lounge around with Mom running after her every need. Occasionally dropping in for cups of tea and a chat are Nana, who is oblivious to almost everything and is the bane of Jim's life; and the next door neighbors: reticent Joe carroll, talkative Mary and their weight-conscious daughter Cheryl. Last but not least, there's family friend and local businessman, Twiggy (Geoffrey Hughes) who specialized in "near-the-knuckle" humor and selling things on the cheap.

Series 1
Episode 1 - It’s not Jim’s day.The annual telephone bill arrives and someone has called Aberdeen. But who, and whatever for? The inquisition is endless. It also hits him that the date is approaching for Denise’s impending wedding to aspiring Manchester mobile disco owner, Dave Best. All Jim can see ahead is expense, expense and more expense. His family are unsympathetic: “You’re as tight as a crab’s arse, you are.”

Episode 2 - Over a gourmet meal of pork chop, chips, beans and tea, the subject under discussion yet again is Denise’s impending wedding. Jim grumbles non-stop about having to foot the entire bill, because the groom’s father has been on disability for 12 years. “But he’s got a bone disease,” exclaims Denise. “Yeah, and it’s called bone-idleness,” retorts Jim. Denise, meanwhile, thinks Dave is not interested enough in the wedding.

Episode 3 - It’s Sunday afternoon, which means Nana is round for the day. Everyone is congregated in the kitchen, if they are not in the lounge. Nana is looking forward to her stout. Denise tries on her wedding dress. But nothing stands in the way of The Antiques Roadshow...

Episode 4 - Denise has a hangover but claims it is migraine, brought on by stress from the forthcoming wedding.“You never know with headaches, what they can turn into,” says Mam, running round after her with paracetamol.“Aye, a bloody drama,” retorts Jim without sympathy. Today is his birthday and there’s a cake from the bakery, family photographs and Pomagne to mark the occasion. Later they will be celebrating down the Feathers: “Dad,” asks Denise, “Can you lend me a fiver to get you a drink?”

Episode 5 - Jim and Barbara are getting ready for bed when they hear Denise and Dave come in. Denise is rowing with Dave, accusing him of flirting with the well-endowed Beverley Macca. As far as she’s concerned, the wedding is off.The family solution is cups of tea all round, laced with whisky and a dollop of sympathy, the men siding with Dave and Barbara with Denise. Jim’s indigestion is also playing up. But it all ends in a good sing-song with Jim on banjo and everything forgiven. “You know, I am glad that the wedding’s back on again,” says Mam, “I’m always upset when you call it off.”

Episode 6 - It’s the morning of the wedding and it’s not just Denise’s nerves that are on edge. Jim has diarrhoea and a constipated Nana warns the Royle bride, “It’s all downhill from here.” Will all go ahead as planned? “Denise’s last fag and wistful look around the family lounge brought a wrenching streak of sadness to the closing instalment.” Sydney Morning Herald

Series 2
Episode 1 - Series 2 opens with a right Royle family occasion. Denise and Dave share the happy news that they are expecting their first baby. Denise has even given up smoking! “Well, Dave, at least you’re not firing blanks,” is the grandad-to-be’s delighted reaction, while Mam bursts into tears and Nana says to phone back after Coronation Street. Jim is not short of advice on his "hands-off" approach to child-care, Barbara is in a panic about having to learn to knit and celebrations are already being planned down their local pub, The Feathers. Meanwhile, ideas for names for the new sprog range from Whitney, if it is a girl, to Keanu, if it is a boy – Dave’s suggestion of Dave having been roundly denounced.

Episode 2 - Sunday lunch can be a trying experience for any household, but for dinner at the Royle's, it is really worth pulling up a chair. Barbara is slaving over the roast beef, while Nan twitters on about the Richard & Judy Show (banal all-morning TV show), and pregnant daughter Denise complains of chocolate cravings. The lads are late back from the pub and the roast potatoes are as hard as bullets. Antony is in for a ribbing when the family find out a young lady has been hanging around at his football game, and Twiggy offers to help Dave shift his moped.

Episode 3 - Barbara is trying to convince Jim to let her stencil the kitchen, Cheryl wants to lose a couple of pounds at Weight Watchers and Nana wants to know who will look after her budgie, Robson, when she is in hospital having her cataracts removed? Denise is suffering from permanent tiredness now that she is pregnant, but later realizes it is because she has to go to the toilet every five minutes. Antony has been spotted kissing his new girlfriend, Emma, and there is much excitement over a packet of Wagon Wheels (marshmallow biscuits).

Episode 4 - Denise is worried that Dave doesn't understand how tired she is from carrying a baby round "It's the size of an orange now," she moans to Barbara. Nana is staying with the family while she recuperates from her recent cataract operation and Barbara is anxious that Jim will hit the roof if she stays much longer. She has already disappeared upstairs with the TV remote control in her handbag and unplugged the video before she went to bed. Son Antony is having love troubles, most of which are thanks to constant teasing from his family. When he finally storms off, the rest of the family are left blaming one another for who upset him most, all except Nana, who is fast asleep.

Episode 5 - Barbara reaches the end of her tether with husband Jim’s laziness and storms out of the house. Jim is left defending himself to Denise. According to him, it can all be blamed on the menopause. Antony is subjected to one nasty comment too many from Jim and also storms out, leaving Denise, Dave and Jim trying to answer the questions on the best TV quiz show of all, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Will all be resolved, or has Jim pushed Barbara too far this time?

Episode 6 - It's party time at the Royles as Anthony celebrates his 18th birthday. (He’ll be old enough to smoke now). Barbara has laid on a splendid buffet, Jim and Twiggy finish blowing up the party balloons and the scene is set for a memorable celebration. Soon family, friends and neighbors are crammed into the sitting room. Anthony’s girlfriend Emma seems very nice, even if she is a bit posh and a vegetarian. But the hi-fi has packed up, so out comes Jim’s banjo and a surprise song from the normally taciturn Joe Carroll.

Barbara Royle	---	Sue Johnston
Denise Best	---	Caroline Aherne
Jim Royle	---	Ricky Tomlinson
Dave Best	---	Craig Cash
Antony Royle	---	Ralf Little
Norma Speakman	---	Liz Smith
Mary Carroll	---	Doreen Keogh
Cheryl Carroll	---	Jessica Hynes
Joe Carroll	---	Peter Martin
Twiggy	---	Geoffrey Hughes
Emma Kavanagh	---	Sheridan Smith
Darren Sinclair-Jones	---	Andrew Whyment

Written by Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, Carmel Morgan, Henry Normal, Ricky Tomlinson
Directed by Mark Mylod, Steve Bendelack, Caroline Aherne
Produced by Kenton Allen, Glenn Wilhide
Cinematography by Dick Dodd, Mike Popley
Film editing by Tony Cranstoun
Costume Design by Lynne Gibson, Annie Hardinge

BAFTA® Awards
2007 – Best Situation Comedy
2000 – Best Situation Comedy
2000 – Best Comedy Performance – Caroline Aherne
British Comedy Awards®
2001 – Best Television Comedy Actress – Jessica Stevenson
2000 – Best Television Comedy Actress – Sue Johnston
1998 – Best New TV Comedy

Series 1
“It is raw, racy, rude – and an absolute riot.” -Daily Mirror

“Totally mesmerising from the start ... brilliantly cast ... poignant, funny, inventive and beautifully written ... A masterpiece”- Daily Mail

“The best sitcom of the decade.”- Time Out

“...irresistibly, they grow on you ... It is crafted in a deceptively clever way, with an ear for everyday dialogue and the artful use of repetition reminiscent of Alan Bennett and David Mamet ...This is by some distance the bleakest and the best new British sitcom of the year.” –Guardian

“A delight: cleverly scripted and peerlessly cast... To make comedy out of unadulterated ordinariness, and to script a show that was utterly lifelike from beginning to end, takes something approaching genius and heart.” -The Herald

“Gradually, the layers of old jokes, stale repartee and commonplace observation built up to form a towering termite mound of mirth.” -Evening Standard

“Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston ... are terrific.” Independent on Sunday “A genuinely original comedy. The Royle Family rules."- Observer

“...we were doubled up with laughter after roughly 20 seconds ... the best observed living room scene I’ve ever witnessed.”- M.E.N. Magazine

“...dares to go further than any TV series I can remember in replicating the comedy of real life ...it works triumphantly.”- Mail on Sunday

“It really is a gem.” –Star

“Windbreakingly funny ... Jessica Stevenson as next-door neighbour Cheryl deserves special praise.”- Evening Standard

“The funniest thing on TV by a street. The Royle Family turns the mind-numbingly banal into classic comedy.” -TV Quick

“I was gobsmacked. I haven’t been that impressed with a comedy since Fawlty Towers.” -Jimmy McGovern (Cracker/Fitz)

Series 2
“…absolutely bloody fantastic … the characters are brilliant … the lines are laugh-out-loud funny, the attention to detail immaculate and the scenes … are as touching and poignant as anything you’ll see on TV.A classic.” – Heat

“ …a show that restores one’s faith in British sitcom and sets a standard to which every comedy writer, however wellestablished, should aspire.” - Daily Mail

 “Startling, innovative, inventive.” – Express

 “Very, very funny … great humour through the strong characterisation, the drama at times is almost unbearably poignant.” - Mail On Sunday

 “…compelling viewing … and in its own way anarchic and challenging.” Guardian Guide

“Fabulously performed … minutely well-observed … funny.” - The Sunday Times

 “Moments of quiet brilliance, almost wholly due to the quality of the cast.” – Observer

 “The Royles [are] comic creations comparable with the Trotters, the Meldrews and the Fawltys …”  - Independent On Sunday

 “You may wonder how there can be anything funny about watching a family sitting around the TV … But it works. The strength of the characterisation and the quality of the cast are such that you begin to feel you know these people. Gradually, you find yourself laughing at their habits and quirks – and even, believe it or not, liking this bunch of deadbeats. Despite all appearances, this is the ultimate feelgood comedy. Don’t miss it.” - Daily Mail

 “…banality at its best.” - Observer, Screen

 “Dialogue that manages to be inconsequential, gripping and funny at the same time … matchless cast … in short, The Royle Family is going from strength to strength.” - Daily Telegraph

 “Brilliantly witty and observant.” - TV Times

 “The scary thing is that as funny as this show is, it’s not so far from the truth, either.” - The Australian