Each week, we will be taking an in depth look at some of the best sitcoms and comedy shows from both the UK and the USA.

Today we will be looking at a comedy that was a huge hit on the BBC and kept returning to air over a number of years – The Royle Family

Opening Sequence / Theme Tune

About the Show

Summary of Plot

A British sitcom about a family going through everyday life in the Royle family house.–IMDb

Number of Seasons / Episodes

4 seasons

Characters:

Ricky Tomlinson – Jim Royle

Sue Johnston – Barbera Royle

Caroline Aherne – Denise Best

Craig Cash  – Dave Best

Ralph Little – Anthony Royale

Trivia

• When first offered to the BBC, head of comedy Geoffrey Perkins, wanted it made in the style of a traditional TV sitcom ie. in front of a studio audience and recorded on multiple studio video cameras. However Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash insisted it be made in their preferred style: on a closed set and shot on a single 16mm film camera.
• Caroline Aherne allegedly initially quit the show in 2000, due to a row with Craig Cash, citing that she would not appear on television again. This prompted Ricky Tomlinson to also quit, though both returned in 2006, when Aherne and Cash began working together again, and wrote the Queen of Sheba.
• In the second series, Anthony Royle (Ralf Little) begins dating a girl called Emma Kavanagh (Sheridan Smith), but we don’t meet her until his 18th birthday. This won’t be the first time the two actors date each other, as they play Janet & Jonny in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001).

Classic Clips

Family Argument

Little David

Bit of Old Brown Sauce