did jim royle ever work

Weekly show where I host the brightest minds in B2B marketing to share their best piece of advice on ABM . Here is a look at what happened to the cast of The Royle Family: Lazy Jim Royle loved nothing better than sitting in his armchair all day watching TV with a cuppa. Series [ edit] Set in the downtrodden post-industrial north of England, the action rarely strays outside the living room of the titular wisecracking family, as tightwad patriarch Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson) holds court, kept in check by long-suffering wife Barbara (Sue Johnston, who had previously played Tomlinson's wife in the soap Brookside) and ordering by belittling their slogan ("'It's good to talk' my arse"). As always you can unsubscribe at any time. In November 2010 Gold broadcast a two-hour episode called "Behind The Sofa", with interviews from the cast and crew celebrating the show's return in 2006. Plus, rumour has it Jim Royle was based on Henry's own dad! Caroline rejecting it, saying that the only rubbish episode of Til Death Us Do Part she could remember was the one in a restaurant. Jim was once described by Barbara as being two-faced through his insincere attitude towards his friends, often being nice and amicable to them when they are in the house visiting, but the minute they leave, he berates them by exemplifying their flaws and audacious attitude and requests. Dave and Denise were parents to baby David, who Jim claimed didn't know who his parents were because he was always left with his grandparents, and baby Norma. After the show, Craig wrote BBC sitcom Early Doors and starred and directed Sky comedy Rovers with on-screen mum-in-law Sue Johnston. The original series ran from 1998 to 2000 - with five special episodes airing from 2006 until 2012 - and a sixth was in the works before Caroline tragically passed away in 2016. Heartbreakingly, the veteran TV star died on Christmas Eve 2016 at the age of 95. Back in 1988, she was among campaigners against Section 28, a series of laws introduced by Margaret Thatcher's government against the 'promotion' of homosexuality which left gay communities feeling demonised, hounded and marginalised. "For me, what I got out of it when I read and watched it, was the claustrophobia of it all; being trapped," she said. Jim has gone to extremes with his taunting of Antony by calling him a "gay boy" "sausage jockey" and a "little old bummer" joking that he could be homosexual because of his initial lack of a girlfriend. How many people of my age love going to work? In his 2003 autobiography he described how he joined the National Front in the late sixties, before realising he had been 'looking for a scapegoat' for the country's ills and turning his back on far right politics. She was also a voice actor for Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and starred in ten episode of Lark Rise to Candleford. He has also appeared in BBC series Robin Hood, Doctor Who, Inside Number 9 and in 2019 was confirmed as the new lead star of Death in Paradise. "Of course, I said yes; it was a very sad time and I wanted to do right by her and by the programme. Most notably, when a pregnant Denise was lying on the kitchen floor after her waters had broken, Jim tearfully reminisced about Denise and Antony's births, declaring that he knew, the second he has seen them, that we would do anything for either of them. When Caroline Aherne decided to quit The Royle Family in 2000, the series could easily have been dragged on without her, to inevitably diminishing returns. But here's the neat bit: the two of them had played a couple once before, way back in 1963 for the British comedy classic Billy Liar. The same year he appeared in Samuel L Jackson comedy drama the 51st State. From 2000 to 2011, she starred in Waking the Dead with the BBC, before featuring in eight episodes of the hugely popular period drama Downton Abbey. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Although extremely lazy, Jim considers himself active, but the only times he ventures out of the Royle household is to make the occasional visit to The Feathers, the local pub, with son-in-law Dave. Talkative and constantly involved in everyone else's business, Irish Mary was the direct opposite to her stoically quiet husband Joe. They wanted a studio audience or laughter track ? Americans, eh. This was just days after a repeat of her emotional final The Royle Family episode had aired. During lockdown, he went viral for his short homemade videos of neighbours competitively clapping the NHS. The Royle Family actors hit it off right away when they were filming the iconic series, which ran from 1998 to 2000 - with five special episodes airing from 2006 until 2012. Ricky Tomlinson was absolutely devastated when he heard the deeply sad news that Caroline had died. Cash was the show's co-writer and creator, alongside Caroline Aherne, and his career after The Royle Family followed a similar pattern as his writing partner. he was on tour at the time, and thanks to a bad connection he thought the Royal Family were inexplicably requesting permission to use one of his songs for a documentary. Nana was everyone's favourite character - and reminded us of our own grandparents. The later specials are presented in a more traditional sitcom format. Jim Crow law, in U.S. history, any of the laws that enforced racial segregation in the South between the end of Reconstruction in 1877 and the beginning of the civil rights movement in the 1950s. The Royle Family is chock full of great moments - from Jim's iconic catchphrase "My Arse!", to Joe's spontaneous singing and Denise's waters breaking - there are enough classic moments here to prove that The Royle Family is one of Britain's very best. All seemed fine on set, but when the film went back to the lab, technicians realised the camera had gone wrong and cut off everyone's heads. Cheryl brings over a catalogue and she and Denise decide to buy leather jackets. "The Royle Family is probably the nearest mainstream television will ever get to the work of Samuel Beckett," proposed The Guardian's Desmond Christy in 1999. . That's what it was like. Jim is renowned for his slovenly and workshy attitude, sitting all day in an armchair watching the television, relying on his wife Barbara to bring in an income from her job at the Bakery. Henry Normal, their co-writer on series one, was a one-time performance poet given to such things as taking to the stage with a paper bag over his head (imagine what Jim Royle would have made of that). Sue added: "Sometimes, what used to make me laugh especially these days wed get to about Thursday and wed been constantly filming and on that sofa and shed suddenly call the producer over and shed go, 'John, I think weve all gone a bit flat, I think we need champagne! He has also been flabbergasted by the extortionate catalogue spending spree of his daughter Denise, his son-in-law Dave's purchase of a 200 washing machine that his wife has never used and the excessive cost of Denise's wedding, angry at the fact that Dave's dad David Senior, is contributing nothing financially to the ceremony. Despite his hurtful attitude, Jim has shown signs of caring and sensitivity towards his wife and children throughout the series. The only time he was distracted from the telly was while watching Denise breast feed baby David. In the first series, Antony is heavily relied on to perform household tasks for the family such as make cups of tea and bacon sandwiches and answer the door. Jim is renowned for his slovenly and workshy attitude, sitting all day in an armchair watching the television, relying on his wife Barbara to bring in an income from her job at the Bakery. Account Based Beverages. Anthony broke up with Emma shortly after they had baby Lewis, then proposed to pregnant girlfriend Saskia. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. The character was brought to life by former Brookside actress Sue Johnston, whose career went from strength to strength after The Royle Family. Martin would begin playing the role of Len Reynolds in the ITV soap Emmerdale in 2001, a role he reprised until May 2007, when his character was killed off. Laidback Dave was, of course, played by Caroline's co-writer on the show, Stockport's Craig Cash. And what a canon of work to choose from! I'd have bought it from them if it had been any less, though.". Iaki Ereo, the global CEO of health insurance firm Bupa, echoes that for perspective he turns to the friends he made at the start of his career. Mary was the matriarch of the Carroll family, the Royles next door neighbours. After the show ended in 2000, Hynes enjoyed a string of high profile roles as she featured in Shaun of the Dead, Bridget Jones' Baby, Son of Rambo, Paddington 2, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! for making us chuckle lots. The cameraman was the son of Corrie character Stan Ogden and at the end he was crying and said: Thats it. This is true of friend Twiggy who Jim described as having a "brass neck" after he came for Sunday dinner. Barbara Royle (wife)Denise Best (daughter)Antony Royle (son)Mr Royle (father) Mrs Royle (mother) Mr Speakman (father-in-law) Norma Speakman (mother-in-law) David Best (son-in-law)Saskia Royle (daughter-in-law)David Best (grandson)Norma Best (granddaughter)Lewis Royle (grandson)Unknown Royle (grandchild). After meeting at a Manchester pirate radio station in the early 80s, Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash became best friends. Jim is perhaps a little short on manners and coined his infamous catchphrase 'my a***!'. But Denise did have a soft side and had a very close bond with mum Barbara. The Royle Family would have been a very different show if the TV execs had got their way. Ricky Tomlinson played Jim Royle in The Royle Family (Image: JELLY LEG). Anyone concerned that she might have been mortified by all the swearing on the show can take solace in the fact that she's actually as gutter-mouthed as anyone, and puts this down to her time in the Navy during World War Two. Another show entitled Royle Family Portraits was aired on Gold on Wednesday 17 November. "She was wonderful. and judge Jason Manford wondered if they were being pranked by Ant and Dec, Saturday Night Takeaway viewers spot 'flaw' with new game as they pick up on the same issue, Fans flocked to Twitter to have their say, Shoppers flock to buy 2.50 'game changing' item that solves G, Lidl and Aldi pot hoarding problem, The item is one of many ways you can upcycle and reuse your old dessert ramekins, Digital map launched to encourage people to share King's Coronation plans, The Government hopes members of the public will be able to find events happening near them and get involved, Erik ten Hag names the three reasons Casemiro is his Manchester United leader. Many of the Royle Family cast and crew attended and Craig, who played her on-screen husband Dave, gave a speech in the packed church. (Image: Julian Hamilton) Sue Johnston Andy made a name for himself playing bumbling but lovable fool Kirk Sutherland - and is still on the cobbles two decades later. They discovered that a tiny object had dropped into the lens and ruined the film. Share your email to get showbiz news, gossip and rumours from the MEN. Ricky had a literal 'balls up' during filming that cost the BBC a small fortune. In May 2010, the actor opened his own cabaret club in Liverpool. Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Antony was treated as a dogsbody by his family and often did a lot of the family chores. Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash & Henry Normal. The weird best friend of Anthony, Darren was always committing crimes but never seemed to go to prison. It's not just the cast who have been at fault for some expensive mistakes on set. Caroline has selflessly refused to put her nearest and dearest through the torment she suffered. He has always possessed a facial beard which has greyed over the years to symbolise his gradual aging. READ MORE: Inside the long lost Manchester city centre airport terminals where you could check-in for flights to America. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. "There's a million stories but you can't tell them on the air because Caroline was one for playing pranks, but they were always a little bit rude. Andy won over a legion of fans during his time in the jungle and finished in second place. A fact not lost on Jim Royle for whom to breathe is to speak. Opinionated, humorous, musical and lazy - Jim Royle was the family's cantankerous but loveable patriarch, famed for the catchphrase, 'my arse'. Bedridden Nana got to meet her newborn great-grandaughter Norma, who Denise and David named in her honour. Sue Johnston played Jim Royle's better half, and long suffering wife, Barbara Royle. During Baby David's Christening it was revealed that the couple were engaged, despite Jim thinking it was never going to last. Born Betty Gleadle before taking a stage name, Liz big break came at the age of 49, in Mike Leigh's Bleak Moments. "I've been able to make bold decisions . He is the husband of Barbara Royle and father to Denise and Antony Royle. He later enjoyed several one-off film and TV roles, most notably appearing in Doctor Who, The Waiting Room, and Paradise Heights, before gaining a permanent role on the popular BBC crime show Death in Paradise. The mum of Barbara, loud and outspoken Nana always clashed with son-in-law Jim over owning every item on Antiques Roadshow and not sharing her chocolates. The actor is also well-known for political activism. Jim is also a scrimper and is heavily parsimonious, determined on saving as much money as he can. Jim's appearance has rarely changed throughout the show's history, which is testament to his character's slovenly nature. The misanthropic Jim Royle was always quick to criticise and mock in his own humorous way. In the early 70s he had been jailed for conspiracy to intimidate and affray for his involvement in a construction workers' strike in Shrewsbury. The episode ends with the cast back at the Royle's . "And thats why the tears were real. Luckily, the hefty price tag (almost a quarter of a million) made her realise she could live with it as it was. After The Royle Family's original run ended in 2000, Aherne vowed to never appear on TV again and moved to Australia. A well established actor by the time she was cast in The Royle Family, Liz went on to enjoy roles in Hollywood blockbusters after the show's original run, playing alongside Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and featuring in the hugely successful Keeping Mum with Kristen Scott Thomas. Ricky Tomlinson also pulled out to ensure the show's end. Straight after finishing on The Royle Family, Andy joined the cast of Coronation Street. 2008's Christmas special, "The New Sofa", is set over two days. In 2017, he starred in an LGBTQI+ short film called Tellin' Dad which also featured his son. For breathing new life into the sitcom genre, for reminding us that originality can still thrive on telly, and ? Sue was very close to Caroline Aherne and has a painting of her in her house, which is the first thing she sees every morning. [14], A final Christmas special for 2012, entitled "Barbara's Old Ring", aired on 25 December 2012. Filming the 2009 Christmas special went as wrong as one of Denise Royle's turkey dinners thanks to a technical glitch. ), Unlike most UK sitcoms of the time, the show was filmed in 16 mm film using single camera production style and was not filmed in front of an audience. [11] The episode was the most watched show on TV on Christmas Day and for the entire week ending 26 December 2009, attracting an audience of 11,740,000 viewers and the highest-rated episode of The Royle Family.[8]. Jim is also an avid fan of belittiling members of his family, particularly his son Antony, who in the original series was frequently put upon to perform household tasks for the family, such as making cups of tea and going down the shop for chocolate bars and cigarettes. 'No one told me it wasn't normal to be hospitalised for period pains. The Royles knew nothing of Covid-19. Its narrative moves forward in time in a more structured manner. The reality is we should never have been standing in the dock. Caroline rejected it. The producer Glenn Wilhide is on record as saying, "It was a big fight to make sure it had no laugh track". Although extremely lazy, Jim considers himself active, but the only times he ventures out of the Royle household is to make the occasional visit to The Feathers, the local pub, with son-in-law Dave. Joe Carroll has never been known to say more than "Yes" or "No" in The Royle Family (BBC1). The broadcast was the third most popular programme on Christmas Day, achieving a rating of 9,900,000 viewers and was the sixth most watched programme for the week ending 30 December, across all UK TV channels. I took it online and made 25k', Jasmine Shum turned to Instagram after she was banned from selling her creations in the playground. Something went wrong, please try again later. When Caroline tragically died, Craig became the permanent voice over star. The cameraman was the son of Corrie character Stan Ogden and at the end he was crying and said: Thats it. In the first episode, Jim is seen to be wearing regular trousers and remarked "I don't wear jeans" but relents when Twiggy brings some around later. "When we looked at the footage, it was like my holiday photographs - everyone's head was cut off. Let us know. Eventually, the suits backed down in the face of her comedy genius. It was revealed during the 2009 Christmas Special that Jim and Barbara was celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, putting the year they got married at 1959. However, five special episodes airing from 2006 until 2012 - and a sixth was in the works before a devastating tragedy. The couple's two children, Harry and Billy, actually appeared in an episode of The Royle Family. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. "I think it was so special to her because Caroline didnt have children," said Ricky. The scruffy teen managed to make something of himself when he got a big job and got a girlfriend. He's got to work he can't get the morning off, he's coming straight from the butchers. Admittedly, it was clever calling it The Kennedys, as the famed political dynasty were the nearest thing to a royal family America ever had. So in the end she decided she could live with the classic ep still being show on our tellies. Despite it all Jim was actually a very loving father - with the scene where Denise (Caroline) went into labour being the most powerful for actor Ricky Tomlinson. Most episodes appear to take place in real time and all action takes place within the Royles' council house home. A sixth season was in. "Then it got so big this naughty corner that when we went back for the final series the props guys had built a prison in the corner of the studio with bars and blue flashing lights.". Wed be drinking champagne in those mugs.". He began playing DI Neville Parker in the highly rated Whodunnit back in October 2019 and is expected to remain in the role for the foreseeable future. Caroline, we salute you. Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash have both narrated and Cash continues to narrate the Channel 4 series Gogglebox, which, like The Royle Family, features people watching TV.[100]. Similarly, Jim once nicknamed next door neighbour Joe "Mastermind" before he entered the house and, along with the whole family, mocked him after his close encounter with the cheese grater. In real life, actress Sue Johnston starred in Waking The Dead for over a decade then played Gloria Price in Coronation Street for two years. We have many things to thank The Royle Family for. Another Christmas special entitled "Joe's Crackers" was aired on 25 December 2010, on BBC One and BBC HD. The Royle Family (Image: BBC) "A true professional and one of the most generous people I ever worked with." Caroline refused to put her nearest and dearest through the torment she suffered. After the Royle Family he featured heavily in Clocking Off in 2002 before taking on a string of voice over roles for TV adverts. The whole cast had to come back to set to reshot the scenes - at a staggering estimated cost of 100,000. Through four series, I watched and re-watched all their milestones: Antony turning 18; Dave and Denise getting married; Barbara struggling with the menopause;. Pretty much all of The Royle Family strikes us as quite ridiculously marvellous, but Caroline Aherne's not a woman who's easy pleased. Barbara Royle : [in a discussion of homosexuals] Well, I don't care what anybody is--I don't care whether they're gay, straight or Australian. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. James Randolph "Jim" Royle (born 1939) is the head of the Royle family, whose reputation as a couch potato has made him a nation's comedy treasure. Almost all of the episodes take place in the Royles' home, largely in the telly-centric living room, with the humour derived from the conversations held therein. Since 2013 he has been heavily involved in narration for Gogglebox and Gogglesprogs. "She was very funny, but her generosity was extraordinary," Sue said on Loose Women. So much so that she genuinely considered buying the rights to it from the BBC so that she could have it binned forever. [8], A short charity special was made for Comic Relief in 2013.[15]. "She was very funny, naturally funny, but her generosity was extraordinary. Sue also revealed a cheeky behind-the-scenes secret during filming that Caroline implemented. After being rushed to hospital, Nana woke up to see her family gathered round her bed then died peacefully. [3] In a 2004 BBC poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom, The Royle Family was placed 19th. In the 1999 Christmas special, Nana (Liz Smith) asks when Dibley is on, meaning The Vicar Of Dibley (1994-2007), 'with that big funny girl who dresses up as a vicar', meaning Dawn French. There was widespread speculation as to whether the show would return after the 2012 special. She will of course forever be in my life, but it was heartbreaking going into the small studio in Manchester at 8am on a Friday morning to record the narration for the show, knowing that Caroline used to sit in the same room.". Much of the 2009 Christmas special takes place in a caravan at a holiday park. Many people will have forgotten actor Andy Whyment was in the show as he was made famous by a different role. chiefly ? His portrayal of a negligent, lazy, and a cynical person on the show earned him a nomination at the BAFTA Awards for the Best Comedy Performance in 2000. The driver was disqualified form driving. Recalling their days on set in Manchester, Ricky explained his fondest memory was the 1999 Christmas Special in which Denise went into labour and Jim was left to comfort her. We speak, in fact, of the sweet and lovely Liz Smith, who so poignantly portrayed Nana. [7] The episode received widespread critical acclaim, having been watched by over 8,000,000 viewers.[8]. The Royle Family was Smith's big break and, after the show concluded, she went on to have roles in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Lark Rise to Candleford, Gavin & Stacey, Benidorm, and The C Word. The Royle Family has had the nation in stitches for over two decades - but it sounds like it would have been even funnier watching the cast make the show. He then got into TV, and set up a production company with his mate Steve Coogan which has since given us such classics as Gavin & Stacey and The Mighty Boosh. "And I know shell be watching Gogglebox in heaven with 20 Bensons and a bottle of champagne.". He also complains if his family members have the immersion heater (central heating) on, petrified by the thought of them having unnecessary baths all the time, so much so that he once woke abruptly in the middle of the night thinking the immersion had been left on. "The Queen of Sheba" takes place six years after the events of the last series and features Nana's declining health and death. "Caroline was well and then unwell, well and unwell, so I filled in whenever she needed me to.". Guest actors Sally Lindsay (Michelle, Twiggy's girlfriend), Sharon Duce (Valerie, Emma's Mother), Steve Huison (Derek, Cheryl's Boyfriend) Helen Fraser (Jocelyn Best, Dave's Mother) and Joanne Froggatt (Saskia, Antony's fiance) have also appeared in the programme. The Spanish research involved 100,000 people . After the show concluded in 2000, Ralf enjoyed a series of successful theatre roles, including a stint as the lead character in a production of Billy Liar at the Theatre Royal in Windsor. Once the show had concluded, Cash wrote the sit-com Early Doors with Phil Mealey, before penning the drama Sunshine (which featured Aherne). Liz Smith's performance won her the Best TV Comedy Actress award at the National Television Awards and was BAFTA-nominated. The hour-long special aired on Christmas Day 2008, and attracted 10,600,000 viewers, making it the fifth most watched programme on Christmas Day and the fifth most watched for the entire week ending 28 December 2008. Her and her husband went into buying, renovating, and then reselling houses, something that became Doreen's main focus in place of acting. Smith herself had starred in The Vicar Of Dibley in which she had played Letitia Cropley until her character was killed off in 1996. neighbours competitively clapping the NHS. A Christmas special aired in 1999, followed by a third series and another Christmas special in 2000. The Royle Family cast became like one big family on set - and many people will have forgotten some of these famous faces were in the BBC comedy. Obnoxious Denise was incredibly lazy and loved sitting down smoking while watching The Jeremy Kyle Show. Craig also took over Caroline's role as Gogglebox voiceover when she took time off to have cancer treatment. Love a bit of cheeky celeb goss? She is due to star in The Railway Children Return, which will be released 2022. Mark Mylod. Since the Royle Family ended she has been something of a regular on our screens and played psychological. Blimey, who'd have thought it. Jobless Denise didn't provide for the family and always left her parents to look after her two kids. There are loads of people like Jim in real life." The Royle Family ran for 25 episodes between 1998 and 2012, and Ricky said he still often catches episode on the TV. he pulled out as well, to ensure the show wouldn't outlast Caroline's tenure. Even after he twigged, Noel was baffled, suggesting that the track Married with Children was the more logical choice. One of her final acting roles had been as Shelia in Sky One comedy After Hours in 2015, which was directed by Craig. We were brought to trial at the apparent behest of the building industry bosses, the Conservative government and ably supported by the secret state. The series originally ran from 1998 until 2000, when. He showed sensitivity to Barbara in The Queen of Sheba after Norma had died, comforting her and confessing that he would "give all the money in the world just to have one more bloody row with her". Sometimes they get it right (the US Office is actually rather good), but more often than not it's enough to make you weep. This was a political trial not just of me and the Shrewsbury pickets, but was a trial of the trade union movement.". However, rather poignantly, it did make him feel closer to Caroline to work in the same place she had. She co-wrote . In series one the focus is on the buildup to Dave and Denise's wedding day, in the second series it partly focuses on Denise's pregnancy culminating in her giving birth on Christmas Day in the Christmas special. The third series builds up to Baby David's Christening as well as the relationship between Antony and Emma. Joe and Mary's daughter, and Denise's best friend, Cheryl Carroll was played by Jessica Hynes. The Royle Family Christmas Special 1999 - Craig Cash as Dave, Caroline Aherne as Denise, Sue Johnston as Barbara and Liz Smith as Norma (Image: BBC) After the three initial series aired on BBC Two . He went on a comedy tour in 2008 and 2009, opened his own cabaret club the Green Room in Liverpool and appeared in many TV adverts. She was awarded an OBE in the 2009 Birthday Honours and an honorary doctorate from the University of Chester in 2010. There was a possibility that the show could have continued without her, but Ricky Tomlinson selflessly pulled out so it would have to end at its peak. Since the first episode, Jim's catchphrase has been "My arse" which is often preceded by a noun or something that he despises, for example "Anne Robinson, my arse" and "Detector vans, my arse". Admittedly, it was clever calling it The Kennedys, as the famed political dynasty were the nearest thing to a royal family America ever had. He was nicknamed "Lurchio" by Jim and often insulted by being regarded as a "lazy little sod" or "lazy little get" at ironic moments when Antony was often performing tedious tasks for the family, such as making bacon sandwiches for example. . [8], Another Christmas special was planned for 2011. It won the Best Sitcom award at the 2007 BAFTAs, and won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Situation Comedy & Comedy Drama. Luckily they recaptured the magic and were pleased with the end result. As well as the telly she is a star of the stage, performing on the West End in Little Shop of Horros, Legally Blonde, and Joseph. [10], Another Christmas special, "The Golden Egg Cup", was broadcast on 25 December 2009, at 9:00pm on BBC One and also in HD on the BBC HD channel.