The Royle Family: Season 2

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. Enjoy all six episodes of this BAFTA® Award-winning series, plus the Christmas Special.

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.

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.

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

“…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

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