- Radio Times
- Review by:
- Emma Sturgess
Last year the Brockmans decided to go away for Christmas: this year they’re throwing a party at the heart of their community. But the bosom of the neighbourhood is not as pillowy and restful as they might like. The guests include Norris, who has opinions; Ray, who used to be a weatherman and doesn’t seem to have coped well afterwards;
and Jane, whose romantic life is unmanageable.
Gran turns up for a surprise visit, Karen is online most of the time and at the window, there’s the gentle, then insistent, tap-tap of a winter virus. There’s only so much spirit-lifting a gathering of neighbours can be expected to do. For everything else, there’s Ben and his party games. Christmas Swingball, anyone?
About this programme
The Brockmans do their bit for the community by throwing a Christmas party for their friends and neighbours - but as they might have known, things don't go as planned. Jake seems to have fallen in with a bad crowd, Karen would rather be chatting online and Pete's mum has turned up unexpectedly. The guests aren't exactly a barrel of laughs either, as they include Sue's friend Jane, whose love life is a disaster zone, traumatised ex-weatherman Ray and opinionated neighbour Norris. However, the party games seem to go with a swing, thanks to organiser Ben. Blind football anyone? Sanjeev Bhaskar and Mark Heap guest star in this festive special of the hit domestic comedy, with Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Pete
- Hugh Dennis
- Sue
- Claire Skinner
- Jake
- Tyger Drew-Honey
- Ben
- Daniel Roche
- Karen
- Ramona Marquez
- Gran
- Rosalind Ayres
- Jane
- Hattie Morahan
- Norris
- Mark Heap
- Ray
- Sanjeev Bhaskar
- Mary
- Sarah Woodward
- Tatiana
- Susannah Doyle
- PC Dixon
- Bob Cryer
Crew
- Director
- Andy Hamilton
- Director
- Guy Jenkin
- Executive Producer
- Jimmy Mulville
- Executive Producer
- Gregor Sharp
- Producer
- Andy Hamilton
- Producer
- Guy Jenkin
- Writer
- Andy Hamilton
- Writer
- Guy Jenkin
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