“Y’alright Barbreh?” “Hello Dave. Iya Denise.” “You alright Dave?” “Yeaaaah. How about you, Jim?” “Not bad lad.”
It was these words which began one of England’s finest ever television shows back in 1998: The Royle Family.
Set in the suburbs of Manchester, the show was centered around two things. A television set and the family who watched it.
Written by Caroline Aherne, the series ran for three seasons and cemented itself as a true classic in British television history through it’s hilarious portrayal of a loving, but dysfunctional, working class family at the turn of the century.
After Aherne’s tragic death at the age of just 52, all hopes for any new material came to an immediate and sad end, however now it appears that something fresh is on the horizon for the 25th anniversary of the show’s beginnings.
A refreshed version of the 2010 feature length documentary, The Royle Family: Down the Back of the Sofa is set to air on Gold.
The doc will offer fans the chance to see interviews with the show’s creators and stars. It features interviews with Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Ricky Tomlinson, and Ralf Little.
The updated doc offers new insights from a range of celebrity fans such as Rosie Jones and Diane Morgan.
Gold commissioning editor, Jason Dawson, said of the documentary: “A quarter of a century! The Royle Family has without doubt left a permanent mark in television history and we’re delighted to have commissioned this documentary for the 25th anniversary.
“Working alongside Craig and the brilliant team at Phil McIntyre is such a pleasure, and we hope viewers will enjoy reliving this celebration of one of the nation’s most beloved shows.”
The fresh documentary will air this September on Gold.
Related links:
Fans break down as Paul O’Grady makes posthumous TV appearance for Eurovision Song Contest
Ricky Tomlinson leads tributes after Royle Family star tragically passes away
The definitive ranking of the best Christmas TV episodes of all time
