Dated or Delightful: British Comedy Christmas Specials
As many of you probably know I work in a library where I have the distinct pleasure of being in charge of the DVD collection. And as I go about my duties I occasionally come upon an item that I didn’t realize we had. Recently, while restocking a display of our seasonal offerings, I stumbled across a festive anthology called the BBC Holiday Comedy Collection. I was especially delighted to find that it contained a number of Christmas episodes I’ve never seen before all from sitcoms of the 70’s through the 90’s.
It should come as no surprise that I checked that DVD out and started binge watching it immediately. I was most curious to find if these Yuletide episodes would be hopelessly dated or conversely lovely nostalgic celebrations of the season. From Blackadder’s Christmas Carol (a Scrooge story in reverse) to the Vicar of Dibley’s Nativity play that turns a bit too realistic, I plunged into a world of uniquely British Christmas traditions and universal holiday sentiments.
Therefore, after screening the lot, I contend that they are delightful for their timeless Christmas-ness. I mean who doesn’t yearn to revisit simpler times during the holidays, eh? Here are a handful of examples of the British Christmas idyll with a healthy sprinkling of laughter thrown in for good measure. I’ll think you’ll find Christmas "cheer" and mistletoe popular themes that run throughout.
Are You Being Served? - Christmas Crackers
First aired: December 22, 1975
Cast includes: Frank Thornton, Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Wendy Richard, Trevor Bannister
Synopsis: Christmas is approaching and as usual Grace Bros. is looking for a way to increase holiday sales. The management has splurged on fairy tale character costumes for the staff and winter wonderland decorations to enchant the shoppers. The reward for Captain Peacock and his charges? A less than satisfactory canteen Christmas dinner…
Holiday tradition nods: Christmas crackers; a full dinner including turkey, Brussels sprouts and Christmas pud set alight; pantomime costumes, grottos.
