I watched this in 87 when it came out and I have never seen it since. I look in the TV guide every year but to no avail. Glad I have seen it on here as I think I may have dreamt it. If anyone knows how to get a copy, downloaded or whatever I would be very grateful. The story was before its time and these days would maybe be likened to the royal family. The funniest part is when the youngest son has not bought any presents for his family so feeling a little ashamed he takes them to the shed and gives then all electrical items. His father, who is shooting the video says "He must have cleaned out Dixons" he sure did as the police come to arrest him about half an hour later.
7 Reviews
Classic !!
tomrules3012 November 2005
My family and I watch this every year as some sort of Christmas ritual and its always great fun. The show was a one off Christmas special I have never seen anywhere else, our copy is of a chance recording made back in 1987!!
The show is about the festive exploits of a rather dysfunctional family, detailing the events from the buying of the Christmas turkey, to the inevitable trip to the hospital after the Xmas party. All in typical Smith and Jones style.
The film is shot (as the name suggests) like it was shot on home-camcorders from the 1980's adding to the sensation that you've seen all this before, just not on TV!!
The show is about the festive exploits of a rather dysfunctional family, detailing the events from the buying of the Christmas turkey, to the inevitable trip to the hospital after the Xmas party. All in typical Smith and Jones style.
The film is shot (as the name suggests) like it was shot on home-camcorders from the 1980's adding to the sensation that you've seen all this before, just not on TV!!
An true Christmas classic!
jamesbrucedarroch5 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Smith and Jones's funniest half hour by far; Why this has never been shown again is beyond me! Just like the previous reviewer, I also taped this by chance back in '87, and now have to fight my brother and sister for custody of the tape each Christmas! If you ever saw the regular Smith and Jones series, you might remember the odd skit of a Dad filming his family with a camcorder; This is the same, but writ large.
There are too many highlights to mention them all, but of particular note are the "Traditional stealing of the xmas tree" and "Len's xmas head scrambler". The family are quite endearing in a chavvy sort of way, and leave you wishing they'd taken their video camera on a few holidays too...
(Also worth noting, is the appearance of a young Nigel Harmon as Peter the teenage son)
There are too many highlights to mention them all, but of particular note are the "Traditional stealing of the xmas tree" and "Len's xmas head scrambler". The family are quite endearing in a chavvy sort of way, and leave you wishing they'd taken their video camera on a few holidays too...
(Also worth noting, is the appearance of a young Nigel Harmon as Peter the teenage son)
Just been shown again on BBC4.
garyl196613 December 2018
I absolutely loved this show too
david-london-218 December 2007
I remember this very fondly too.
The idea was brilliant - it was the late 80's and video cameras were all the rage, but the in joke was that everyone who had one was really bad at using them, so it was a little shaky, you could hear the odd unkind comment from the guy as he was filming it, and you got a load of observational behaviour jokes of a sloBby family.
I remember the son handing out a keyboard, video etc which it turned out he'd nicked from dixons! the home made video idea originally was little 5 minute clips within the smith and jones series (the series which included the head to head sketches a bit like the old wispa ads)...they then developed it for this long special I'd LOVE to have a copy of this, someone must have VHS'd it! (I remember another "home made.." they did where Mel Smith's character (the lodger) lost all his porn as the shed went on fire after a barbecue.
Hard to explain how good this was - it was just class
The idea was brilliant - it was the late 80's and video cameras were all the rage, but the in joke was that everyone who had one was really bad at using them, so it was a little shaky, you could hear the odd unkind comment from the guy as he was filming it, and you got a load of observational behaviour jokes of a sloBby family.
I remember the son handing out a keyboard, video etc which it turned out he'd nicked from dixons! the home made video idea originally was little 5 minute clips within the smith and jones series (the series which included the head to head sketches a bit like the old wispa ads)...they then developed it for this long special I'd LOVE to have a copy of this, someone must have VHS'd it! (I remember another "home made.." they did where Mel Smith's character (the lodger) lost all his porn as the shed went on fire after a barbecue.
Hard to explain how good this was - it was just class
Xmas British classic
paulhodgkinson-7793125 December 2020
This is a must view for me every Xmas. I have it on dvd (in the extras) but thankfully it's on YouTube for ease. I absolutely love it. Perfect 80s working class Christmas comedy. I'd imagine many can identify with this. A brilliant skit on life back then with realistic characters:)
I absolutely love it!
s_pike129 December 2007
We used to have this on video (taped from TV back in 1987) since lost in the space time continuum. My brother and i were talking about this very programme this Christmas. I have today been searching the web to see if i can get a copy. Does anyone know if it can be bought or downloaded? I would love to see it again it is sheer comic genius, true to life and brilliantly written. From the teenage mum who gets nappies as Christmas presents and a bottle of drink with a teat on the end, to the new years party with the dustbin being filled with drink, absolutely fantastic.
The passing of the years don't seem to age it,and with all the repeats they put on at Christmas why oh why don't they put this on?!
The passing of the years don't seem to age it,and with all the repeats they put on at Christmas why oh why don't they put this on?!
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