The Royle Family one-off special to air in celebration of show's 25th anniversary

Great news for fans!

Author: Charlotte RoszkoPublished 4th Aug 2023
Last updated 4th Aug 2023

The Royle Family is set to return for a one-off special to celebrate the much-loved show's 25th anniversary.

In celebration of it being 25 years since the show launched on BBC, Gold will show an updated version of the 2010 documentary The Royle Family: Down The Back Of The Sofa, in September. The show will feature the show's stars Ricky Tomlinson, Ralf Little, Craig Cash and Sue Johnston and gives fans a chance to see interviews with the show's stars and co-creators.

The documentary will also include insights from a series of celebrity fans in addition to Craig Cash and Caroline Aherne's only filmed interview as a pair.

Gold commissioning editor, Jason Dawson, said: "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 beloved shows."

Gold's channel director, Gerald Casey, added: "We absolutely love an anniversary on Gold, and we know our viewers love these nostalgic trips down memory lane just as much as us. It is an honour to have this retrospective documentary airing on Gold this September."

The Royle Family was written by Craig Cash and Caroline Aherne - who sadly died in 2016 aged 52. The show ran from 1998 to 2000 and returned for several specials between 2006 and 2012.

Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson recently teamed up once again to appear on Celebrity Gogglebox - watching TV like their characters Jim and Barbara.

Speaking about the show, Ricky said: "When it first aired, Gogglebox was called 'the real Royle Family', so this is a full circle moment. Sue and I together again, in front of the box!"

Take a look at the TV shows we wish would make a comeback:

Dad's Army

Written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, Dad's Army ran for nine series on the BBC between 1968 and 1977.


The popular sitcom was about the UK's Home Guard during the Second World War and it gained an impressive 18 million viewers!

Fawlty Towers

Although only two series of Fawlty Towers was made, the show was very popular when it aired on BBC Two between 1975 and 1979.


Written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, the sitcom, which was set in the fictional hotel of Fawlty Towers in the seaside town of Torquay, starred the likes of John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Connie Booth and Andrew Sachs.
In February 2023 it was announced the series would be returning with John Cleese and his daughter Camilla playing his on-screen daughter.

The Royle Family

Running for three series between 1998 to 2000, and two specials in 2006 to 2012, The Royle Family was sure to make you laugh.


Created by the late Caroline Aherne, the sitcom followed the lives of fictional working-class family The Royles, including Jim Royle, his wife Barbara, their daughter Denise, their son Antony, and Denise's husband David.

Grange Hill

The gripping storylines and relatable characters in Grange Hill had us glued to our screens between 1978 and 2018.


With an incredible 31 series over 30 years, Grange Hill was one of the longest-running shows on British TV!

Only Fools and Horses

Perhaps one of the most iconic TV shows ever to grace our screens! Only Fools and Horses ran for seven series in the end, made up of 64 episodes in total.


Created and written by John Sullivan, the brilliant sitcom aired for 10 years on BBC One between 1981 and 1991 and followed the lives of market trader Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter and his younger brother Rodney.

Stars In Their Eyes

A true classic! Stars In Their Eyes, originally hosted by Leslie Crowther, first aired in 1990 with Matthew Kelly taking over in 1993. The show did make a return with Harry Hill in 2015, but it didn't quite take off!

Absolutely Fabulous

Absolutely Fabulous, or Ab Fab as it's more commonly known, was created off the back of the French and Saunders sketch and first aired back in 1992.


Featuring Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha, the sitcom aired for five series, with 39 episodes.


More recently in 2019, a movie called Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie landed in cinemas much to the delight of fans.

The Bill

First broadcast in 1983, police drama The Bill certainly proved popular, airing until 2010. The show focused on the lives and work of police officers and starred well-known actors such as Trudie Goodwin, Graham Cole and Mark Wingett.

Blackadder

Starring the legendary Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, the popular period sitcom one split into four series, airing on BBC One between 1983 and 1989.


The series were called: The Black Adder, Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third, and Blackadder Goes Forth, as well as a number of specials.

Father Ted

We were gifted with three series of Father Ted between 1995 and 1998, which was written by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews.


Featuring Dermot Morgan as Father Ted Crilly, the sitcom showed the priests living together in a parochial house with their housekeeper Mrs Doyle.


With just 25 episodes in total, we'd love some more!

Porridge

Starring Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, Porridge is certainly another iconic sitcom which graced our screens between 1974 and 1977.


With three series and two Christmas specials, Porridge followed the lives of two prison inmates, Norman Fletcher and Lennie Godber, who were serving at the fictional HMP Slade.

Where The Heart Is

British drama Where The Heart Is, which was filmed in the Yorkshire town of Skelthwaite, proved very popular with viewers between 1997-2006, showcasing the lives of a group of district nurses and their families.

The Young Ones

The Young Ones, which aired for two series between 1982 and 1984, kickstarted the careers of the likes of Adrian Edmondson, Mayall, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan, and Alexei Sayle.


Including surreal jokes, visual humour and slapstick gags, The Young Ones followed the lives of four students and their landlord's family.

'Allo 'Allo!

After being commissioned following a successful pilot episode, 'Allo 'Allo! ran for nine series between 1984 and 1992, airing on BBC One.


The show, which went on to run for nine series with 85 episodes, followed a café owner in Nouvion, during the German occupation of France in the Second World War.

Hi-de-Hi!

Written by Dad's Army writers Jimmy Perry and David Croft, Hi-de-Hi! was set in a fictional holiday camp called Maplins and aired between 1980 and 1988 for nine series.


The popular BBC sitcom revolved around Maplins' entertainers.

It's a Knockout

It was stupid, it was crazy, but it was certainly fun! It's a Knockout started way back in 1966, but the show made a number of returns on BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5!

Bottom

Airing on BBC Two for three series between 1991 and 1995, Bottom starred creators Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall as Edward Elizabeth 'Eddie' Hitler and Richard 'Richie Richard.


The show followed the two flatmates in Hammersmith, West London, with no jobs and little money.

Steptoe and Son

British sitcom Steptoe and Son had two runs on the BBC, one in black and white between 1962 and 1965, and another in colour between 1970 and 1974.

Are You Being Served?

Are You Being Served? followed the lives of staff in fictional department store Grace Brothers.


The sitcom ran for 10 series on the BBC between 1972 and 1985, as well as a number of Christmas specials!

The Vicar of Dibley

Set in a fictional Oxfordshire village called Dibley, The Vicar of Dibley stars Dawn French in the lead role as The Reverend Geraldine Granger.


The series, which ran between 1994-2020 (with a number of specials), also featured popular actors Gary Waldhorn, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Trevor Peacock and Emma Chambers.

Rising Damp

Produced for ITV, Rising Damp aired for four series between 1974 and 1978.


Due to the popularity of the TV show, Rising Damp was turned into a feature film in 1980.

London's Burning

Airing between 1988 and 2002, London's Burning documented the lives of a fictional London Fire Brigade Blue Watch at the fictional Blackwall fire station.

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How to listen to Hits Radio

Turn it up with Hits Radio! Home of Fleur East, Sam Thompson and Gemma Atkinson playing the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks, alongside the biggest laughs and life-changing competitions. Tune in on FM, DAB, online, ask your Smart Speaker to 'Play Hits Radio' and download the Rayo app.