SQShowSquad
CalendarSign inJoin
SQShowSquad
CalendarSign inJoin
The Royle Family
RELEASED·SERIES·EN

The Royle Family

Mon, Sep 14, 1998
  • Comedy
Series · Synopsis

Synopsis

The Royle Family is a British sitcom created by Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, and produced by Granada Television for BBC Two (series 1) and BBC One (series 2 and 3). It centres on the lives of a television-fixated Manchester family, the Royles, comprising lazy patriarch Jim, his hard-working wife Barbara, their entitled daughter Denise, their put-upon son Antony, and Denise's lad fiancé–later husband–David.

Trailer

Watch the trailer

Where to watch

Streaming on

  • Amazon Prime Video↗
  • Britbox Apple TV Channel ↗
  • BritBox↗
  • BritBox Amazon Channel↗
  • Amazon Prime Video with Ads↗
Cast

Top of the call sheet

  • Ricky Tomlinson
    Ricky Tomlinson
    as Jim Royle
  • Sue Johnston
    Sue Johnston
    as Barbara Royle
  • Caroline Aherne
    Caroline Aherne
    as Denise Royle
  • Craig Cash
    Craig Cash
    as Dave Best
  • Ralf Little
    Ralf Little
    as Antony Royle
Related

If you’re into this…

  • Till Death Us Do Part
    Till Death Us Do Part
    1966 · series
  • Leave It to Beaver
    Leave It to Beaver
    1957 · series
  • American Housewife
    American Housewife
    2016 · series
  • Father Knows Best
    Father Knows Best
    1954 · series
  • The Hogan Family
    The Hogan Family
    1986 · series
  • Married... with Children
    Married... with Children
    1987 · series
  • 2Point4 Children
    2Point4 Children
    1991 · series
  • Still Standing
    Still Standing
    2002 · series
  • Last of the Summer Wine
    Last of the Summer Wine
    1973 · series
  • The Middle
    The Middle
    2009 · series
Episodes

3 seasons · 20 episodes

Ended · 20 aired
Season 1
6 episodes · 6 aired
▾
  • E1
    Episode 1
    Aired · Mon, Sep 14, 1998 · 30m

    Jim is annoyed when the latest phone bill arrives and finds out someone has been calling Aberdeen. Cheryl brings over a catalogue, and she and Denise decide to buy leather jackets. Meanwhile, Barbara is nervous about starting her new job at the bakers.

  • E2
    Episode 2
    Aired · Mon, Sep 21, 1998 · 30m

    The family watch television after having dinner, and are forced to listen to Jim moan about the cost of Denise's upcoming wedding.

  • E3
    Episode 3
    Aired · Mon, Sep 28, 1998 · 30m

    It's Sunday afternoon and Nana is visiting. Jim helps Antony do the dishes to avoid listening to her. Meanwhile, Mary and Cheryl come over to help Denise try on her wedding dress and Dave's recovering from a hangover.

  • E4
    Episode 4
    Aired · Mon, Oct 5, 1998 · 30m

    It's Jim's birthday. The family celebrate in their own style with cake, pomagne and photos. Meanwhile, Denise has a hangover although she claims it's a headache due to stress, and Antony has a black eye after fighting with the Beswick brothers.

  • E5
    Episode 5
    Aired · Mon, Oct 12, 1998 · 30m

    Denise and Dave come home from one of Dave's DJ gigs arguing about Beverly Macca. Barbara consoles a drunk Denise, who tells her Dave was flirting with Beverly. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Dave tells Jim and Antony there was nothing in it. After a talk with Barbara and Jim she forgives Dave and the family engage in a sing-a-long with Jim's banjo.

  • E6
    Episode 6
    Aired · Mon, Oct 19, 1998 · 30m

    The morning of Dave and Denise's wedding arrives. Everything is going wrong for the bride who can't stop crying. Dave, Jim and Twiggy have some drinks in the kitchen, and Jim practises his "fatherly" speech. Cheryl thinks Twiggy is trying to "cop" with her, Nana is getting on everyone's nerves and Antony got a haircut.

Season 2
7 episodes · 7 aired
▾
  • E1
    Episode 1
    Aired · Thu, Sep 23, 1999 · 30m

    Barbara and Jim are overwhelmed when Denise announces that she is pregnant. Meanwhile, Antony makes Dave and Denise a bacon sandwich because of their less exciting tea, Dairylea on toast.

  • E2
    Episode 2
    Aired · Thu, Sep 30, 1999 · 30m

    Nana and Twiggy come round for Sunday lunch. Barbara loses her temper during lunch. Denise suspects her mother is going through the menopause, or "the change" as Nana puts it.

  • E3
    Episode 3
    Aired · Thu, Oct 7, 1999 · 30m

    Jim is annoyed when he learns that Barbara has invited Nana to come and stay after her cataract operation. Antony announces that he's become the manager of a band called 'Exit', which the family find hysterical (especially Jim).

  • E4
    Episode 4
    Aired · Thu, Oct 14, 1999 · 30m

    Nana has had her cataract operation and is staying with the Royles. Jim is unwilling to hide his annoyance. Antony's band has split up.

  • E5
    Episode 5
    Aired · Thu, Oct 21, 1999 · 30m

    Barbara cries to Denise that she is sick of Jim's laziness and lack of compassion while Jim complains to Dave that it's the menopause that's making Barbara act this way. After a while, Barbara storms out the house, but Jim does nothing and watches Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with Dave and Denise. Barbara returns and Jim consoles her.

  • E6
    Episode 6
    Aired · Thu, Oct 28, 1999 · 30m

    The Royles and all their friends gather at the house to celebrate Antony's 18th birthday. They are all nervous when they finally get to meet his girlfriend Emma.

  • E7
    Christmas with the Royle Family
    Aired · Sat, Dec 25, 1999 · 40m

    It's Christmas Day. The family have just finished a big Christmas dinner. Barbara learns her turkey wasn't up to scratch, and Dave buys Denise a mobile phone for when the baby is born. Antony goes to Emma's shortly afterwards, and Dave takes Nana home. Soon after Dave and Nana have left, Denise goes into labour upstairs in the bathroom, and Jim is left to comfort her.

Season 3
7 episodes · 7 aired
▾
  • E1
    Baby
    Aired · Mon, Oct 16, 2000 · 30m

    Denise and Dave bring their newborn, Baby David, to visit his grandparents. Barbara is shocked that Denise is leaving all the work to Dave. Meanwhile, Antony brings Darren over, who was caught attempting to steal a fridge/freezer from his place of work.

  • E2
    Babysitting
    Aired · Mon, Oct 23, 2000 · 30m

    Baby David has stayed the night with Barbara and Jim so Denise and Dave could go to the pub for their anniversary. They arrive with hangovers. Meanwhile, Joe cut his hand while grating cheese for Cheryl.

  • E3
    Decorating
    Aired · Mon, Oct 30, 2000 · 30m

    Jim and Twiggy decorate the dining area for Baby David's christening by scraping off the wallpaper. Dave is blackmailed into helping when he arrives. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Barbara is cooking bacon sandwiches for everyone whilst talking to Denise and Cheryl.

  • E4
    Funeral
    Aired · Mon, Nov 6, 2000 · 30m

    Nana's old neighbour, Elsie, has died and Nana and Barbara have just returned from the funeral. Jim becomes annoyed with Nana as she fluctuates between mourning and planning to pilfer in Elsie's flat.

  • E5
    London
    Aired · Mon, Nov 13, 2000 · 30m

    Antony announces that he and Darren, the managers of their band, are going to London to find a record deal. Jim continues to pour scorn on their plans, while Nana contributes £3 to their trip.

  • E6
    Christening
    Aired · Mon, Nov 27, 2000 · 30m

    The day of Baby David's christening has arrived. Everyone has gathered at the Royle house for the buffet Barbara has prepared, including Twiggy's new girlfriend, Michelle. Denise worries she has nothing to talk about with Baby David while Antony announces that he and Emma are getting married (leading Barbara and Jim to guess that Emma is pregnant).

  • E7
    The Royle Family at Christmas
    Aired · Mon, Dec 25, 2000 · 30m

    Baby David's first birthday comes around and the Royles' sit down for Christmas dinner. They are joined by Darren and Emma – who is having a baby – and her parents. Emma's father, Roger constantly boasts about his wealth, which annoys Jim. After they leave, Jim's mood is turned around when he receives a Christmas present of Sky TV.