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IMDbPro

The Royle Family

  • TV Series
  • 1998–2012
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
9.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,990
4,630
The Royle Family (1998)
MockumentarySitcomComedy

A British sitcom about the everyday life of a working-class family in Northwest England: watching telly, smoking, drinking, and bickering.A British sitcom about the everyday life of a working-class family in Northwest England: watching telly, smoking, drinking, and bickering.A British sitcom about the everyday life of a working-class family in Northwest England: watching telly, smoking, drinking, and bickering.

  • Stars
    • Caroline Aherne
    • Craig Cash
    • Sue Johnston
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    9.6K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,990
    4,630
    • Stars
      • Caroline Aherne
      • Craig Cash
      • Sue Johnston
    • 48User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 BAFTA Awards
      • 23 wins & 14 nominations total

    Episodes25

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    Photos38

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    Top cast36

    Edit
    Caroline Aherne
    Caroline Aherne
    • Denise Best…
    • 1998–2012
    Craig Cash
    Craig Cash
    • Dave Best…
    • 1998–2012
    Sue Johnston
    Sue Johnston
    • Barbara Royle…
    • 1998–2012
    Ricky Tomlinson
    Ricky Tomlinson
    • Jim Royle…
    • 1998–2012
    Ralf Little
    Ralf Little
    • Antony Royle
    • 1998–2010
    Jessica Hynes
    Jessica Hynes
    • Cheryl Carroll…
    • 1998–2010
    Liz Smith
    Liz Smith
    • Norma Speakman…
    • 1998–2006
    Peter Martin
    Peter Martin
    • Joe Carroll…
    • 1998–2012
    Doreen Keogh
    Doreen Keogh
    • Mary Carroll
    • 1998–2006
    Geoffrey Hughes
    Geoffrey Hughes
    • Twiggy
    • 1998–2008
    James Hughes
    • Baby David
    • 2000
    Matthew Hughes
    • Baby David
    • 2000
    Andrew Whyment
    Andrew Whyment
    • Darren Sinclair-Jones
    • 1999–2000
    Sheridan Smith
    Sheridan Smith
    • Emma Kavanagh…
    • 1999–2000
    John Delaney
    • P J…
    • 2000–2006
    Lorraine Bruce
    Lorraine Bruce
    • Carol
    • 2012
    Joanne Froggatt
    Joanne Froggatt
    • Saskia
    • 2010
    Mary Healey
    Mary Healey
    • Philomena
    • 2012
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews48

    8.29.6K
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    Featured reviews

    roisinmoriarty

    It really grows on you

    I wasn't sure what to make of "The Royle Family" when I first saw it. It tends to meander a lot and if you're looking for action and excitement - forget it. But I stuck with it and after the first couple of episodes I was hooked. I've never seen such brilliantly observed characters on the small screen. They have been superbly created by the writers and brought to startlingly real life by a wonderful cast of actors.

    Anyone who thinks this show is boring is really missing the subtlety of it. If you live in working class England, be it Newcastle, Liverpool, London, Manchester or just about any of the big cities, you'll know these people. You may even find elements of yourself or your friends in there. This is real English life; you might not want to believe me but it's true - I've seen it, I've grown up with it.

    The closest American TV has come to depicting working class characters in a humorous way is with "Roseanne", "Grace Under Fire" and "Married with Children". While they all have their place in the lexicon of blue collar comedy, none of them could come close to matching "The Royle Family" because the humour is too obvious to be realistic. With this wonderful show you can find yourself laughing at an exchange between the mother and future son-in-law that involves nothing more sophisticated than him telling her what he had for his tea. But it works! It really is funny and if you can't see that then it's a real shame because you're missing out on something very special.

    A classic - simple as that.
    desmei

    Subtle

    We've only had access to BBC Canada for a few weeks now, but I'm finding myself making sure that I'm in front of the tv at 8:30 on Tuesday nights. I can't think of any Canadian or American shows that I HAVE to watch, even season premieres or finales! The Royle Family is unlike anything I've ever watched before; nothing happens but it's riveting! The characters rarely move from their couch, and when they do, it's just to stray into the kitchen to brew a cuppa. It makes American humour seem extremely brash and forced. Two thumbs up!!
    prose

    Another gem from Merseyside

    If you're not fully versed with British humour, and in particular humour from the Liverpool-Manchester area, then this may not be the show for you. The script is brilliant, the delivery even brillianter, with standout performances by Liz Smith as Nanna and Ricky Tomlinson as Jim. To mention only two of the cast by name seems unfair indeed, as the whole cast are real - too real.

    I thought the Brits had done everything they were capable of doing comedy-wise, but this show just seems to come out of nowhere, although in truth it comes out of the lounge-rooms of working class families all over the world.

    There's sharp, as well as subtle, observation of rituals which occur in one form or another within many families. From endless goings-on to do with Denise's wedding, to using young Antony as the perpetual errand boy to the `offy', to Jim's frequent visits to have a `tom tit', to Nanna's musings about being a non-drinker (except for the champagne, and the sherry, and of course, the stout), this show is a gem which will certainly remain as a social commentary of the times for years to come.
    paul sloan

    Half The World Away

    Totally unique.Tremendous observational comedy.We all know folk like these characters. The writing and acting are top notch especially Ricky T who really is one of the best character actors that the UK has produced. The episodes can be watched time and time again and are still funny after repeated viewings.Very few UK sitcoms are totally shot on film but in this case it lends a documentary feel to the whole proceedings.Thoroughly enjoyable and well reccomended.
    smilne-2

    The Royale Family

    Now and then comes along a perfect series (Fawlty Towers and The Office spring to mind) everybody loves them and everybody is right!! Any great show is built on the writing and the writing here is near perfect. Any show which can run over 18 episodes and 2 specials and only use 1 set AND be funny every time is genius!! Caroline Aherene has been quoted as saying this is her best work and she is right. Tha acting is the icing on the cake of course, with special mention to Sue Johnson who should get loads of work. The whole point is the exquisite, REAL language and very few visual gags. This looks and feels real all the time and runs through all human emotion; ultimately 'though it is a show about love. 11 out of 10!!!

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The BBC wanted and expected the series to be made in the usual style of a traditional television sitcom (ie. recorded live in front of a studio audience on video cameras). However, Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash insisted it had to be made in their preferred style: on a closed set and shot in an observational/documentary style, on a single 16mm film camera.
    • Goofs
      Anthony Royle is 15 in series one, which ends with Denise Royle's wedding. At the beginning of series two, it is confirmed a newly pregnant Denise has only been married for a few months - yet Anthony celebrates his 18th birthday later in the series, while Denise is still pregnant.
    • Quotes

      Denise Royle: Dad! Your flies are undone!

      Jim Royle: Ah, the cage might be open, but the beast is asleep.

      Barbara Royle: Beast, my arse!

    • Connections
      Featured in Goodbye 2000 (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Half The World Away
      Written by Noel Gallagher

      Performed by Oasis

      Track 3 of the "Whatever" single release

      Creation Records CRESCD195

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    FAQ18

    • How many seasons does The Royle Family have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 14, 1998 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Familjen Royle
    • Filming locations
      • Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK(studio location and setting)
    • Production company
      • Granada Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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