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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

    9tim_buk2

    "I don't care if they're gay, straight or Australian."

    This sitcom is a must see for anybody like me who has fond memories of time spent working on a shop floor 'up north'. It perfectly captures the down-to-earth local sense of humour and a certain on-the-dole lifestyle, particularly from in and around the Liverpool-Manchester area.

    The writing by Caroline Ahern, Craig Cash, and Henry Normal, is understated, pin sharp and full of detail. The direction is clever and challenging as almost all the (non-) action takes place in the tiny lounge watching endless soaps on the telly or in the adjoining kitchen making endless cups of tea. Like a fly-on-the-wall documentary we watch the group dynamics and hear the conversations between the family members often with all their eyes glued to the box. Unlike most sitcoms there is no canned laughter or 'live studio audience' so it is up to the viewer to work out the funny bits.

    For example, I enjoyed spotting the fact that in an early episode father Jim Royle buys a pair of cheap jeans from a dodgy mate and then spends the rest of the series wearing them with the cuffs turned up, as they are far too long. I was also introduced to the sly betting game of who could best guess the value of the item being discussed on The Antiques Road Show. The scenes are nicely observed, from the huge, overflowing ashtrays to the TV remote control held together by red electrical insulation tape (just like mine) to the birthday bottles of Pomane.

    But what ties all this material together are the perfect performances, everyone from young Ralf Little to multi-talented Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson.

    One of the funniest things on TV and in my view an instant classic.

    Warning to non-UK readers: The Royle Family is only for the most dedicated of anglophiles - I expect half the viewers in England needed subtitles for some of the accents and idioms.

    Title music specially written by Oasis.

    Memorable quotes: [complaining when asked to fetch a couple of things from the kitchen] Denise: Shove a brush up my arse an' I'll sweep the floor.

    Mum: I don't care what anybody is. I don't care if they're gay, straight or Australian.
    Budd-5

    True Lives

    The Royle Family is successful because it's true. Political-correctness is non-existent in this household as it is in most. The dwelling is a mess. Who's house isn't? And the dialogue is never intelligent. It's silly, it's crude, but because it touches so close to reality, it's very, very funny.

    Performances are perfect. The script is dead-on. The direction is perfect in that it is unobtrusive.

    It is a strange ride watching the Royles. Most episodes are set entirely in front of the TV screen. So it often becomes a "Truman Show" experience as the Camera seems to be placed in the TV. Their lives are so real. And it is filmed in documentary style. It is the ultimate voyeuristic experience.

    Royle Family is a remarkable TV show. There is none like it. The fact that only six episodes are created a year helps to keep the show fresh. We will never become bored of these characters. Far from it. We would love to see more of this household.

    I urge you to watch an episode. From start to finish. There won't be any big scene to catch your attention but the entire episode will keep you entertained. And when the credits roll I guarantee you'll miss them when they're gone.
    walfordqueen

    A true beeb gem

    This comedy is fantastic, it's got some good dialogue that flows well but not only that all of the characters who have ever graced the show have been fantastic. The show has become a much loved comedic gem with more than it's fair share of fans and the reason it has become such a legend is because it was so well written and directed in only a way a BBC comedy could be. The character of Jim Royle (played by Ricky Tomlinson) one of the main characters in this show is a mini institution himself and then you have the delectable Sue Johnston playing his wife Barbara. They worked together fantastically on Brookside and they gel so well on this show too, it's sad that there are no new episodes of this excellent comedy currently airing but there's hope for the future.
    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!!
    9kclambeth

    Make a brew Anthony!

    The royle family is clever because the action is limited, there are pauses just like real life and it's realistic, everyone has a Jim or a Barb or a Nana in their family and everyone at times slobs in front of the T.v and talks about the pub, club biscuits and toilets (Whether we admit to it or not) The acting is good, scripts are great and Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash have great character observation. Jim Royle's catchphrases are funny and well remembered and the extra characters, Cheryl, Mary, twiggy etc are cool.

    Anthony and his dippy mate Darren are funny to watch doing their impressions.

    I have read that some people hate this show because they think the language of northerners is hard to get and they are scruffy and live in council houses.

    Welcome to the real world, people are scruffy and some do live in council houses, that can still be funny. i live in the south east of England, very far removed from Manchester but i still love their ways, their expressions and can still identify with them; it doesn't matter where you live, people all over the globe are getting married, having children, fighting with siblings, getting drunk etc.

    Yes they don't do a lot but the T.V is full of action films and sitcoms with lots of action involved, this is realism, it's about people, real people, living together and it's the realism of the show that makes it funny. We can all go 'I'm just like that' or 'oh god we're like that'.

    Give this show a chance, watch all the episodes they don't get boring, in fact it's quite addictive.

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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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