Royles have a Wales of a time

Channel Hopping: JINGLE bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way — oh what fun it is to see the Royles go away . . . and abroad no less. Well, Prestatyn.

This was The Royle Family’s “Golden Egg Cup” special which although a bit scrambled, still dipped into enough spoonfuls of laugh-out-loud comedy to fill the hour-long slot.

New to the 2009 menu was “The One Show” fascination — allied to the fact the family actually ventured out of the house, if not the caravan — and eggy bread for breakfast (there was no chip pan).

Back at the house it would have been nice to see larger than life Twiggy — and next-door-neighbours Mary and Joseph were missing Mary — but at least “our Anthony” made a return . . . if not a brew.

He’s one lazy little sod.

Lacking a bit of bite it may have been, but with old favourites like Jim on the lav and talk of Denise’s culinary delights — roast chicken (crisps) for tea — it felt like they’d never been away . . . well, they haven’t.


FESTIVITIES in soapland were low on Christmas cheer . . . in fact, it was murder on Albert Square — just ask Archie. Larry Lamb better start looking for work. His character’s been killed off and “Gavin and Stacey” finishes for good on Friday.

No surprise that Janine is in the frame, after all it was death by bust in the Vic. Another “EastEnders” whodunit — and there’s only Phil’s ballet dancing son Ben who isn’t a suspect, though I have a feeling he was to blame for the mess upstairs.


OVER in Weatherfield, Sally made a grim discovery of her own — she’s been cooking parsnips for 15 years and no-one likes them.

The Websters didn’t fair much better on “All Star Family Fortunes”.

When asked to name something associated with Cinderella, Kevin – also known as Michael Le Vell — plumped for “the castle” (I know, I thought that too).

You can guess what the survey said.

Soap roar: Ashley’s butchering side-kick Graham making a play for glamour-puss Rosie on the Street. Plenty of meat to add to the bones of that storyline.

Soap bore: Ken and Peter’s bar-room bickering. Little Simon is more grown up than the pair of ’em.