Christmas Crackers (Only Fools and Horses)

Only Fools and Horses episode
"Christmas Crackers"
Series	Christmas Special
Writer	John Sullivan
Director	Bernard Thompson
Producer	Bernard Thompson
Duration	35 minutes 33:35 (DVD) 33:34 (iTunes)
Airdate	28 December 1981
Audience	7.5 million

"Christmas Crackers" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 28 December 1981. It was the first Christmas special edition of the show.

Synopsis

It's Christmas in Peckham, and Grandad is cooking the dinner while Rodney is reading the "Dark Arts" book, which Mickey Pearce gave him. Del returns and gives Grandad money for Christmas, and Grandad annoys Del by saying "I never got you nuthin, as I don't believe in it". Rodney is worried about Grandad's cooking, and suggests to Del going on Hunger Strike, but Del refuses, saying that it is Grandad's role to cook the dinner, it makes him feel although he is needed in the family.

That night, Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad have dinner, a turkey, which they believe to be fairly cooked, that is until it is revealed Grandad forgot to take the giblets out. Christmas Pudding is no better, as Grandad burns it, Del and Rodders decide that dinner is over.

With Del asleep on the sofa, Rodney is watching television when he tells Del he hates the Circus. Del awakens, and Rodney asks him if he wants to go to the local Monte Carlo Club in Newcross. They argue and Rodney falls out with him, and Del explains to him that Grandad would be hurt if they left. However, Grandad comes in and announces he is going out, as he is sick of the Brothers fighting. With this, they head out.

Later at the nightclub, Rodney spots two woman, one of whom he fancies. He reads his book before he goes, to which Del teases him, and Rodney ignores him and goes. Del embarrasses him by shouting at him halfway across the dancefloor, and Rodney gets annoyed with Del's embarrassment towards him. Rodney and Del eventually go to talk to the woman, but find that two guys have already beat them to it and the woman dance with them, much to Del and Rodder's horror.

Episode cast

Actor	Role
David Jason	Del Boy
Nicholas Lyndhurst	Rodney
Lennard Pearce	Grandad
Desmond McNamara	Earl
Nora Connolly	Anita

Production

• This was the sole episode of Only Fools and Horses between 1981 and 1987 not to be produced by Ray Butt, who after the first series of the show, was re-assigned to Seconds Out by the BBC. The initial plan was for Martin Shardlow, who had directed the first series, to also take on the producer's role for this episode and the second full series. However, Shardlow and John Sullivan could not agree on a future direction for the show, which eventually resulted in Shardlow deciding not to take the producer's role and leaving the show altogether. With this episode in danger of not being filmed in time for Christmas 1981, Ray Butt arranged for his close friend and fellow BBC producer Bernard Thompson to produce and direct the episode, and Butt would subsequently return as producer (and this time director) for the second series.^[1]

Music

• Brotherhood Of Man : Three Times A Lady
• Cliff Richard : "Daddy's Home"
• Cliff Richard : Shakin' All Over
• Tom Tom Club : Wordy Rappinghood
• The Waitresses : Christmas Wrapping
• Brotherhood Of Man : Bright Eyes

References

1. ^ Only Fools and Horses: The Bible of Peckham Volume One, BBC Books

External links

• "Christmas Crackers" at BBC Online
• "Christmas Crackers" at the Internet Movie Database

Preceded by The Russians Are Coming

Only Fools and Horses 28 December 1981

Succeeded by The Long Legs of the Law