Product Description

Priceless moments from the first series of the smash hit British comedy show.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #232986 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 228 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash created a landmark comedy for the 1990s when they sat down to pen The Royle Family. Collected here are the six scripts which made up the first series of that BBC comedy by the makers of Mrs Merton.

In these pages we are invited to follow the high points of the Royle social calendar; the preparations for Denise and Dave's wedding, Mam's new job at the bakers; Dad's knock-off jeans purchase, and Antony's trips to the fag shop.

Owing more than a nod to its Ps & Qs counterpart Abigail's Party, The Royle Family echoes Mike Leigh's play in its claustrophobic representation of life in small-time Britain. The focus this time is on the working--or not working--class. The hearts and voices of the show's ensemble cast made the Royle family spring to life; but the actors' blueprint was already well established, and the flavour of the series is immediately evident in these scripts. It's true--character dialogue is lifelike to the point of an-afternoon-with-Auntie-Marge tedium, but salvation comes when the blackest of comedy undercurrents strolls among the minefields of small-talk and resigned suffrage.

Aherne and Cash have certainly demonstrated rare talent in their ability to reproduce these folk from the real world-but you may find yourself wishing they'd had the nerve to go on to comment on the society represented-instead of leaving the reader/viewer to do that work themselves.

In any case, fans of The Royle Family know exactly what they are getting with this compendium (the only extra inclusion being a short introduction from the writers). For them, it's true, there may be few surprises--but certainly, a lot of laughs. --Helen Lamont

Customer Reviews

Make the Tea Anthony,
Well what can be said, about the Royle Family on cassette. Absolutly fantastic. The cassettes feature four episodes from the first series, and are produced directly from the television episode. You instantly feel like you are watching the episode on the tv.

The chemistry of the cast especially Ricky Tomlinson and Caroline Ahearn shine through, and make this item a pleasure to listen to.

Hopefully the BEEB will produce more of these audio tapes featuring the three series.

If you are a fan of the Royle Family then you should definently buy this item.

Go ahead its well worth it.

Book 2
Like Book 1, the compilation of all six scripts from series one, this book provides the hilarious dialogue that had a nation in it's pocket. Plus an added extra, the Christmas Special script is thrown in as well.

Am I the only person who read the first script book, and whilst doing so, could imagine the characters saying the lines, hell I could even hear them speaking. No I'm not hearing voices - but once you start reading these you will do.

A great way to remember a series that at the moment is at the top of its game, but soon the BBC will move on to something else...