Video: The cast and writer of Outnumbered on Christmas

The chaotic Brockman family from the hit comedy series Outnumbered are back for a festive special this weekend.

They've decided to go away for Christmas, but as per usual it's not exactly stress-free.

Two of the stars of the series, Tyger Drew-Honey and Daniel Roche, joined the show's writer Andy Hamilton on the BBC Breakfast sofa to talk about Christmas in the Brockman household.

Sheer affection for the hapless Brockman clan sustains this seasonal episode, which, although perfectly watchable, isn't up to the standard of their last Christmas special. We may even be coming to the end of the line for this excellent series - the children are getting older and seeming more like regular middle-class sitcom kids, rather than the striking, precocious infant improvisers of yore. Tonight, a Premium Bond win has afforded them the opportunity of a Christmas break in the sun. But before the airport dash, there's an emergency trip to the dentist for Karen and a visit to a now ward-bound granddad, lost in a world of sing-song.

Don't forget Outnumbered this Christmas, which sees the Brockmans flying off to Tenerife on Christmas morning. Just time, then, to clean the oven, visit Grandad in his care home (where he is busy mistaking John Simpson for the Queen and singing the theme tune from Bonanza) and take Karen to the dentist, before Mum's emotionally unstable friend Jane arrives to look after the house. Key line: "Dad nearly said the F-word, everybody!"

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So here's the situation chez Brockman as we pick up from last week's surprises (spoiler alert for those who haven't seen the last episode - although, to be fair, it's a sitcom not a conspiracy thriller): Auntie Angela is staying, because her American husband turned abusive, but his lawyers are pursuing her because she brought his teenage daughter with her. Does this mean Sue and Pete are now harbouring someone guilty of child abduction?

Plus Jake has started dating a 19-year-old pole dancer, which is also technically illegal as he's only 15. And there's one more rogue element: an unexpected arrival at the door that produces a brilliant reaction from Claire Skinner as Sue.

Tonight in the semi-improvised family sitcom, another guest arrives to stay, just as the Brockmans are trying to get rid of Auntie Angela (Samantha Bond). Mother Sue (Claire Skinner) has to make a decision about the girlfriend of eldest son Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey). Meanwhile, stars of the show Ben and Karen (Daniel Roche and Ramona Marquez) discuss dreams, the Mafia and trampolining bears. As one does. This is the last in the series but fans shouldn't despair - the Brockmans will be back for a Christmas special.

BBC Writersroom: Outnumbered script

The Series 4 Episode 5 Outnumbered script can be found in the BBC Writersroom archive.

There are points in a good episode when Outnumbered picks up enough farcical momentum to snowball into something glorious. Tonight it happens when three storylines intertwine. Revealing what two of them are would spoil things, but the third and funniest involves Ben trying to work out an act for his school talent contest.

Should he try sword swallowing? Or singing? (Daniel Roche does a fine Louis Armstrong.) Perhaps he should juggle lobsters and crabs? Or conduct a choir of parrots? The idea Ben finally settles on sends Roche off on a minor tour de force with some lovely old-school gags and comedy business that's all his own.

Screened a day early to accommodate Strictly Come Dancing's launch tomorrow, tonight's episode centres on Sue's tiresome sister Angela (Samantha Bond), who raises Sue and Pete's ire when they discover she has criticised them in a book. Angela's line in self-indulgent mumbo-jumbo makes her more of a cliché than other characters, so the laugh count tonight is lower. But Karen's (Ramona Marquez) dismissal of a cold caller at the front door is both brutal and very funny.