The Royle Family. Image shows from L to R: Denise Royle / Best (Caroline Aherne), Dave Best (Craig Cash), Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson), Antony Royle (Ralf Little)
The Royle Family

The Royle Family

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One / BBC Two
  • 1998 - 2012
  • 25 episodes (3 series)

The Royles are a family of couch potatoes who watch television in their dirty living room whilst chatting, arguing, and drinking copious amounts of tea and alcohol. Stars Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Caroline Aherne, Ralf Little, Craig Cash and more.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 1,043

Press clippings Page 3

Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston abandon plans for care home sitcom

Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston have abandoned plans to reunite for a Royle Family spin-off set in a care home.

British Comedy Guide, 22nd July 2020

Poll reveals the best sitcom Christmas specials

The finale of The Office has been voted as the best TV Christmas sitcom special by readers of Radio Times.

British Comedy Guide, 11th December 2019

Fawlty Towers tops Radio Times greatest British sitcom list

Fawlty Towers has come out top of a list of the greatest British sitcoms, as compiled by Radio Times magazine.

British Comedy Guide, 9th April 2019

Which is the best Christmas special of all time?

As the festive TV schedules are received with the usual grumbles, Amelia Tait gets scientific about what makes the perfect Christmas sitcom.

Amela Tait, i Newspaper, 22nd December 2018

When sitcom gets serious

I have been thinking about the power of pathos in sitcom.

A Dose Of David Mitchell, 4th October 2018

Craig Cash remembers Caroline Aherne

'I hope Caroline Aherne's heckling me from heaven!'

Jim White, Daily Mail, 23rd September 2018

The Royle Family baffled the BBC but touched the nation

"Sitcom my arse!" That's likely what Jim Royle would have bellowed at the television if he'd seen his own comedy series. As concepts go, it's mundane: drinking tea, smoking ciggies, and nattering in front of the telly. No falling through bars. No funny walks and not mentioning the war. No racing down a hillside in the bathtub.

Tom Fordy, The Telegraph, 14th September 2018

What can we learn from the famous sitcom sofas?

Furniture-maker David Robinson reveals what we can infer from comedy couches.

Ralph Jones, ShortList, 6th September 2018

The best 90s TV comedies to revisit on Netflix

Here are the best TV comedies of the 90s to watch on the streaming service.

Alex Nelson, i Newspaper, 8th February 2018

Ricky Tomlinson: Caroline Aherne still deserves a Bafta

The actor shared his love for his Royle Family daughter on the anniversary of her death.

BT, 2nd July 2017

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