Carry On Christmas Specials
Encyclopedia
The Carry On Christmas Specials were four one-off sitcoms produced for Thames Television
made in 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973. They brought the cast and formula of the Carry On films
to a television production.
and featured the same main cast from that film. It was scripted by long-term Carry On author Talbot Rothwell
. The story was an irreverent take on Charles Dickens
' A Christmas Carol
, featuring Sid James as Scrooge
.
, who had co-written Carry On Spying
with Rothwell, wrote the episode with Dave Freeman
, who would go on to script Carry On Behind
, several episodes of the Carry On Laughing
television series, and the 1992 film
, Carry On Columbus
. Based on the Robert Louis Stephenson story Treasure Island
, this episode saw the Carry on debut of Wendy Richard
, who would go on to have small roles in Carry On Matron
and Carry On Girls
.
Although the 1969 special was broadcast in colour, the 1970 special was shown in black and white due to a technicians' strike
s that caused Thames television to broadcast all their Christmas shows that year in black and white.
refused, giving top billing to Hattie Jacques instead. Hawtrey's role had hastily to be recast, and was split between Norman Rossington
and Brian Oulton
, both of whom had played cameo roles in several Carry On films. The special featured a collection of historical sketches, loosely linked around an 18th century banquet.
It included a performance of two madrigal
s originally written for Carry On Henry
. The songs reappeared in the 1973 stage show Carry On London.
Father Christmas
, although it did feature historical sketches.
's Christmas Classics saw Kenneth Williams
and Barbara Windsor introduce some of the funniest moments from the later Carry On films
, in a format very similar to the film That's Carry On!
. Although people would see this as a fifth special, it is a compilation of clips from the films, and so not officially counted as a Christmas special.
were released on DVD
, featuring special interviews
with film producer
Peter Rogers
and stars Jack Douglas
and Wendy Richard
.
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
made in 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973. They brought the cast and formula of the Carry On films
Carry On films
The Carry On films are a series of low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They are an energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres....
to a television production.
Description
The first special, Carry On Christmas, was broadcast in 1969. It was filmed shortly after the completion of Carry on Up the JungleCarry On Up the Jungle
Carry On Up the Jungle is the nineteenth Carry On film, released in 1970. The film marked Frankie Howerd's second and final appearance in the series. He stars alongside regular players Sid James, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry Scott and Bernard Bresslaw. Kenneth Williams is unusually absent...
and featured the same main cast from that film. It was scripted by long-term Carry On author Talbot Rothwell
Talbot Rothwell
Talbot Nelson Conn Rothwell, OBE was an English screenwriter.Rothwell was born in Bromley, Kent, England. He had a variety of jobs during his early life: town clerk, police officer, and Royal Air Force pilot....
. The story was an irreverent take on Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
, featuring Sid James as Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge is the principal character in Charles Dickens's 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is a cold-hearted, tight-fisted and greedy man, who despises Christmas and all things which give people happiness...
.
Cast
| Starring | Roles |
|---|---|
| Sid James Sid James Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona... |
Ebenezer Scrooge Ebenezer Scrooge Ebenezer Scrooge is the principal character in Charles Dickens's 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is a cold-hearted, tight-fisted and greedy man, who despises Christmas and all things which give people happiness... |
| Terry Scott Terry Scott Owen John "Terry" Scott was an English actor and comedian who appeared in seven Carry On films. He also appeared in BBC1's popular domestic sitcom Terry and June with June Whitfield... |
Dr Frank N Stein, Convent Girl, Mr Barrett, Baggie |
| Charles Hawtrey Charles Hawtrey (film actor) George Frederick Joffre Hartree , known as Charles Hawtrey, was an English comedy actor and musician.Beginning at a young age as a boy soprano, he made several records before moving on to the radio... |
Spirit of Christmas Past, Angel, Convent Girl, Buttons |
| Hattie Jacques Hattie Jacques Josephine Edwina Jaques was an English comedy actress, known as Hattie Jacques.Starting her career in the 1940s, Jacques first gained attention through her radio appearances with Tommy Handley on ITMA and later with Tony Hancock on Hancock's Half Hour... |
Elizabeth Barrett, Nun, Passer-by |
| Barbara Windsor Barbara Windsor Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.... |
Cinderella Cinderella "Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune... , Fanny Fanny Fanny is a given name, and a pet form of Frances.Notable people bearing this name include:* Fanny , an alias of breakcore artist Fraser Runciman* Fanny Adams, a 19th-century murder victim* Fanny Ardant, a French actress... , Spirit of Christmas Present |
| Peter Butterworth Peter Butterworth Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth was an English comedy actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in the Carry On series of films. He was also a regular on children's television and radio and appeared in seven early episodes of Doctor Who in 1965 as the 'The Meddling Monk'... |
Dracula Dracula Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor... , Beggar, Convent Girl, Haggie |
| Bernard Bresslaw Bernard Bresslaw Bernard Bresslaw was an English actor. He is best remembered for his comedy work, especially as a member of the Carry On team.-Biography:... |
Bob Cratchit Bob Cratchit Robert "Bob" Cratchit is a fictional character who is the abused, underpaid clerk of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol... , Frankenstein's Monster, Spirit of Christmas Future, Convent Girl, Town Crier, Policeman |
| Frankie Howerd Frankie Howerd Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd OBE was an English comedian and comic actor whose career, described by fellow comedian Barry Cryer as "a series of comebacks", spanned six decades.-Early career:... |
Robert Browning, Fairy Godmother Fairy godmother In fairy tales, a fairy godmother is a fairy with magical powers who acts as a mentor or parent to someone, in the role that an actual godparent was expected to play in many societies... |
Description
The second special, Carry On Again Christmas, was shown the following year. Rothwell did not script this episode, but Sid ColinSid Colin
Sid Colin was an English screenwriter, working for both television and the cinema. He is best rememberd for the television comedies The Army Game , Up Pompeii! and the film Percy's Progress...
, who had co-written Carry On Spying
Carry On Spying
Carry On Spying is a 1964 film, the ninth movie in the Carry On film series. It marks Barbara Windsor's first appearance in the series. Series regulars Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Jim Dale are present. Bernard Cribbins makes the second of his three Carry On appearances...
with Rothwell, wrote the episode with Dave Freeman
Dave Freeman (writer)
Dave Freeman was a British film and television writer, working chiefly in comedy.As well as writing sketches for comedians such as Tony Hancock and Arthur Askey, Freeman wrote screenplays for comedies including Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon and Carry On Behind as well as being a regular...
, who would go on to script Carry On Behind
Carry On Behind
Carry On Behind is the twenty-seventh Carry On film and was released in 1975. The film was the first not to feature Sid James since Follow That Camel seven years previously. It was also the first not to be scripted by Talbot Rothwell since Carry On Cruising 13 years previously. James was busy...
, several episodes of the Carry On Laughing
Carry On Laughing
Carry on Laughing is a British television comedy series produced in 1975 for ATV. Based on the Carry On films, it was an attempt to address the films' declining cinema attendance by transferring the franchise to television...
television series, and the 1992 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Carry On Columbus
Carry On Columbus
Carry On Columbus is the 31st and last film in the Carry On series, following 1978's Carry On Emmannuelle. The only main series regulars present are Jim Dale , Bernard Cribbins , Leslie Phillips , Jon Pertwee and June Whitfield...
. Based on the Robert Louis Stephenson story Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "pirates and buried gold". First published as a book on May 23, 1883, it was originally serialized in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881–82 under the title Treasure Island; or, the...
, this episode saw the Carry on debut of Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard, MBE was an English actress best known for playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders...
, who would go on to have small roles in Carry On Matron
Carry On Matron
Carry On Matron is the twenty-third Carry On film. It was released in 1972. It features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Connor. This was the last Carry on... film for Terry Scott after appearing...
and Carry On Girls
Carry On Girls
Carry On Girls is the 25th Carry On film, released in Britain in 1973. The film is notable for being the first not to feature either Kenneth Williams or Charles Hawtrey. Williams was appearing in a West End play, My Fat Friend. Hawtrey had been dropped from the series the year before...
.
Although the 1969 special was broadcast in colour, the 1970 special was shown in black and white due to a technicians' strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
s that caused Thames television to broadcast all their Christmas shows that year in black and white.
Cast
| Starring | Roles |
|---|---|
| Sid James Sid James Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona... |
Long John Sil |
| Terry Scott Terry Scott Owen John "Terry" Scott was an English actor and comedian who appeared in seven Carry On films. He also appeared in BBC1's popular domestic sitcom Terry and June with June Whitfield... |
Squire Treyhornay |
| Charles Hawtrey Charles Hawtrey (film actor) George Frederick Joffre Hartree , known as Charles Hawtrey, was an English comedy actor and musician.Beginning at a young age as a boy soprano, he made several records before moving on to the radio... |
Old Blind Pew, Night Watchman, Nipper the Flipper |
| Kenneth Connor Kenneth Connor Kenneth Connor MBE was an English comedy stage, radio, film and TV actor, best known for his appearances in the Carry On films.-Career:... |
Dr Livershake |
| Barbara Windsor Barbara Windsor Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.... |
Jim Hawkins |
| Bernard Bresslaw Bernard Bresslaw Bernard Bresslaw was an English actor. He is best remembered for his comedy work, especially as a member of the Carry On team.-Biography:... |
Rollicky Bill |
| Bob Todd Bob Todd Bob Todd was an English comedy actor, mostly known for appearing as a straight man in the sketch shows of Benny Hill and Spike Milligan. For many years he lived in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.... |
Ben Gunn, Ship Mate |
| Wendy Richard Wendy Richard Wendy Richard, MBE was an English actress best known for playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders... |
Kate |
Description
In 1972 a new Christmas special was produced, entitled Carry On Christmas (or Carry On Stuffing). Two unforeseen problems meant that many fans consider this the weakest Christmas special. Firstly, Talbot Rothwell became ill whilst writing the script, and was unable to finish it. Dave Freeman had to be brought in to complete the script, but the two men did not work together. As a result, the script does not flow as easily as the earlier offerings. Secondly, Charles Hawtrey pulled out of the special at short notice. Having taken third billing to Sid James and Terry Scott in the previous two shows, and knowing they would both be absent, Hawtrey demanded top billing. But Carry On producer Peter RogersPeter Rogers
Peter Rogers was a British film producer.Rogers began his career as a journalist for his local paper before graduating to scriptwriting religious informational films...
refused, giving top billing to Hattie Jacques instead. Hawtrey's role had hastily to be recast, and was split between Norman Rossington
Norman Rossington
Norman Rossington was an English actor best remembered for his roles in The Army Game, the Carry On films and the Beatles film A Hard Day's Night.-Early life:...
and Brian Oulton
Brian Oulton
Brian Oulton was an English character actor.Born in Liverpool, he made his acting debut in 1939 as a lead actor...
, both of whom had played cameo roles in several Carry On films. The special featured a collection of historical sketches, loosely linked around an 18th century banquet.
It included a performance of two madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
s originally written for Carry On Henry
Carry On Henry
Carry On Henry is the 21st of the Carry On series and was released in 1971. It tells a fictionalised story involving Sid James as Henry VIII, who chases after Barbara Windsor's character Bettina. James and Windsor feature alongside other regulars Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Terry...
. The songs reappeared in the 1973 stage show Carry On London.
Cast
| Starring | Roles |
|---|---|
| Hattie Jacques Hattie Jacques Josephine Edwina Jaques was an English comedy actress, known as Hattie Jacques.Starting her career in the 1940s, Jacques first gained attention through her radio appearances with Tommy Handley on ITMA and later with Tony Hancock on Hancock's Half Hour... |
Miss Molly Coddle, Lady Vera, Harriet, The Good Fairy |
| Joan Sims Joan Sims Joan Sims was an English actress best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, and latterly for playing Madge Hardcastle in As Time Goes By.-Early life:... |
Lady Clodhopper, Mother, Esmeralda, Princess YoYo |
| Barbara Windsor Barbara Windsor Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.... |
Eve, Virginia, Maid, Aladdin |
| Kenneth Connor Kenneth Connor Kenneth Connor MBE was an English comedy stage, radio, film and TV actor, best known for his appearances in the Carry On films.-Career:... |
Sir Henry, Lieutenant Banghem, Hanky Poo |
| Peter Butterworth Peter Butterworth Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth was an English comedy actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in the Carry On series of films. He was also a regular on children's television and radio and appeared in seven early episodes of Doctor Who in 1965 as the 'The Meddling Monk'... |
Sir Francis Fiddler, Captain Dripping, Lieutenant Trembler, Hole in One |
| Jack Douglas Jack Douglas (actor) Jack Douglas, born John Roberton was an English actor most famous for his roles in the Carry On films.- Career :... |
Mr Perkin, Adam, Tomkins, Ringworm, King of the Underworld |
| Norman Rossington Norman Rossington Norman Rossington was an English actor best remembered for his roles in The Army Game, the Carry On films and the Beatles film A Hard Day's Night.-Early life:... |
General Sir Ffingham Clodhopper, Genie |
| Brian Oulton Brian Oulton Brian Oulton was an English character actor.Born in Liverpool, he made his acting debut in 1939 as a lead actor... |
Oriental Orator |
| Billy Cornelius | Waiter |
| Valerie Leon Valerie Leon Valerie Leon is an English actress who had roles in a number of high profile British film franchises, including the Carry On series.-Early life:... |
Serving Wench |
| Valerie Stanton | Demon King's Vision |
Description
1973 saw the final original Christmas special, Carry On Christmas. Talbot Rothwell made a return as writer, as did Sid James. This was the only special to have a modern-day setting, featuring Sid James as a department storeDepartment store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
Father Christmas
Father Christmas
Father Christmas is the name used in many English-speaking countries for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name exists in several other countries, including France , Spain , Brazil , Portugal , Italy , Armenia , India...
, although it did feature historical sketches.
Cast
| Starring | Roles |
|---|---|
| Sid James Sid James Sid James was an English-based South African actor and comedian. He made his name as Tony Hancock's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour and also starred in the popular Carry On films. He was known for his trademark "dirty laugh" and lascivious persona... |
Sid Belcher (Santa), Seedpod, Sir Henry, Sergeant Ball, Robin Hood |
| Joan Sims Joan Sims Joan Sims was an English actress best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, and latterly for playing Madge Hardcastle in As Time Goes By.-Early life:... |
Mother, Sennapod, Bishop's Wife, Adelle, Salvation Army Woman, Maid Marion, Traffic Warden |
| Barbara Windsor Barbara Windsor Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.... |
Virginia, Crompet, Lady Frances, Fifi, Lady Frances |
| Kenneth Connor Kenneth Connor Kenneth Connor MBE was an English comedy stage, radio, film and TV actor, best known for his appearances in the Carry On films.-Career:... |
Shop Manager, Anthro Pod, The Bishop, Private Parkin, Will Scarlet |
| Peter Butterworth Peter Butterworth Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth was an English comedy actor and comedian, best known for his appearances in the Carry On series of films. He was also a regular on children's television and radio and appeared in seven early episodes of Doctor Who in 1965 as the 'The Meddling Monk'... |
Carol Singer (2001 BC), Old Man, Darts Player, 2nd German Soldier, Friar Tuck |
| Bernard Bresslaw Bernard Bresslaw Bernard Bresslaw was an English actor. He is best remembered for his comedy work, especially as a member of the Carry On team.-Biography:... |
Peapod, Camp Aristocrat, Darts Player, Captain Ffingburgh, Much, Policeman |
| Jack Douglas Jack Douglas (actor) Jack Douglas, born John Roberton was an English actor most famous for his roles in the Carry On films.- Career :... |
Carol Singer (2001 BC), Crapper, 1st German Soldier, Ballad Singer |
| Julian Holloway Julian Holloway Julian Holloway is an English actor now based in Hollywood, CA, United States. He is the son of the comedy actor and singer Stanley Holloway and former chorus dancer and actress Violet Lane... |
Captain Rose |
| Laraine Humphreys | Bed Customer |
Carry on Laughing's Christmas Classics (1983)
It would be ten years before the next Christmas special. Carry On LaughingCarry On Laughing
Carry on Laughing is a British television comedy series produced in 1975 for ATV. Based on the Carry On films, it was an attempt to address the films' declining cinema attendance by transferring the franchise to television...
's Christmas Classics saw Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams was an English comic actor and comedian. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the Carry On films, and appeared in numerous British television shows, and radio comedies with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne.-Life and career:Kenneth Charles Williams was born on 22 February...
and Barbara Windsor introduce some of the funniest moments from the later Carry On films
Carry On films
The Carry On films are a series of low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They are an energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres....
, in a format very similar to the film That's Carry On!
That's Carry On!
That's Carry On! is a compilation of the highlights of the Carry On films and is the 29th entry in the series. The film features series regulars Kenneth Williams and Barbara Windsor co-presenting. This was to be Windsor's 10th and final appearance in the series. The idea for the film was inspired...
. Although people would see this as a fifth special, it is a compilation of clips from the films, and so not officially counted as a Christmas special.
DVD release
In 2005, all four specialsTelevision special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
were released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, featuring special interviews
Interviews
Interviews is:# the plural form of "interview"# a compilation album by Bob Marley & the Wailers, see Interviews # a C++ toolkit for the X Window System, see InterViews...
with film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
Peter Rogers
Peter Rogers
Peter Rogers was a British film producer.Rogers began his career as a journalist for his local paper before graduating to scriptwriting religious informational films...
and stars Jack Douglas
Jack Douglas (actor)
Jack Douglas, born John Roberton was an English actor most famous for his roles in the Carry On films.- Career :...
and Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard, MBE was an English actress best known for playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders...
.