Christmas at the Riviera
Encyclopedia
Christmas at the Riviera is a 2007
British
comedy drama starring Reece Shearsmith
, Pam Ferris
, Barbara Flynn
, Warren Clarke
, Alexander Armstrong
, Anna Chancellor
, Sam Kelly
and Darren Boyd
. It was written and directed by Mark Bussell and Justin Sbresni, and debuted on ITV
at 9pm on Christmas Eve 2007.
. The leading role is taken by Shearsmith, who plays Ashley Dodds, the assistant manager of the Riviera, who can barely hide his excitement at finally being given the opportunity to take charge of the hotel over the festive period. Consequently, he's determined to make it the establishment's best Christmas ever, but he doesn't count on the guests - a hotchpotch of individuals with an array of problems.
These include man-eating divorcee Avril (Ferris), who is looking for love; long-suffering Rita (Flynn) and her cantankerous husband Maurice (Clarke); the Reverend Miles Roger (Armstrong), a serial philanderer whose latest escapade is being investigated by the Daily Mirror and his alcoholic wife (Chancellor); and father and son Dennis (Kelly) and Tim Dunn (Boyd), who have their own reasons for not wanting to be at home during this emotional time. All of these individuals, together with a series of mishaps at the hotel, ensure that Ashley's time in charge is a stressful one.
2007 in television
2007 in television may refer to:*2007 in American television*2007 in Australian television*2007 in British television*2007 in Canadian television*2007 in Japanese television...
British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedy drama starring Reece Shearsmith
Reece Shearsmith
Reeson "Reece" Shearsmith is an English actor and writer. He is most famous for his work as part of The League of Gentlemen along with fellow performers Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss and co-writer Jeremy Dyson.-Early life:...
, Pam Ferris
Pam Ferris
Pamela Ann "Pam" Ferris is a German-born Welsh actress. She is best known for her starring roles on television as Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, as Laura Thyme in Rosemary & Thyme, and for playing Miss Trunchbull in the movie Matilda...
, Barbara Flynn
Barbara Flynn
Barbara Flynn is an English actress. She first became known for her appearance in the ITV drama A Family at War, that followed the fortunes of a lower middle class family living in Liverpool from 1938 and through World War II.During the 1980s Flynn's acting skills led to her being cast in several...
, Warren Clarke
Warren Clarke
-Biography:Clarke was born in Oldham, Lancashire. His first television appearance was in the long running Granada soap opera Coronation Street, initially as Kenny Pickup in 1966 and then as Gary Bailey in 1968. His first major film appearance was in Stanley Kubrick's controversial A Clockwork...
, Alexander Armstrong
Alexander Armstrong (comedian)
Alexander Henry Fenwick Armstrong is a British comedian, actor and television presenter.-Early life and career:Armstrong was born in Rothbury, Northumberland, the youngest of three children, to Henry Angus Armstrong and his wife Emma Virginia Peronnet Thompson-McCausland, daughter of Lucius...
, Anna Chancellor
Anna Chancellor
-Family:Chancellor was born in Richmond, London, England, the daughter of the Hon. Mary Alice Jolliffe and John Paget Chancellor. Through her mother's mother, Lady Perdita Rose Mary Asquith, Chancellor is the great-granddaughter of The Hon. Raymond Aquith and the great-great-granddaughter of Prime...
, Sam Kelly
Sam Kelly
Sam Kelly is an English actor who has appeared in television, radio and theatre.-Career:He has had roles in British sitcoms such as Porridge as Bunny Warren, Allo 'Allo! as Captain Hans Geering leaving after series three, On the Up as Dennis Waterman's chauffeur and We'll Think of Something as Les...
and Darren Boyd
Darren Boyd
Darren Boyd is an English actor well known for his roles in Smack the Pony, Green Wing, Whites and most recently for playing the role of John Cleese in Holy Flying Circus. He is a classically trained singer, and played a jazz musician in NBC’s Watching Ellie...
. It was written and directed by Mark Bussell and Justin Sbresni, and debuted on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
at 9pm on Christmas Eve 2007.
Plot summary
A star-studded cast check in for Christmas at the fictional Riviera Hotel in EastbourneEastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
. The leading role is taken by Shearsmith, who plays Ashley Dodds, the assistant manager of the Riviera, who can barely hide his excitement at finally being given the opportunity to take charge of the hotel over the festive period. Consequently, he's determined to make it the establishment's best Christmas ever, but he doesn't count on the guests - a hotchpotch of individuals with an array of problems.
These include man-eating divorcee Avril (Ferris), who is looking for love; long-suffering Rita (Flynn) and her cantankerous husband Maurice (Clarke); the Reverend Miles Roger (Armstrong), a serial philanderer whose latest escapade is being investigated by the Daily Mirror and his alcoholic wife (Chancellor); and father and son Dennis (Kelly) and Tim Dunn (Boyd), who have their own reasons for not wanting to be at home during this emotional time. All of these individuals, together with a series of mishaps at the hotel, ensure that Ashley's time in charge is a stressful one.