Christmas Crackers
Thoughts on the first Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special, A Short Scroll
Christmas Crackers was the first Christmas special of the beloved British sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It aired on the BBC on the 28th of December 1981. Derick Trotter or Del Boy (played by David Jason) and Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst) are at home with Grandad (Leonard Pearce 1915-1984) on Christmas Day. The brothers expect Grandad to continue his tradition of ruining the festive dinner.
Del: ”Just as well with them rotten cards you bought.”
Rodney: “There was nothing wrong with them cards! You didn’t like
them ’cause they came from a charity organisation!”
Del: “Now that is not fair Rodney, that is not fair Rodney. Nobody like a good cause better than me do they Grandad? It’s just that when it comes to Christmas cards you’ve got to be very careful about which charity you choose.”
Rodney: “What do you mean got to be careful about which charity you choose?”
Del: “Well some of them cards might offend our family and friends. It says Merry Christmas from Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad, and all the gang at the Deptford drug-addiction centre!”
Rodney: “And with all the cuts we’ve had in social services you don’t think that’s a good cause?”
Del: “I’m not saying it’s not a good cause Rodney! All I’m saying is that at Christmas time people prefer a traditional Christmas card, you know with a nice wintry scene – a snowman, a little robin redbreast – not a sprig of holly and a bunch of mistletoe
wrapped round a rusty syringe!”
Rodney: “You do me right up sometimes Del!”
Grandad: “I don’t know why they want these drug-addiction centres. I mean ain’t we got enough drug addicts without them recruiting them?”
Pearce is fantastic in his delivery. He is full of conviction. Grandad is at his best with this fine punchline. The viewer can accept he believed drug addicts were recruited and that he was certain this lifestyle was promoted on Christmas cards. I have watched this episode many times and the years have not ended its capacity to amuse. It works on me at least a bit, whenever I watch it.
The family struggle through an unpalatable meal: ‘‘It’s like peering into the jaws of hell” says Del when inspecting the Christmas turkey after finding out that Grandad failed to take out the bag of giblets inside.
‘‘I just didn’t know it was in there Del Boy’’ says Grandad. Again, Pearce is wholly convincing. He masters an appearance of dejection before Del halts his upset by suggesting they eat dessert.
Later, a bored Rodney attempts to persuade Del to join him at the Monte Carlo Club in New Cross. Del declines, citing a duty not to leave Grandad. He references elderly loneliness during the festive period and voices his worry for him. The theme of loneliness around the festive period, particularly as it relates to older people is as relevant today as it was in 1981. The loyalty and care Del shows to Grandad are good morals to take from this episode, but they are not the only ones. While the brothers argue, Grandad cheerfully tells them he is off to an old folks event at a local community centre, and he aims a passing shot at the pair: “I thought anything’d be better than sitting in here all night listening to you two arguing.” This scene not only reminds us to care for our elderly relatives, it cautions us against assuming loved ones will be forlorn if we decide to do other things for a time. It’s worth discussing the festive period with family in advance. Those we may assume to be lonely might have other people to see.
If you have concerns over this year’s Christmas dinner, the beginning of this programme might be advisory. It defies sense to allow the meal to be a ruinous rite in the cause of helping someone feel useful. If a person might mess up the meat, burn the potatoes, or knock up gravy that is too thick or thin, they must be stopped. This can be done by polite assistance or the telling of home truths. One hopes the former approach will work.
You do not have to view episodes of old comedies for long to encounter numerous comments and gags that would fail a BBC smell test today. A sitcom like Only Fools and Horses stands little to no chance of being made now because of the umbrage that would be taken by the professionally offended. Del’s reference to ‘‘a drug addiction centre” could be deemed unsympathetic to drug users. His preference for a Christmas card featuring a traditional scene over “a sprig of holly and a bunch of mistletoe wrapped round a syringe’’ is not “inclusive” enough. Grandad’s use of the term ‘‘drug addict” has its clown world equivalent of ‘‘people with support needs’’.1
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I will be back at some point in January.
References
Only Fools and Horses Quotes, https://onlyfoolsandhorsesquotes.com/only-fools-and-horses-series-1-episode-7-christmas-crackers-full-script
People who suffer trauma and fall into drugs should receive help and support. I reject the view that ‘‘drug addiction” is an illness.