Taped this on a Scotch VHS when it aired Xmas 1987 and watched it every Xmas for many years after. Glad to continue that now with t'internet. I actually remember being 14 and seeing the trailer on the BBC (with Dad banging the tray with the ladle over Len's head on Xmas morning) and thinking "I have to tape that."
Thanks so much for posting this. I taped it when it was first shown but lost it somewhere over the years. Genuinely one of the funniest Christmas specials ever made. The home made videos on the Smith and Jones show were also good. I've quoted various bits of this show for over 30 years. My dad had a video camera in 1986 and was just like the dad in this. He never let anyone else use it and turned into Orson Welles whenever it was turned on. Love this show!
Funny, I have old camcorder footage of old family Christmas's not quite as early as 1986 but still a long time ago, have them converted to DVD. Me and my late Brother use to piss around so much with our camcorders, but obviously these guys are the masters at their craft! great classic comedy. Thanks for upload.
So happy this is on one of the Smith & Jones series compilation DVD's I picked up in an HMV sale a few years ago for £7.99. My dear Dad recorded it for us in Xmas 87 when I was 10, my brother and I wore the VHS out rewatching it and still quote it 34 years on.
I was introduced to this special by some friends I made when I lived in England, in the summer of 1991. This was one of the comedy videos we watched at their home in Shortlands.
Kept this on VHS for years. "The Christmas tree - how we done it". 15:15 to 15:30 is absolutely hilarious; the timing with the ladle and tray is sublime - anyone able to recreate this sequence on camera in real life is guaranteed £250 from You've Been Framed.
We all have smart phone these day and we all take for granted the videos we shoot on them but back in the day camcorders were the big new thing allowing everyday people to record there families special occasions etc. This was summed up very well when they went out Christmas morning to fly the plane and bumped it to the neighbours with their camcorders just like kids went out on there new bikes Christmas Morning. I still use the line “Alright those little cheep ones” to this day when pointing my DSLR at a tourist with a compact camera or smart phone but they never laugh!!!!
Watching it for the first time this season and only just noticed the photos shopped onto the heads of Mary and Joseph in the Nativity scene... doesn't look like any of the cast, so maybe an in-joke - the producer etc? "Not all me beer!"
NOT COMPLETE, actually, as there's several seconds missing! I recorded it, back in 1987, and enjoyed it every year, for many years after. But, at 26:23+ we should have seen the bit, with Dad & Len in the bathroom, where Dad says, to us, something like, " And here's how Len made his famous head scrambler." or words to that effect, and then his daughter pushes past complaining about them in the bathroom while she's having a shower. Just thought I'd mention that.
@@paulhodgkinson7000 True, that's missing, too. I missed that, and...I 'didn't miss it!?!? When I know something, so well, and off by heart, I say it, in my head, before it actually happens. lol Now I'll have to watch it, again, and whenever the vid 'jumps', I'll be paying more attention. But, still great after 32yrs! What annoyed me, at the time, and still does, was the bit of cardboard with 'Mum's Turkey 1986', on it. It should have had 1987 on it, for when it was going to be broadcast, and not 1986, when they recorded it. Someone should have been fired, for that mistake! Ha! But, now I think about it (this reply is getting longer & longer), perhaps it WAS intended for broadcast at Christmas 1986, but for some reason wasn't broadcast? The plot thickens! Mmmmmm?
i remember this very well.. and always wondered why they never showed it at christmas again... maybe they did. I always remember the scene where mum is washing..... 'do you need any help?' 'Oh yes, please.' 'Peter, come and help your mum.' We always laughed cause I'm Peter too.. and it was so typical.. for some reason on here it is cut out.
Thanks for adding this. I HAVE TO watch this every Christmas or my life is incomplete. ‘WE GOT THE TREE! WE GOT THE TREE!!!’
Happy Xmas everybody!
Wouldn’t be the same without this every year 😀
Absolutely, this one off is without doubt a classic and a must at Christmas time
RIP in Mel Xx
I watched this at the time it was broadcast and was in hysterics for the whole show. This is comedy genius
And here I am again annually to give my thanks for this being uploaded... :)
Taped this on a Scotch VHS when it aired Xmas 1987 and watched it every Xmas for many years after. Glad to continue that now with t'internet. I actually remember being 14 and seeing the trailer on the BBC (with Dad banging the tray with the ladle over Len's head on Xmas morning) and thinking "I have to tape that."
Thanks for the date correction
Thank you sir for uploading it. :)
My family watch it as tradition. Thankyou for loading!!!!!
Thanks so much for posting this. I taped it when it was first shown but lost it somewhere over the years. Genuinely one of the funniest Christmas specials ever made. The home made videos on the Smith and Jones show were also good. I've quoted various bits of this show for over 30 years. My dad had a video camera in 1986 and was just like the dad in this. He never let anyone else use it and turned into Orson Welles whenever it was turned on. Love this show!
Funny, I have old camcorder footage of old family Christmas's not quite as early as 1986 but still a long time ago, have them converted to DVD. Me and my late Brother use to piss around so much with our camcorders, but obviously these guys are the masters at their craft! great classic comedy. Thanks for upload.
This had me on the floor in stitches back when it was shown. Decent enough nostalgic comedy viewing in 2021. RIP Mel Smith.
So happy this is on one of the Smith & Jones series compilation DVD's I picked up in an HMV sale a few years ago for £7.99. My dear Dad recorded it for us in Xmas 87 when I was 10, my brother and I wore the VHS out rewatching it and still quote it 34 years on.
Thanks for this. My recording disappeared for some reason and I like to enjoy this every Christmas. They must have had a great time making this.
I was introduced to this special by some friends I made when I lived in England, in the summer of 1991. This was one of the comedy videos we watched at their home in Shortlands.
Outstanding, had me gaffawing constantly ! RIP Mel.
I recorded this off the tv back then,absolute classic comedy! Still just as funny today as it was then! Bloody brilliant! RIP Mel
Is Mel dead ?
No funnier Christmas special, an annual treat :-)
Another Christmas has passed and would not be the same without watching this...
Kept this on VHS for years. "The Christmas tree - how we done it". 15:15 to 15:30 is absolutely hilarious; the timing with the ladle and tray is sublime - anyone able to recreate this sequence on camera in real life is guaranteed £250 from You've Been Framed.
Brilliant comedy duo, best Xmas film ever.😄
2022 Christmas
Wouldn’t be the same without it😅
Another Year gone and once again here i am..
Such a brilliant idea, and so well executed. Smith and Jones were the best comedy partnership since Pete and Dud, in my view.
I watch this every year. And it still makes me laugh. Classic comedy.
I watch this every Christmas
A real favourite of mine … especially the annual nicking of the Christmas tree. P.... U … B … PUB !
We all have smart phone these day and we all take for granted the videos we shoot on them but back in the day camcorders were the big new thing allowing everyday people to record there families special occasions etc. This was summed up very well when they went out Christmas morning to fly the plane and bumped it to the neighbours with their camcorders just like kids went out on there new bikes Christmas Morning. I still use the line “Alright those little cheep ones” to this day when pointing my DSLR at a tourist with a compact camera or smart phone but they never laugh!!!!
Haha ‘those little cheap ones’ 😀
You have 2 weeks to get better copy on bbc iplayer if youre in the UK, if you miss it don't worry, i got it, just send me a link and ill send it.
I've been saying that line (correctly), for years, too! "They're quite good, them little cheap ones!"
@@paulhodgkinson7000 "...them..."
thx for uploading this! My christmas ain't one without watching this
These guys are the reason Britain has a reputation for having the best humor in the world!
They still captured a very British Christmas spirit in such a modest way
It’s that time of year Lens’s punch and the old women enjoying here self at the festive kitchen sink !
"No wonder the thing died..."
Back again to watch Xmas eve 👍👍
Thanks for putting this up, remember it from the first time round (showin' me age!), it's like a prototype 'Shameless'
Who's watching Christmas day 2021
I'd forgotten the days when you had to buy plugs separately and wire things yourself.
Brilliant stuff - cannot be bettered!
The same, every year I have to watch this at Christmas or it won't be the same... The wolf lol
Once I showed this to my husband. When he gets the wreath on the door 🚪. My Husband asked if ot was what my dad would do.
Watching it for the first time this season and only just noticed the photos shopped onto the heads of Mary and Joseph in the Nativity scene... doesn't look like any of the cast, so maybe an in-joke - the producer etc? "Not all me beer!"
NOT COMPLETE, actually, as there's several seconds missing! I recorded it, back in 1987, and enjoyed it every year, for many years after. But, at 26:23+ we should have seen the bit, with Dad & Len in the bathroom, where Dad says, to us, something like, " And here's how Len made his famous head scrambler." or words to that effect, and then his daughter pushes past complaining about them in the bathroom while she's having a shower. Just thought I'd mention that.
lens ‘Xmas hed scrambler’
When he offers to help on the washing up he also says ‘Peter! Come and help your Mum!!’
@@paulhodgkinson7000 True, that's missing, too. I missed that, and...I 'didn't miss it!?!? When I know something, so well, and off by heart, I say it, in my head, before it actually happens. lol Now I'll have to watch it, again, and whenever the vid 'jumps', I'll be paying more attention. But, still great after 32yrs! What annoyed me, at the time, and still does, was the bit of cardboard with 'Mum's Turkey 1986', on it. It should have had 1987 on it, for when it was going to be broadcast, and not 1986, when they recorded it. Someone should have been fired, for that mistake! Ha! But, now I think about it (this reply is getting longer & longer), perhaps it WAS intended for broadcast at Christmas 1986, but for some reason wasn't broadcast? The plot thickens! Mmmmmm?
Got this on dvd now
The boy was Dennis in eastenders one woman was in bread and the other in only fools and horses 😂😂😂
would not be christmas without forcing the family to watch it again..
Gawd.. That baby is over 30 yrs old now... I feel old..
is that a young Mark Harman I spied there?
I know loads of dad's in the 80's and 90's that made home videos like this, part of the joke. Now they're TH-camrs
I always loved this parody - great stuff.
Bloody fantastic ha-ha...
Ho Ho Ho And Everything And All That ! , Would rather watch this Every year at Christmas that awful Its A Wonderful Life Movie they keep showing !
CURING SPINAL CORD INJURY IS OUR MISSION
i remember this very well.. and always wondered why they never showed it at christmas again... maybe they did. I always remember the scene where mum is washing..... 'do you need any help?' 'Oh yes, please.' 'Peter, come and help your mum.' We always laughed cause I'm Peter too.. and it was so typical.. for some reason on here it is cut out.
The mother also played "Juney", Del's old girlfriend in "ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES" !
Yeah, this was shot over 20 years ago. Technology has leapt and bounded in those intervening years!
Peter Deane 30 years to be exact !
Just brilliant
Peter is Denis Rickman in ee hard to believe
That was Peter and the wolf
RESEARCH AND CURE INTO SPINAL CORD INJURY
It's a classic!
Back again Christmas 2023
This is a very bad print !
Pissa!
17:48 Peter is a young Dennis Rickman!
RESEARCH AND CURE INTO SPINAL CORD INJURY