The Royle Family: The Complete Scripts

by Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash

Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash created a landmark comedy for the 1990s when they sat down to pen The Royle Family. Collected here are the six scripts which made up the first series of that BBC comedy by the makers of Mrs Merton.

In these pages we are invited to follow the high points of the Royle social calendar; the preparations for Denise and Dave's wedding, Mam's new job at the bakers; Dad's knock-off jeans purchase, and Antony's trips to the fag shop.

Owing more than a nod to its Ps & Qs counterpart Abigail's Party, The Royle Family echoes Mike Leigh's play in its claustrophobic representation of life in small-time Britain. The focus this time is on the working--or not working--class. The hearts and voices of the show's ensemble cast made the Royle family spring to life; but the actors' blueprint was already well established, and the flavour of the series is immediately evident in these scripts. It's true--character dialogue is lifelike to the point of an-afternoon-with-Auntie-Marge tedium, but salvation comes when the blackest of comedy undercurrents strolls among the minefields of small-talk and resigned suffrage.

Aherne and Cash have certainly demonstrated rare talent in their ability to reproduce these folk from the real world-but you may find yourself wishing they'd had the nerve to go on to comment on the society represented-instead of leaving the reader/viewer to do that work themselves.

In any case, fans of The Royle Family know exactly what they are getting with this compendium (the only extra inclusion being a short introduction from the writers). For them, it's true, there may be few surprises--but certainly, a lot of laughs. --Helen Lamont

180 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

Mary Caroline Aherne was a British comedian and BAFTA-winning writer and actress, best known for performing as the acerbic chat show host Mrs Merton, roles in the The Fast Show, and as lead in the The Royle Family, a show that she co-wrote. Wikipedia

Reviews

[Ian Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just superb. I won’t say that these are keenly observed but they are obviously written from experience and cleverly reveal situation and character artfully and slowly build up a picture of a family that cares for each other, despite their inability to declare it.

[Samantha Jacik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read of the first 6 episodes. Which were the best honestly. This show needs a minute to get used to but they become one of your fave couch potato family's after that

[Mark Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a great book with great scrips, funny, but on screen it works better.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the show and a good script book too.