More than 25 years after Jim, Barbara and the family first settled onto the sofa, The Royle Family is still a fixture on British TV, with repeats on U&Gold this summer. It remains one of the most loved and most quoted sitcoms the UK has ever made.
Here is the story of the show that made a Manchester living room the most famous in Britain. Find tribute designs in our TV series collection.
The Royle Family Fact File
| Aired | 14 September 1998-25 December 2012 |
|---|---|
| Created by | Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash and Henry Normal |
| Network | BBC Two (1998), then BBC One (1999-2012) |
| Production | Granada (1998-2008), ITV Studios (2009-2012) |
| Series/episodes | 3 series and 7 specials, 25 episodes |
| Main cast | Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, Ralf Little, Liz Smith |
| Theme | "Half the World Away" by Oasis |
| Setting | The Royles' living room, Manchester |
Series and Specials
| Year | Series/Special | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Series 1 (6 episodes) | Debut on BBC Two |
| 1999 | Series 2 (6 episodes) and Christmas special | Moves to BBC One |
| 2000 | Series 3 (6 episodes) and Christmas special | BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy |
| 2006 | "The Queen of Sheba" | BAFTA-winning return |
| 2008-2010 | "The New Sofa", "The Golden Egg Cup", "Joe's Crackers" | Christmas Day specials |
| 2012 | "Barbara's Old Ring" | Final Christmas special |
The show ran to 25 episodes: 18 across three series plus seven specials. Short charity episodes were also made for Comic Relief.
A Sitcom Like No Other
Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash created The Royle Family with Henry Normal, who co-wrote the first series. It began on BBC Two on 14 September 1998 and broke the sitcom rules: almost every scene takes place in the living room, plays out in real time and was shot on film with a single camera, with no studio audience or laugh track.
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Jim, Barbara and the Family
Ricky Tomlinson played the armchair-bound Jim Royle and Sue Johnston his long-suffering wife Barbara, with Aherne as daughter Denise, Cash as her husband Dave, Ralf Little as son Antony and Liz Smith as Nana. Jessica Hynes, Peter Martin and Doreen Keogh played the neighbours, the Carrolls, while Oasis's "Half the World Away" became the theme.
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The Queen of Sheba
After three series and two Christmas specials, the family returned in October 2006 with "The Queen of Sheba", an hour-long special about Nana's final days. Watched by more than eight million viewers, it won the BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy, and Liz Smith won a National Television Award for her performance.
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The Christmas Specials
The Royles then became a Christmas Day tradition, with "The New Sofa" (2008), "The Golden Egg Cup" (2009), "Joe's Crackers" (2010) and "Barbara's Old Ring" (2012). Caroline Aherne died in 2016, aged 52, and the cast have said the show could not continue without her.
Awards
BAFTA TV Awards
- Best Situation Comedy (2000)
- Best Comedy Performance: Caroline Aherne (2000)
- Best Situation Comedy for "The Queen of Sheba" (2007)
Other awards
- RTS Award for Best Situation Comedy and Comedy Drama ("The Queen of Sheba")
- National Television Award for Best TV Comedy Actress: Liz Smith
Behind the Scenes
For its 25th anniversary in 2023, Gold aired the documentary The Royle Family: Down the Back of the Sofa, with Ralf Little, Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston and Craig Cash looking back at the show. Tomlinson and Johnston also reunited on Celebrity Gogglebox that year.
FAQs
How many series of The Royle Family are there?
There are three series, aired in 1998, 1999 and 2000, plus seven specials, making 25 episodes in total.
When did The Royle Family start?
The first episode aired on BBC Two on 14 September 1998.
Who wrote The Royle Family?
Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, with Henry Normal co-writing the first series.
What is the theme tune of The Royle Family?
"Half the World Away" by Oasis.
Where is The Royle Family set?
In the Royles' council house in Manchester, almost entirely in the living room.
Will there be more Royle Family episodes?
No new episodes are planned. The last special aired on Christmas Day 2012, and Caroline Aherne died in 2016.
Shop the The Royle Family Collection
Our Royle Family pieces are fan-made tribute designs, printed to order in the UK.
See more shows in our TV series collection. Want your own name on the back instead? Design a custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Only Fools and Horses: Series, Cast and Classic Moments and The Inbetweeners: Series, Films, Cast and Netflix Return.
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