History Series / TheRoyleFamily

* ThemeTuneCameo: In the 2000 Christmas special the regular theme tune is replaced by Noel Gallagher of {{Music/Oasis}} singing "Marry Xmas Everybody".

''The Royle Family'' is an award-winning British sitcom. Famously minimalistic, the show almost entirely takes place in the house of the Royle family, usually in the living room in front of the television. The show lacks any form of laughter track and actual gags are rare, most of the humour instead coming from the characters themselves: Jim Royle, [[DeadpanSnarker cynical]] and [[SarcasmMode sarcastic]] [[FatSlob couch potato]]; Barbara, his [[TeamMom hard-working and long-suffering wife]]; Denise, their [[SpoiledBrat spoiled]] and [[LazyBum lazy daughter]]; Antony, their [[ButtMonkey extremely put-upon son]]; Dave Best, Denise's dim-witted but well-meaning fiancé; Nana, Barbara's [[MotorMouth talkative]] elderly mother; and next door neighbours Joe, [[TheBore who's very boring]]; Mary, [[TheDitz who's a bit gone in the head]]; Cheryl, [[FatGirl who's always gaining weight]]; Darren, Anthony's criminal friend and Twiggy, Jim's criminal friend.

* OneSteveLimit: Denise and Dave call their son David because Dave is Dave, Dave's dad is Dave, and so was his dad, and so was his dad. It's sort of a tradition.

* OrphanedPunchline: Jim delivers one as they're returning home after baby David's christening:
-->'''Jim:''' He said I don't, I just want to stop pissing on my boots!

The show ran for three seasons from 1998-2000. A further five [[ChristmasSpecial Christmas specials]] aired between 2006 and 2012. A special was planned for Christmas 2016, but further episodes are now unlikely following Caroline Aherne's death in July 2016.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Emma, despite being Anthony's wife-to-be and mother of his child, simply disappeared after the second Christmas Special with no explanation and was never mentioned again. Anthony's friend Darren also disappeared around the same time.

* NobodyPoops: Jim loudly announces his visits to the toilet.

* PutOnABus: Mary was not seen after the 2006 Christmas special, and was said to be housebound with severe incontinence. By the 2010 special, she [[DroppedABridgeOnHim had passed away]].

--> ''Antony:''' What about a whiskey at new year, Nana?
-->'''Nana:'' Oh aye, whiskey at new year, a sherry at Christmas and a bottle of stout.

-->'''Nana:'' Oh yeah champagne at the wedding, whiskey at new year, a sherry at Christmas and a bottle of stout, that'll do me.

** Denise is also prone this, only being marginally better than Jim. They naturally exchange insults over ''[[NotSoDifferent each other's]]'' selfish, idle and obnoxious habits on a regular basis.

* NobodyPoops: Jim who loudly announces his visits to the toilet.
* ObnoxiousInLaws: Emma's parents, particularly her dad Roger, who infuriates Jim with his boasting.

* GargleBlaster: The "tropical punch".

* FeminineWomenCanCook: Inverted by Denise, who gives Dave rudimentary dinners like [[CordonBleughChef Dairylea on toast]] and spaghetti hoops, although it's not clear if she genuinely cannot cook or is just [[LazyBum too lazy to bother]].

* StoryArc: The first series leads up to Denise and Dave's wedding. The second leads up to the birth of their baby. The third ends with Antony getting engaged. The 2006 special ends with [[spoiler:Nana's death]].

* NobodyPoops: Averted by Jim, who loudly announces his visits to the toilet.