History Film / AChristmasCarolGoesWrong

* WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties: After Trevor manages to wrangle the microphone from the BBC director, he makes his own continuity announcement to lead into the CPDS's production of A Christmas Carol.

-> ''"I would have to be completely incapacitated to pull out now!"''
-->--'''Chris''', after Robert demands that the latter play Scrooge instead

Following on from the disaster that was ''Theatre/PeterPanGoesWrong'' the previous year (2016), the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society have been banned from ever appearing on the BBC.

Undeterred, the crew sneaks into BBC Studios and [[HostileShowTakeover forcibly hijacks]] a production of ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' starring [[Creator/DerekJacobi Sir Derek Jacobi]], and try their best to put on a good show. Unfortunately, however, things [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin go wrong]] from the get go.

** Robert plays the Ghost of Christmas Future, a manservant, Tiny Tim and Scrooge (after Chris gives up).

** Creator/DianaRigg narrates the show as a favor to Sandra, her niece.

* BavarianFireDrill: Trevor marches into the BBC technical studio and proclaims himself to be the head of the BBC, [[BadgeGag flashing a Twix]] in the hopes that the staff don't notice it's not a badge. They immediately do, so he has to resort to tackling the director and pinning him to the floor.

* BehindTheBlack: As all the bells in Scrooge's house ring at once, the camera pans to the left to show a crew member ringing a bunch of bells before panning back to Scrooge.
* BitchSlap: After getting the blunt end of Trevor's snow blower on full blast, Chris goes over and presumably slaps him across the face off-screen.

* BuriedAlive: This happens to Jonathan, in the opening funeral scene, as he's playing the body of Jacob Marley.
* CanonForeigner: The charity workers bring an orphan with them to show Scrooge the type of people that are in need of donations.
* CarFu: At the end, Diana Rigg arrives, crashing through the set walls and hitting Derek Jacobi with her car. He survives, but is completely incapacitated.

* ComedicSociopathy: Chris says that the only way Robert will get to play Ebenezer Scrooge is if he, Chris, was completely incapacitated. Cue Robert coming up with increasingly bizarre ways to try and injure Chris, with the latter seizing acting methods to retaliate more than once.
* TheComicallySerious: The cast tries to play it straight even when ridiculous things keep happening.
* CrosscastRole: [[invoked]] In-show example. Lucy (a girl) plays Tiny Tim. Averted after Robert takes over as Tiny Tim after knocking her out.
* CueCardPause: Dennis can't remember his lines, forcing them to be written on everything around him, and the play screeches to a halt whenever he has to stop and hunt for his lines on-set.
* DeadToBeginWith: Jacob Marley is ''supposed'' to be this, but Jonathan keeps moving around while portraying the corpse.

* DesecratingTheDead: After Marley's coffin shatters, Scrooge and the undertaker kick him into the grave.

-->'''Dennis:''' (now confused) No.
-->'''Chris:''' You’ve got to make a choice. Make a choice. Will you give them the coin?

** Robert attempts to engage in this throughout the production as he wants to play Scrooge but Chris will only give up the role if he is completely incapacitated.

* IronicName: When played by Robert, Tiny Tim is anything but tiny.

* JitterCam: [[spoiler:Once the cast leaves the set to go shopping the video quality turns into this until they get back]].
* TheKlutz: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come keeps banging its head on things, crashing into things, and falling over.

* RougeAnglesOfSatin: After the Drama Society takes over the BBC, the title of "A Christmas Carol" is spelt wrongly. After a couple of failed attempts to fix this, whoever was doing the title gives up and just types on-screen "Scrooge".

* StockFootageFailure: [[invoked]] The computer used for the green screen effects goes on the fritz, resulting in the background jumping from what was intended, to the program's stock demonstration, to footage of Dennis' birthday party (leading to some of the cast's personal drama being aired out in public).
* TerribleTicking: Scrooge's opening monologue has him bedeviled by a clock and its chimes, feeling it's always staring at him.

* CrosscastRole: [[invoked]] In-show example. Lucy (a girl) plays Tiny Tim. Averted after Robert takes over as Tiny Tim.

* CatchPhrase: Robert says "Humbug!" when trying to sabotage Chris. As well "Oh no, he's completely incapacitated!"

* DullSurprise: After knocking Lucy out whilst attempting to replace Chris as Scrooge, Robert quickly has to replace her as Tiny Tim. He reads his part from the script in a dull monotone and prompts an OhCrap moment when Dennis realises he is supposed to lift him in his arms. Made all the more funny when he is lifted (well, dragged) along the floor, letting out a flat "Whee."

* JacobMarleyApparel: This creates problems when Marley's chains are so heavy they drag him out the window and smash through the floor.

* StockFootageFailure: [[invoked]] The computer used for the green screen effects goes on the fritz, resulting in the background jumping from what was intended, to the program's stock demonstration, to video from Dennis' birthday party (leading to some of the cast's personal drama being aired out in public).

* CatchPhrase: Robert says "Humbug!" when trying to sabotage Chris. As well "Oh dear, he's completely incapacitated!"

* DullSurprise: After knocking Lucy out whilst attempting to replace Chris as Scrooge, Robert quickly has to replace her as Tiny Tim. He reads his part from the script in a dull monotone and prompts an OhCrap moment when Dennis realises he is supposed to lift him in his arms.
** Made all the more funny when he is lifted (well, dragged) along the floor, letting out a flat "Whee."

** Annie plays Frances, the Ghost of Christmas Past and one of the people mocking Scrooge’s death..

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ccgoeswrong.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:It goes hilariously downhill from here.]]

* HeelRealization: During Scrooge's climactic redemption in the future, Chris breaks down and turns it into a personal apology for how he's treated his co-workers.

** Robert plays the Ghost of Christmas Future, Tiny Tim and Scrooge (after Chris gives up).
** Annie plays Frances and the Ghost of Christmas Past.
** Max plays young Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present.
** Sandra plays Belle and Mrs Cratchit.

-->'''Sandra:''' You would part with your only coin?

-->'''Sandra:''' You don’t want to give to charity?

-->'''Chris:''' You’ve got to make a choice. Do you want to give them the coin, or don’t you?