Plot[]
Part One: It's Christmas Day. Minnie is delighted to have received a card from Jed and she has bought a present for his feline namesake. Elsie's decided not to spend Christmas with either Dennis or Linda, despite being asked. Instead, she's going to share the cooking of dinner for Len and Ray with Marj. Ena gives presents for Peter and Susan. Audrey, Dickie, Gordon and Lucille clear up after the panto. They are amused as it's obvious that Emily has taken a shine to Reverend James. Elsie has to drag Marj out of the Rovers to do her share of the cooking. Emily returns four empty beer bottles she found inside the panto's prop laundry basket to Stan. Dickie and Audrey go to his parents as Ena, Minnie and Effie spend the day together and toast with season with very old port.
Part Two: Albert joins the Barlows for Christmas dinner. Lucille asks Gordon to join her in Ireland visiting Concepta but he hurts her by being non-committal. Ena, Minnie and Effie listen to the Queen's speech. Hilda joins them afterwards for a natter, having had a Chinese meal for dinner. Emily goes back to St. Mary's Church to see Reggie. He invites her to tea later on. Ken and Val enjoy the peace and quiet after putting the twins to bed. He refuses to tell her how much the holiday cancellation cost him and confesses he should have consulted her before booking it. He also admits he missed seeing David today and still misses his mum. The residents gather at the Rovers where Jack leads a toast. Ena plays and everyone sings O Come, All Ye Faithful as an amused Ray enters and tells Elsie that Basil Griffin has rung to say he's coming round for a little chat with his wife.
Cast[]
Regular cast[]
- Ray Langton - Neville Buswell
- Jack Walker - Arthur Leslie
- Stan Ogden - Bernard Youens
- Len Fairclough - Peter Adamson
- Kenneth Barlow - William Roache
- Valerie Barlow - Anne Reid
- Albert Tatlock - Jack Howarth
- Dickie Fleming - Nigel Humphreys
- Gordon Clegg - Bill Kenwright
- Ena Sharples - Violet Carson
- Annie Walker - Doris Speed
- Effie Spicer - Anne Dyson
- Hilda Ogden - Jean Alexander
- Minnie Caldwell - Margot Bryant
- Miss Nugent - Eileen Derbyshire
- Lucille Hewitt - Jennifer Moss
- Audrey Fleming - Gillian McCann
- Elsie Tanner - Patricia Phoenix
- Maggie Clegg - Irene Sutcliffe
Guest cast[]
- Reverend James - Eric Dodson
- Marjorie Griffin - Marjie Lawrence
Places[]
- Rovers Return Inn - Public/snug
- 5 Coronation Street - Back room
- 14 Coronation Street - Living room
- St. Mary's Church - Church hall and back room
Notes[]
- The children playing Peter and Susan Barlow are uncredited.
- Ena Sharples quotes from the Christmas choral piece Remember, O thou man by Thomas Ravenscroft, written in 1611.
- Ken and Valerie Barlow discuss a time when Susan Barlow had pneumonia but this event did not occur on screen.
- TV Times synopsis: "Ah well, it's as far away as ever now!"
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 2,835,000 homes (chart placing unknown).
Notable dialogue[]
Elsie Tanner: "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Sharples."
Ena Sharples: "Merry Christmas, Elsie Tanner. You're lookin' very cheerful in the circumstances."
Elsie Tanner: "Well yes, after all, it is my season in a manner of speakin', isn't it? You know, good will to all men."
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Minnie Caldwell (to Ena Sharples): What would you do if you was Queen. Would you be just as headstrong as you are now?
Ena Sharples: "I'll ignore that remark if you'll pass me a walnut."
| December 1968 episodes |
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