Christmas Crackers

"**Christmas Crackers**" is the first Christmas special episode of the BBC sitcom, *Only Fools and Horses*, first screened on 28 December 1981, three days after Christmas. It is the first episode to run over 30 minutes, but not the first feature-length.

## Sypnosis

It's Christmas Day in Peckham, and Grandad is cooking the dinner while Rodney is reading the "Dark Arts" book, which Mickey Pearce gave him. Del Boy returns and gives Grandad money for Christmas, and Grandad annoys Del by saying "I never got you nothing, as I don't believe in it." Rodney is worried about Grandad's cooking, and suggests to Del going on a hunger strike, but Del refuses, saying that it is Grandad's role to cook the dinner, as it makes him feel although he is needed in the family.

That night, the Trotters have dinner, which is a turkey, which they believe to be fairly cooked, that is until it is revealed Grandad forgot to take the giblets out. The Christmas pudding is no better, as Grandad burns it, and Del and Rodders decide that dinner is over.

With Del asleep on the sofa, Rodney is watching television when he tells Del he hates the circus. Del awakens, and Rodney asks him if he wants to go to the local *Monte Carlo Club* in Newcross. Del rejects the idea, saying that they can't leave Grandad alone, only for Grandad himself to go out shortly afterwards to an OAP's party, as he is sick of his grandchildren fighting. With this excuse, the Trotter Brothers head out.

Later at the nightclub, Rodney spots two women, one of whom he fancies. He reads his book before he goes, to which Del teases him, and Rodney ignores him and makes his move. Del embarrases his younger brother by shouting at him halfway across the dancefloor, and Rodney gets annoyed with Del's embarrasment towards him. Rodney and Del eventually go to talk to the women, but find that two other men have already beat them to it and the women dance with them, much to Del and Rodder's horror.

## Featured characters

* Del Boy
* Rodney
* Grandad
* Earl

## Other notes

### Production

* This was the sole episode of ***Only Fools and Horses*** between 1981 and 1987 not to be produced by Ray Butt, who after the first season of the show, was re-assigned to ***Seconds Out*** by the BBC. The initial plan was for Martin Shardlow, who had directed the first season, to also take on the producer's role for this special and the second season. However, Shardlow and John Sullivan could not agree on a future direction for the series, which eventually resulted in Shardlow deciding not to take the producer's role and leaving *Only Fools and Horses* altogether. With this episode in danger of not being filmed in time for Christmas 1981, Ray Butt arranged for his close friend and fellow BBC producer Bernard Thompson to produce and direct the episode, and Butt would subsequently return as producer (and this time director) for the second season.

"Go West Young Man" ·
"Cash and Curry" ·
"The Second Time Around" ·
"A Slow Bus To Chingford" ·
"Ashes to Ashes" ·
"A Losing Streak" ·
"No Greater Love" ·
"The Yellow Peril" ·
"It Never Rains..." ·
"Healthy Competition" ·
"Friday the 14th" ·
"Yesterday Never Comes" ·
"May the Force Be with You" ·
"Wanted" ·
"Strained Relations ·
"Hole in One" ·
"It's Only Rock and Roll" ·
"Sleeping Dogs Lie" ·
"Watching the Girls Go By" ·
"The Miracle of Peckham" ·
"The Longest Night" ·
"Tea for Three" ·
"Video Nasty" ·
"Danger UXD" ·
"Chain Gang" ·
"The Unlucky Winner Is..." ·
"Sickness and Wealth" ·
"The Chance of a Lunchtime" ·
"Stage Fright" ·
"The Class of '62" ·
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Uncle" ·
"Diamonds Are For Heather" (1982) ·
"Thicker than Water" (1983) ·
"Licensed to Drill" (1984) ·
"To Hull and Back" (1985) ·
"A Royal Flush" (1986) ·
"The Frog's Legacy" (1987) ·
"Dates" (1988) ·
"The Jolly Boys' Outing" (1989) ·
"Rodney Come Home" (1990) ·
"Miami Twice" (1991) ·
"Mother Nature's Son" (1992) ·
"Fatal Extraction" (1993) ·
"Heroes and Villains" (1996) ·
"Modern Men" (1996) ·
"Time On Our Hands" (1996) ·
"If They Could See Us Now" (2001) ·
"Strangers on the Shore" (2002) ·
"Sleepless in Peckham" (2003)
"Beckham in Peckham" (2014)