The ''Carry On Christmas Specials'' were four one-off specials produced for

Thames Television Thames Television, commonly simplified to just Thames, was a franchise holder for a region of the British ITV television network serving London and surrounding areas from 30 July 1968 until the night of 31 December 1992. Thames Television broa ...

made in 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973. They brought most of the cast and the formula of the ''Carry On'' films to a television production. Barbara Windsor was the only one to appear in all four ''Carry On Christmas'' specials.

Kenneth Williams Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was an English actor of Welsh heritage. He was best known for his comedy roles and in later life as a raconteur and diarist. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the 31 '' ...

(who appeared in twenty-six ''Carry On'' films, the most of any of the ''Carry On'' stars) did not appear in any of the Christmas specials.

Carry on Christmas (1969)

Description

The first special, ''Carry On Christmas'', was broadcast in 1969. It was filmed shortly after the completion of '' Carry on Up the Jungle'' and featured the same main cast from that film. It was scripted by long-term ''Carry On'' author

Talbot Rothwell Talbot Nelson Conn “Tolly” Rothwell, Order of the British Empire, OBE (12 November 1916 – 28 February 1981) was an English screenwriter. Life and career Rothwell was born in Bromley, Kent, England. He had a variety of jobs during his ...

. The story was an irreverent take on

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian er ...

' ''

A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. ''A Christmas ...

'', featuring Sid James as Scrooge. The 'Christmas Past' sequence reveals that Scrooge failed to invest in the schemes of Dr. Frank N. Stein, who (assisted by his servant,

Count Dracula Count Dracula () is the title character of Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. He is considered to be both the prototypical and the archetypal vampire in subsequent works of fiction. Aspects of the character are believed by some ...

) sought to create a mate for

Barbara Windsor Dame Barbara Windsor (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 193710 December 2020) was an English actress, known for her roles in the Carry On (franchise), ''Carry On'' films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera, ''EastEnders''.

's Monster. The 'Christmas Present' sequence described

Robert Browning Robert Browning (7 May 1812 – 12 December 1889) was an English poet and playwright whose dramatic monologues put him high among the Victorian poets. He was noted for irony, characterization, dark humour, social commentary, historical sett ...

's difficulties in attempting to elope with Elizabeth Barrett without funds, thanks to Scrooge's unwillingness to lend. The 'Christmas Future' sequence retold the story of

Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...

Cast

Carry on Again Christmas (1970)

Description

The second special, ''Carry On Again Christmas'', was shown the following year. Rothwell did not script this episode, but Sid Colin, who had co-written '' Carry On Spying'' with Rothwell, wrote the episode with Dave Freeman, who would go on to script ''

Carry On Behind ''Carry On Behind'' is a 1975 British comedy film, the 27th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was the first entry in the series not to be scripted by Talbot Rothwell since ''Carry On Cruising'' 13 years previousl ...

'', several episodes of the ''

Carry On Laughing : ''This article describes the all-original 1975 TV series. Not to be confused with the later "Carry On" film-clip compilations or the stage play of the same name''. ''Carry On Laughing'' is a British television comedy series produced in 1975 ...

'' television series, and was the co-writer of the 1992

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

, '' Carry On Columbus''. Based on the

Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as '' Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ...

story ''

Treasure Island ''Treasure Island'' (originally titled ''The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys''Hammond, J. R. 1984. "Treasure Island." In ''A Robert Louis Stevenson Companion'', Palgrave Macmillan Literary Companions. London: Palgrave Macmillan. .) is an adventure no ...

'', this episode saw the ''Carry on'' debut of Wendy Richard, who would go on to have small roles in '' Carry On Matron'' and '' Carry On Girls''. Although the 1969 special was broadcast in colour, the 1970 special was shown in black and white due to a technicians' strikes that caused

to broadcast all their Christmas shows that year in black and white.

Cast

Carry on Christmas (or Carry On Stuffing) (1972)

Description

In 1972 a new Christmas special was produced, entitled ''Carry On Christmas (or Carry On Stuffing)''. Talbot Rothwell became ill whilst writing the script, and was unable to finish it. Dave Freeman had to be brought in to complete the script, but the two men did not work together. Charles Hawtrey pulled out of the special at short notice. Having taken third billing to Sid James and Terry Scott in the previous two shows, and knowing they would both be absent, Hawtrey demanded top billing. But ''Carry On'' producer Peter Rogers refused, giving top billing to Hattie Jacques instead. Hawtrey's role had hastily to be recast, and was split between

Norman Rossington Norman Rossington (24 December 1928 – 21 May 1999) was an English actor best remembered for his roles in ''The Army Game'', the ''Carry On'' films and the Beatles' film '' A Hard Day's Night''. Early life Born in Liverpool, Lancashi ...

and

Brian Oulton Brian Oulton (11 February 1908 – 13 April 1992) was an English character actor. Biography Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, Oulton made his acting debut in 1939 as a lead actor. During the Second World War he served in the British Army, and retu ...

, both of whom had played cameo roles in several ''Carry On'' films. The special featured a collection of historical sketches, loosely linked around an 18th-century banquet. It included a performance of two

madrigal A madrigal is a form of secular vocal music most typical of the Renaissance (15th–16th c.) and early Baroque (1600–1750) periods, although revisited by some later European composers. The polyphonic madrigal is unaccompanied, and the number ...

s originally written for '' Carry On Henry''.Ross, Robert. ''The Carry On Companion'', B. T. Batsford: London, 1996. pp 93-94 The songs reappeared in the 1973 stage show '' Carry On London''.

Cast

Carry on Christmas (1973)

Description

For the final original Christmas special, writer Talbot Rothwell returned, as did Sid James. In a modern-day setting, it features Sid James as a

department store A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store made a dramatic appe ...

Father Christmas Father Christmas is the traditional English name for the personification of Christmas. Although now known as a Christmas gift-bringer, and typically considered to be synonymous with Santa Claus, he was originally part of a much older and unrela ...

, whose out-of-character behaviour puts him at odds with the store manager. James also introduces sketches set in Christmases past, and a "Carry On" ballet performance.

Cast

Carry on Laughing's Christmas Classics (1983)

and Barbara Windsor introduce some of the funniest moments from the later

Carry On films The ''Carry On'' series of 31 British comedy films were released between 1958 and 1978, produced by Peter Rogers with director Gerald Thomas. The humour of ''Carry On'' was in the British comic tradition of music hall and bawdy seaside postc ...

, in a format very similar to the film '' That's Carry On!''.

DVD release

In 2005, the first four specials were released on DVD, featuring

interview An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers.Merriam Webster DictionaryInterview Dictionary definition, Retrieved February 16, 2016 In common parlance, the word "interview" ...

s with series producer Peter Rogers and stars Jack Douglas and Wendy Richard.

References

External links

Carry On Films at The Whippit InnCarry On Line: Official Website of the Carry On films
* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Carry On Christmas Specials Carry On (franchise) Christmas television specials ITV sitcoms English-language television shows Television shows produced by Thames Television Television shows based on A Christmas Carol