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The Best Episodes of The Royle Family

Every episode of The Royle Family ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Royle Family!

Binge this in 10h 0m•Peaking at 8.4/10

The Royle Family is a British sitcom created by Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, and produced by Granada Television for BBC Two (series 1) and BBC One (series 2 and 3). It centres on the

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Royle Family Season 2 Episode 6 - Antony's Birthday
    8.4/10(189 votes)

    #1 - Antony's Birthday

    S2:E6

    It's Antony's 18th birthday and the Royles are planning a family party. They finally get to meet Antony's girlfriend Emma.

    Director:Steve Bendelack
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Carmel Morgan

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  2. The Royle Family Season 3 Episode 4 - Funeral
    8.4/10(172 votes)

    #2 - Funeral

    S3:E4

    Nana's dear old neighbour Elsie dies, and today is the funeral. It's full of the usual admiration of her house, and Nana has also been taking stuff from Elsie's since she has passed on, so Jim gets one back for her! Nana is also hinting that she wants to move in: "I would never ever think of asking you to let me stay here, but well that back bedroom is free now!"

    Director:Caroline Aherne
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne

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  3. The Royle Family Season 1 Episode 6 - The Wedding Day
    8.3/10(200 votes)

    #3 - The Wedding Day

    S1:E6

    The morning of Dave and Denise's wedding arrives. Will everything go as planned?

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Henry Normal

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  4. The Royle Family Season 3 Episode 7 - The Royle Family at Christmas
    8.3/10(186 votes)

    #4 - The Royle Family at Christmas

    S3:E7

    Baby David's first birthday comes around and the Royles sit down as they did last Christmas. This time they are joined by Darren and Emma, including her parents. Emma's father, Roger can't seem to stop boasting which annoys Jim. When they leave, an unhappy and mad Jim gets the best present of them all.

    Director:Caroline Aherne
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Royle Family Season 2 Episode 2 - Sunday Lunch
    8.2/10(171 votes)

    #5 - Sunday Lunch

    S2:E2

    Nana and Twiggy come round for Sunday dinner. Barbara loses her temper during lunch. She's feeling the onset of "the change".

    Director:Steve Bendelack
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Carmel Morgan

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  6. The Royle Family Season 2 Episode 7 - Christmas with the Royle Family
    8.2/10(210 votes)

    #6 - Christmas with the Royle Family

    S2:E7

    It's Christmas Day. The family have just finished a big Christmas dinner. Barbara learns her turkey wasn't up to scratch, and Dave buys Denise a mobile phone for when the baby is born, even though she uses it to call Barbara on the house phone from upstairs! Antony goes to Emma's shortly afterwards, and Dave takes Nana home. Soon after Dave and Nana have left, Denise goes into labour upstairs in the bathroom, and Jim is left to comfort her. Denise reveals the baby isn't due until 3 weeks. Will the baby and Denise be alright?

    Directors:Mark Mylod, Steve Bendelack
    Writer:Carmel Morgan

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Royle Family

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  7. The Royle Family Season 3 Episode 3 - Decorating
    8.2/10(171 votes)

    #7 - Decorating

    S3:E3

    Twiggy and Jim are redecorating the dining room for the Christening, but because Jim is so tight they don't have a steamer. The pair, and later Dave, use kitchen utensils to remove the wallpaper, whilst Dancing to Mambo No. 5! They don't get very far ...

    Director:Caroline Aherne
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne

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  8. The Royle Family Season 1 Episode 3 - Sunday Afternoon
    8.1/10(203 votes)

    #8 - Sunday Afternoon

    S1:E3

    It's Sunday afternoon and Nana is visiting. Everyone is more interested in the television.

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Henry Normal

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  9. The Royle Family Season 2 Episode 5 - Barbara's Finally Had Enough
    8.1/10(169 votes)

    #9 - Barbara's Finally Had Enough

    S2:E5

    Barbara loses patience with Jim and storms out of the house. Jim tries to show that he's concerned about Barbara by offering to make her a cup of tea!

    Director:Steve Bendelack
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Carmel Morgan

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  10. The Royle Family Season 1 Episode 5 - Another Woman?
    8.0/10(186 votes)

    #10 - Another Woman?

    S1:E5

    Denise is upset after Dave is accused of chatting up another woman.

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Henry Normal

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  11. The Royle Family Season 2 Episode 4 - Nana Comes to Stay
    8.0/10(161 votes)

    #11 - Nana Comes to Stay

    S2:E4

    Nana has had her cataract operation, so she comes to stay with the Royles. Jim is even less pleased now that she's arrived. Antony's band has split up.

    Director:Steve Bendelack
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Carmel Morgan

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  12. The Royle Family Season 3 Episode 6 - Christening
    8.0/10(156 votes)

    #12 - Christening

    S3:E6

    The day of the christening is finally here, but the decorating is still not finished in the background. Everyone is there for a buffet, including Twiggy's 'bird'.

    Director:Caroline Aherne
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne

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  13. The Royle Family Season 1 Episode 4 - Jim's Birthday
    7.9/10(186 votes)

    #13 - Jim's Birthday

    S1:E4

    Jim Royle is trying to ignore the fact that it's his birthday. His family refuse to let him go on ignoring it.

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Henry Normal

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  14. The Royle Family Season 2 Episode 1 - Pregnancy
    7.9/10(171 votes)

    #14 - Pregnancy

    S2:E1

    Denise announces that she's pregnant. Jim thinks that Antony may be a "gay boy".

    Director:Steve Bendelack
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Carmel Morgan

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  15. The Royle Family Season 3 Episode 5 - London
    7.9/10(150 votes)

    #15 - London

    S3:E5

    Antony declares that he and Darren, the managers of their band 'Exit', are going to London to find a record deal, of course they get the usual barrage of insults from Jim and Dave, and Nana makes a small contribution to the fund!

    Director:Caroline Aherne
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne

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  16. The Royle Family Season 1 Episode 1 - Bills, Bills, Bills
    7.8/10(230 votes)

    #16 - Bills, Bills, Bills

    S1:E1

    Jim is annoyed when the latest telephone bill arrives just before Dave and Denise's wedding.

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Henry Normal

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  17. The Royle Family Season 1 Episode 2 - Making Ends Meet!
    7.8/10(199 votes)

    #17 - Making Ends Meet!

    S1:E2

    Jim Royle is getting more and more worried about finding the money to pay for his daughter's wedding.

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Henry Normal

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  18. The Royle Family Season 2 Episode 3 - Nana's Coming to Stay
    7.8/10(163 votes)

    #18 - Nana's Coming to Stay

    S2:E3

    Jim isn't best pleased when he learns that Barbara has invited Nana to come and stay with the Royles after her cataract operation. Antony announces that he's become the manager of a band called 'Exit'.

    Director:Steve Bendelack
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Carmel Morgan

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  19. The Royle Family Season 3 Episode 1 - Baby
    7.7/10(146 votes)

    #19 - Baby

    S3:E1

    Baby David finally arrives at the Royle's House, dressed from head to toe in the 'latest Gear', that is obviously Manchester slang for complete tack, but it seems that Denise is taking a back seat and letting Dave do all the work, will it continue?

    Director:Caroline Aherne
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne

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  20. The Royle Family Season 3 Episode 2 - Babysitting
    7.7/10(147 votes)

    #20 - Babysitting

    S3:E2

    The Royles decide that it's time for a pint, but who will be left babysitting?

    Director:Caroline Aherne
    Writers:Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne

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Best Episodes Summary

"Antony's Birthday" is the best rated episode of "The Royle Family". It scored 8.4/10 based on 189 votes. Directed by Steve Bendelack and written by Craig Cash, Caroline Aherne, Carmel Morgan, it aired on 10/28/1999. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Funeral".