S8.E7

A Perfect Christmas

Name: A Perfect Christmas
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1974-12-26
Duration: 42 min
Rating: 8.4
Cast: Wilfrid Brambell, Harry H. Corbett, Leon Eagles

Episode aired Dec 26, 1974
TV-PG
42m

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

111

YOUR RATING

Comedy

Harold wants to go to Switzerland for Christmas whilst Albert, as usual, prefers Bognor, though he is persuaded to go provided they sail, rather than fly. However he has no passport and when... Read allHarold wants to go to Switzerland for Christmas whilst Albert, as usual, prefers Bognor, though he is persuaded to go provided they sail, rather than fly. However he has no passport and when Harold finds his birth-certificate in order to get him one, it turns out that Albert is t... Read allHarold wants to go to Switzerland for Christmas whilst Albert, as usual, prefers Bognor, though he is persuaded to go provided they sail, rather than fly. However he has no passport and when Harold finds his birth-certificate in order to get him one, it turns out that Albert is the illegitimate son of the muffin man and the picture of his supposed father is really Gla... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

111

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Wilfrid Brambell

Albert Steptoe

Harry H. Corbett

Harold Steptoe

Leon Eagles

Immigration Officer

Director
- Douglas Argent
Writers
- Ray Galton
- Alan Simpson
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews4

8.4111

Featured reviews

10seantheslug

The Perfect Ending

The 2 Christmas specials sum up everything about the love hate relationship of Harold & his dad..all the little elements come together, with the 2nd & final instalment being the best episode of them all, chickens come home & the humour is ascerbic, irreverent as ever.. The whole thing was a ploy to get rid of his dad, a double bluff..the only time he ever got 1up on him..priceless, a Christmas favourite

6Prismark10

A Perfect Christmas

The last ever episode of classic Steptoe and Son. Although there was a remake of an episode in 2016 with a new cast.

Harold has had enough of staying in at Christmas, having forced jollity on the television with special editions of Cilla or Lulu. Even Albert's Christmas decorations are not much cop as it has been the same since Harold was a little kid.

Harold wants to go abroad, Acapulco not acupuncture that Albert thinks it is. Albert just wants to go to Bognor.

When looking to make a new passport for Albert, Harold discovers that Albert's father's name is put as unknown in the birth certificate. The supposed photo of Harold's grandfather up on the wall is Gladstone.

As they set off for Switzerland for Christmas, I just hope Harold has checked his passport. Still Harold is a man with a plan for a perfect Christmas on this occasion and he has a fast car and a blonde waiting for him.

It might seem mean given it is Christmas but Harold gets one over Albert in this one.

A fond farewell to a classic.

9Sleepin_Dragon

It's a shame it had to end, but it ended with a classic.

It's been a joy working my way through the entire series, and this last entry in the TV series is one of the best, it's outrageously funny, it's outlandish, full of cutting humour, and of course has a moment of honesty between the two.

Some things never change, Albert points out what it's like being a Brit abroad, and now with the Brexit fiasco, we seem to be in a similar mess.

The writing is superb, and full of references to the past, and previous episodes, including Albert's love of Bognor, good time girl Dolly Clacket, and many others.

I loved the ending, Harold finally gets one up on his old dad, it's taken enough years.

An excellent finale, to a wonderful series.

Trivia
The Night Ferry train that is depicted at the end of this episode ran from London Victoria to Paris or Brussels. The Service started in 1936 and continued up until 1980 ,although obviously there was no service during the war years. The journey took approximately 11 hours and was eventually discontinued due to it being uneconomical to continue with 40 + year old rolling stock that needed replacing and increased competition from the airlines. It wouldn't be until 1994 with the opening of the Channel Tunnel and the introduction of the Eurostar that a direct London to Paris and Brussels train service would become available again, albeit with a significantly reduced journey time, 3 hours as opposed to the original 11, and from a different London railway station (originally Waterloo then St Pancras as of 2007).

Goofs
On learning of Albert's illegitimacy, Harold asks his dad why he didn't tell him. Wilfrid Brambell come in a few lines too early with his response "Why should I?" - in fairness, it's the right cue at the wrong moment.