Rob Gilroy: Making A Stand #35

This week, as befalls me every month, I am frantically writing sketches for the next instalment of my sketch show – Jolly Mixtures.

Despite my best intentions I always find myself woefully underprepared and this month is certainly no different. Who knows if I will get enough material written in time?

Not that I’m trying to put you off coming or anything. Trust me; it’s going to be brilliant. Probably.

This month there’s an even greater level of pressure on us to make the show something special because, and I don’t know if you know this, it’s nearly Christmas.

And as with everyone and everything around Christmas, we are shamelessly cashing in on the festive season by producing a Christmas-themed show.

So, not only do we run the risk of disappointing an audience in a comedic sense but we’ll also be running a close line in ruining Christmas for them completely.

That said, King Herod did issue the slaughter of all new born babies, so even if we are shit, at least we won’t be responsible for the worst Christmas on record.

Regardless of my inability to generate material; I really am looking forward to doing a Christmas special.

It has become a long standing tradition that great comedy institutions tackle a festive version – I’m looking at you Grumpy Old Men. This is our chance to create something similar.

Some of my favourite comedy moments come from Christmas specials. Only Fools and Horses produced a constant stream of festive episodes, as did One Foot in the Grave and The Royle Family.

The League of Gentlemen Christmas Special is still one of my favourites – chilling and hilarious in equal measure, an understated gem and properly Christmassy.

Knowing Me, Knowing Yule with Alan Partridge is not only one of the best specials created – but also one of the funniest hours of television comedy there has ever been. How often do you get to see Mick Hucknall singing Ding, Dong Merrily on High?

For me, the countdown to Christmas starts not with an advent calendar – I’ve abandoned them since that time I hung one above a radiator, it took six weeks to scrape the melted chocolate orange segments off the wall – but by watching as many Christmas films and comedy specials as I can. I don’t hang them on the wall though, that’d be mental.

The thing I love about festive episodes is that it allows the comedy to come from the same familiar places, whilst also having a certain extra quality – a little bit of Christmas magic, or some Shakin’ Stevens on the soundtrack. Either way it’s something quite special.

There’s something enjoyable about seeing beloved comedy characters – and Vince Vaughn – at Christmas.

You get to share in their enjoyment or frustration with the season, chuckle along to their festive mishaps and generally rejoice in the silliness of the entire thing.

Whether you’re watching Mr Bean showcasing his turkey-based headgear or seeing Del Boy offer up his interpretation of The Dark Knight, each comedy moment feels that bit richer when it’s tied in with all the emotions of the yuletide season.

And it’s not just the comedy that becomes stronger – the pathos too can be that much more satisfying.

The Office and Extras offer up bleak moments of redemption, while One Foot in the Grave deals with the depression that surrounds this time of year. These shows, like Christmas, can inspire laughter and cause tears to flow.

No other end of year show offers up this mix in quite the same potent way. Unless you count the Queen’s speech but if you ask me; it’s been sadly lacking in good gags for the last couple of years.

It seems to me that the Christmas special is a comedy institution in and of itself and one that should never go away – so I aim to bring that same sense of wonder and joy to Jolly Mixtures, however soppy that sounds.

That said, if I keep putting off the writing like I am then the audience will be lucky to get anything.

• Rob can be seen next at Jolly Mixtures: Christmas Comedy Spectacular on 19 December at The Caroline Street Social Club in Saltaire. 8:30pm start and £3 in.
• He can also be heard on Drystone Radio next Friday 20 December taking part in the pilot of a new radio panel show called The Ramblers.