EPISODES
S08 – Ho Ho No (Hour Christmas Special)
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Episode Summary
- Ben gets a visit from Jacob Marley to kick start his Christmas, so it looks as through things may be bleak in the Harper house, but when Susan announces that this Christmas there will be no tree, no decorations and, most importantly, no family, Ben thinks all his Christmases have come at once. Susan whisks him away to a relaxing retreat in the country where the rest of the Harper family can’t ruin his ‘festivity free’ Christmas. However, Susan, of course, has secretly planned her own version of the perfect Christmas and arranges for the whole family to surprise a thoroughly relaxed Ben on the ‘big’ day. Despite Janey’s and Michael’s misgivings about the whole plan, Susan is very determined that, if everyone sticks to their schedule, it will work, but she turns down Michael’s plea that his girlfriend Gwen should come along too. Things start going wrong from the outset, as Roger manages to break his leg and ruin Susan’s timings. Believing the rest of the family to be a safe distance away, Ben settles into the hotel and begins the Christmas he’s always dreamed of. However, Ben’s fantasy didn’t include a visit from his crazed stalker, Crystal… and Susan’s ideal festive season didn’t include coming face to face with the Christmas turkey in full feather and very much alive. Newly qualified as a massage therapist, Abi decides to pay for her and Roger’s room by working in the hotel spa. When Abi turns up for an appointment, she is shocked and horrified to discover who is lying on her table – with little more than a towel to cover his modesty. Alfie’s family have put him in charge of ‘babysitting’ his Uncle Idris this year, which he aims to do at the Harper house, but with Idris’s habit of wandering off, it’s not long before Alfie despairs and turns up at the hotel for support. Despite Susan’s insistence of making it a ‘family only’ Christmas, Michael sneaks Gwen into his room, and Janey, shocked to learn that Kenzo’s dad has bought him a pony, sets off to find something even better. Eventually all the Harpers are not only in under one roof but in the same room as they hide from Crystal’s jailbird boyfriend who has escaped from jail dressed as Father Christmas. Ben hides and knocks him cold – only to discover it is the hotel owner, Mr Salem. Then the other Father Christmas turns up and Ben gives him the same treatment – but this time it’s the one Janey employed to surprise Kenzo. When the third father Christmas appears, Ben metes out similar treatment but, this time, discovers that Christmas can have real magic for the whole family.
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Cast
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Character
Actor
Character
Actor
Alfie ButtsRhodri MeilirJacob MarleyJohn ChallisCrystalNiky WardleyGwenAmy NobelMr SalemPaul BrookeCarlMartin HerdmanCharacter
Actor
PolicemanJames WatsonArt Gallery Patron (Stuntman)Paul KenningtonTeam
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