JIM Royle wasn't the only one shouting 'My a***!' after a technical glitch ruined two days of filming on The Royle Family Christmas special - at a cost of £100,000.
Everything appeared to be going well as the cast of the award-winning comedy filmed at studios in Salford. But the footage was found to be unusable when it came back from a processing lab.
Stars including writer and director Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston were shocked to discover they had wasted their time.
Co-writer Phil Mealey revealed: "When we looked at the footage, it was like my holiday photographs - everyone’s head was cut off. Everything was lost. We were absolutely gutted.
"The camera had been checked and what was coming through on the monitors in the studio was fine.
"But a ground glass piece or something had dropped in the lens. It was like going to Boots with your wedding snaps ruined but on a massive scale."
"We had to drag everyone back to film it again. It was one of the most expensive rehearsals in the history of television.
"I’ve spoken to quite a few people in TV and nobody has ever experienced that amount of footage completely lost."
It was left to producer John Rushton to break the bad news to cast and crew on the Monday morning. "We were about to shoot the third day and he said, ‘Look, hold everything. I think we might have a problem with the camera.’"
By that time Spaced star Jessica Hynes, back as neighbour Cheryl, had returned to London, where she is appearing on stage at the Royal Court Theatre.
She and other cast members, including Ralf Little as Antony, were brought back to re-shoot the the original scenes in one intensive day added on to the end of the filming schedule.
But there is a happy ending after the filming mishap last month. "All that kind of thing is insured in the event of something happening like that," said Phil.
"It’s just one of those things. You have to pick yourself up and say. ‘Right, OK, we’ve lost it.’ And we’re delighted with the finished product. There are some very funny scenes it it."
Some 11 million viewers watched the 2008 festive special and even more are expected to tune in this year to the hour-long show, given the prime 9pm slot on Christmas Day.
The Royle Family - The Golden Eggcup sees Jim and Barbara celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a party, including Twiglets and Scotch eggs, and a caravan holiday.
The comedy is made by independent production company Jellylegs at The Pie Factory on the new MediaCity site at Salford Quays.
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MEN, what do you think?. I was in the pub the other night and someone said that I have some neck on me?, I said it was only 18½. Do you think that is big if you are over 6 feet?.☹
the only persons head that wasnt cut of was antony, cos hes real names raf little...he has to stand on a stool
Should have used digital - at least you can see what you're getting...
Nana has come back and Haunted them!!!
What's £100K to the BBC who will foot the bill eventually? They don't need to worry about money with their vast guaranteed income which they use to commission rubbish like this programme and many others of even worse quality.
Let those who want such dross pay for it. Leave the rest of us alone.
"What's £100K to the BBC who will foot the bill eventually? They don't need to worry about money with their vast guaranteed income which they use to commission rubbish like this programme and many others of even worse quality. Let those who want such dross pay for it. Leave the rest of us alone." - ebble, manchester
... and let's have all TV switched off at 6.00pm - with the new-fangled electrickery at 7.00pm - as we all have to get up to milk the collective's cows at 5.00am. And clean those chickens out while you're at it!
FYI: the BBC will not 'foot the bill', as the series is made by 'Jellylegs', an independendent production company of which the script writer, Phil Mealey is a partner.
ebble, manchester
. "All that kind of thing is insured in the event of something happening like that," said Phil.
Miss that bit when you skimmed through the headlines did you? If you're going to whine at least bother read the article first!
Ebble, did you actually read the article? They are covered by insurance.
surely the insurance would cover it?