Oliver’s Christmas is not what he planned and the Bridge Farm stuffing is not what Pat planned, but everyone has a good time.

Radio Times: Joe wants company on Christmas Day and Tony and Johnny are left in charge

Characters: Joe, Nic, Oliver, Pat, Peggy, Tony

• Alone in his room at Grey Gables, Oliver is surprised when Joe and Nic pay him a call, insisting that he must come to Grange Farm. Oliver puts up considerable resistance, but Joe’s playing of the age card with a reminder that this could be his last Christmas on earth does the trick.
• As Jack and Henry play happily with their new and noisy toys, Peggy expresses her usual mild disapproval and is treated to a lecture on the need to avoid gender stereotyping from her daughter-in-law. Tony swiftly changes the subject, enabling Peggy to launch into criticism of Chris, who has apparently been ‘quite difficult lately.’
• Christmas at Grange Farm is predictably noisy and chaotic, but a glass of Tumble Tussock quickly oils the wheels for Oliver. He proceeds to enjoy a huge meal and apologises for being a Scrooge earlier. Eddie insists on a game to work off the turkey, causing Oliver to descend into gales of laughter. Joe is more concerned about the amount of cider being drunk. Will there be enough to spare?
• As Pat and Helen leave for their charity work, Tony and Johnny grapple with the meal and Pat’s written instructions. Peggy makes a number of critical comments but when the meal is almost ready, Tony realises they have forgotten the stuffing. Should he ask Jennifer for some? Tony manages a critical comment of his own on the subject of not begging from Borsetshire’s Bighead of the year. Johnny saves the day by going to Grange Farm where there is plenty to spare. Even Peggy and Chris manage to bond over the Queen’s Speech.
• When Pat and Helen finally return, full of their good deeds, Pat is gracious enough to praise the efforts of Tony and Johnny, even if the stuffing has not turned out quite like hers. Sensibly the two chefs decide not to reveal the truth. Brian may be businessman of the year, but he couldn’t produce a Christmas dinner like this one, declares an admiring Pat.