Christmas for the Goods doesn't go quite to plan...

The Good Life Christmas Special 1977: Silly But It's Fun

Comedy

Christmas Special 1977. The Goods and the Leadbetters plan their respective Christmases, but neither go according to plan. 

The Good Life

BRITBOX

Irreverent sitcom - are they on the money or having a mid-life crisis?!

Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal are the ultimate eco-couple in this irreverent sitcom. Tom hits 40, quits the rat race and decides to start a farm - baffling his neighbours.

the-good-life

It's Tom's 40th birthday and he's not happy. What has he done with his life?

Plough Your Own Furrow

The Goods have swapped their car for a cultivator to plough up the garden.

Say Little Hen...

The first shoots are beginning to show in the Goods' new garden.

The Weaker Sex?

The first shoots are beginning to show in the Goods' new garden, but a severely rusted cast-iron stove nearly puts  Barbara's fire out on the whole idea.

Margot discovers that Tom's new pigs have escaped into her garden.

Pig's Lib

When a horrified Margot discovers that Tom's new pigs have escaped into her garden, she resorts to calling in the local residents' association to settle the matter.

The Goods have started a search for alternative sources of food.

The Thing in the Cellar

The Goods have started a search for alternative sources of food, and Tom has rigged up a generator to make electricity from animal dung.

Bills are piling up, and the Goods need a holiday.

The Pagan Rite

Bills are piling up and the Goods need a holiday. Tom is tempted to earn some extra money - but not for paying boring old bills.

On the day before harvest, Tom injures his back and can hardly move.

Backs to the Wall

On the day before harvest, Tom injures his back and can hardly move. With just three days to gather the crops before they rot, Barbara makes an impassioned appeal for help.

The harvest has been gathered, and now the Goods must sell the surplus at market.

Just My Bill

The harvest has been safely gathered in, proving Tom and Barbara's mettle. But they must now face the really tough  problem - selling the surplus at market.

Tom attracts two disciples, leaving Jerry and Margot to have panicky visions of a commune.

The Guru of Surbiton

Two students arrive to help the Goods out, and in Tom they find their new messiah, leaving Jerry and Margot to have panicky visions of a commune.

The Goods are beginning to attract some favourable attention from Surbiton at large.

Mr Fix-It

The Goods are beginning to attract some favorable attention from Surbiton at large. A reporter arrives to do a story on them, and Margot schemes of ways to bask in their fame.

When someone starts stealing Tom's leaks, he decides to settle the matter out of court.

The Day Peace Broke Out

When someone starts stealing Tom's leaks, he decides to settle the matter in Frontiersman style.

Jerry must choose between obeying 'Sir' or pleasing Margot by attending her musical.

Mutiny

It's the opening night of "The Sound of Music", and Jerry must choose between obeying Sir or pleasing Margot by attending her musical.

After hearing about an ideal rural farm, Tom is all ready to leave Surbiton.

Home Sweet Home

After hearing about an ideal rural farm, Tom is all ready to leave Surbiton. Barbara doesn't want to go, but Margot  might like the idea.

The Goods decide to attend night classes to learn valuable skills.

Going To Pot?

The Goods decide to attend night classes to learn valuable skills while Margot schemes to outwit a new neighbour adept at painting by taking up pottery.

The Leadbetters have had enough of the Goods' early morning activities.

The Early Birds

After the Leadbetters have enough of the Goods' crack-of-dawn activities, Tom and Barbara search for new ways to design their schedule.

A 400% increase in their livestock population is a source of great joy for the Goods.

The Happy Event

A 400% increase in their livestock population is a source of great joy for the Goods. Although their enchantment is not shared by the Leadbetters.

Tom revamps his cultivator and Barbara becomes the Leadbetters' housekeeper.

A Tug of the Forelock

After Tom brainstorms an idea for revamping the cultivator into a transport vehicle, the Goods try their hand at becoming a housekeeping service to the Leadbetters to earn cash.

The Goods decide to experiment with talking to their plants to see if they'll grow more.

I Talk to the Trees

The Goods decide to experiment with talking to their plants to see if they'll grow more. Margo, meanwhile, plans to run for Music Society President.

Neighbourly war breaks out when Margo's windbreak puts the Goods' fruits in the shade.

The Windbreak War

Miscommunication deteriorates into a family feud when Margo's windbreak puts the Goods' fruits in the shade.

Tom and Barbara find themselves with fleas. Can they protect Jerry and Margo from them?

Whose Fleas Are These?

It's embarrassing enough when Tom and Barbara find themselves with fleas. But how can they stop these unwanted guests from catching on with Jerry and Margo?

Life as a farmer begins to wear on Barbara, as she's down to her last good dress.

The Last Posh Frock

Life as an urban farmer begins to get Barbara down, particularly when a passer-by mistakes her for a boy. When Barbara rips her last good dress, she reaches her limit.

When the Goods leave for a much-needed holiday, the Leadbetters take over their duties.

Away From It All

When the Goods leave for a much-needed holiday in Mayfair, the Leadbetters take over their house and garden. But Tom and Barbara can't help thinking of all the things that might go wrong.

Is Margo having an affair? The Goods can't help thinking the worst.

The Green Door

Is Margo having an affair? When she is less than honest about her activities, the Goods can't help thinking the worst.

Barbara discovers a natural speaking talent. Margo simply seethes with jealousy.

Our Speaker Today

Barbara discovers a natural speaking talent, leaving Tom home alone. Margo simply seethes with jealousy.

Tom buys a loom so he and Barbara can make their own woollen clothes.

The Weavers Tale

When Margo buys a spinning wheel at an antique shop, Tom buys a loom so he and Barbara can make their own woollen clothes. It's too bad that Barbara has rallied Jerry into putting his foot down about Margo's spending.

The Goods find new ways to put their loom to good use.

Suit Yourself

The Goods find new ways to put their loom to good use, while Margo and Jerry are preparing for an important dinner party at which Jerry's boss, Sir, will announce his retirement from JJM.

Tom schemes about oil. Jerry schemes about promotion and Margo lands a leading role.

Sweet and Sour Charity

The Goods celebrate two years since they went self-sufficient.

Anniversary

While the Goods celebrate two years since they went self-sufficient, Jerry is on tenterhooks about who Sir will decide should succeed him at JJM.

Special filmed live at BBC Television Centre with the Queen & Duke of Edinburgh watching.

The Good Life Royal Special 1978: When I'm 65

Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal star in a special edition of their sitcom with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in the audience. Filmed live at BBC Television Centre, it follows the Goods as they fret about retirement.

The Good Life

Other Episodes