E4P4-4 Giles and Sue Live the Good Life - A Good Christmas

In celebration of The Good Life's 35th birthday, Giles Coren and Sue Perkins step back in time to 1975 to find out what it takes to make the self-sufficient dream a reality. Based in an ordinary suburban street and inspiring themselves with archive clips of the comedy, Giles and Sue try to recreate the Goods' world - from growing vegetables in the garden to trying to generate their own power and making their own clothes.

It's the season to be jolly, but is it really possible to enjoy Christmas when you're strapped for cash? Giles and Sue set out to prove that by using a few old fashioned handicrafts and an awful lot of enthusiasm, you can still put the merry into Christmas.

They begin by making some very rudimentary home-made decorations, before calling in 70s Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves who tries to show them how to assemble the famous Blue Peter advent crown. They take delivery of two turkeys, one of which Giles is determined will end up on the table come Christmas day. And as they haven't got any cash, Sue joins a local knitting circle and knits Giles a very festive 70s inspired Christmas jumper. Celebrity cook Sophie Grigson pops over to help them with a spot of Christmas baking and Giles and Sue invite all the neighbours over for some carols.

Meanwhile, away from the frugality of Tom and Barbara's make-do Christmas, Margo and Jerry enjoy some intoxicating cocktails and plan their Christmas with military precision.

Giles and Sue wake up on Christmas Day to find it has snowed and, after a chilly spot of snowballing, they're delighted when famous cook Mary Berry turns up to prepare a scrumptious Christmas lunch.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• none

[hamburgerhelperflick]

I think about the people who have to clean up the house.

[rhiannaeve]

@cupidxxrawr they did say it was a snow machine lol..

[OxIsis]

That was a riot. Thanks so much.

[staciarose20]

12:10 I had a huge laugh at Sue and the friction.

[livetolovesome182]

i wonder who ever owns that home was payed very well for all of the damage giles and sue did to the carpet, yard, and kitchen

[MatthewMiddletonTV]

I love that they use sausage to stuff the turkey - that's what my Grandfather did, but I'm the only one I know that grew up with sausage-based stuffing.

[ThePahaa]

Christ, when they are making the cocktails they dont half spit out alot of alcohol... If that amount of alcohol was readily availiable to me, and free aswell, the last thing I'd be doing would be spitting it out!

[rah760]

I found a hilarious book titled "My Way of Life", written by Joan Crawford (!!!) in 1971 and chock-ful of entertaining and housekeeping tips. In a section about what to serve for Sunday brunch, Joan wrote:

"Drinks are no problem. A big punch bowl with chunks of fresh fruit make a nice starter, and the mixings for bloody Marys, screwdrivers or bullshots can be left on a table for guests to serve themselves." (pg 88)

Bullshots for brunch! YIKES!!! Maybe Christina was right after all.

[froggarden]

G Coren is OTT, he wastes food, he is too messy and often a non sense, but i like Sue. Anyway i enjoyed this show. Thank you for uploading.

[katie1996xx]

seriously if you can barter eggs for a pair of hunter wellies i am getting some chickens immediatley

[SoleIntention]

@rah760

I think he may be...

[rah760]

Is Giles wearing pink undershorts at 7:17?