FROM CHRISTMAS PAST 1 - ALF GARNETT

Starting today is a short lived series looking at images of Christmas past - today we take a look at the In Sickness and in Health Christmas special from 1990. It was in fact the last Alf Garnett Christmas special that the BBC produced and it is doubtful that'll we'll see the return of the old codger in these scary politically correct times.

The story starts with Alf being jilted at the alter by Mrs. Hollingbury after she refuses to say, "I obey", as part of the wedding vows. Alf, staunch chauvinist, demands that she bloody well does obey and so he is left at the alter.

What follows is a battle of will as the two pensioners who live in the same house. However when the vicar sees Mrs Hollingbury acting harshly towards Alf she is forced to pay a penance. Something which the old codger takes full advantage of getting her to cook and clean for him.

The episode is available on region 2 DVD on The Christmas Specials set which also contains the specials from the preceding four years.

Lost of people claim this programme was racist but that in truth the show was very much anti-racist. True the character of Alf was a racist bigot but he always received his come comeuppance for his ignorant views. But more than that Alf was something of a hero of the working classes, always fighting against big business and an uncaring government. This is classic British comedy of the highest order.

Note in the US Alf Garnett became Archie Bunker