The 'In Sickness & In Health' Christmas Special took a break in 1988, returning a year later. By this time some interesting cast changes had taken place. Eamonn Walker's 'Winston' ( known to Alf as 'Marigold' ) had left, as had Eileen Kennally a.k.a. 'Mrs.Johnson'. Tricia Kelly - who had been a home help in Season 1 and a D.H.S.S. clerk in Season 2 - took over the latter role. Being a younger, more attractive woman, the character was altered from someone happy with their lot in life to a simmering hot-bed of sexual frustration ( not unlike 'Ria' in 'Butterflies' ). As Kelly's 'Mrs.Johnson' notes, Fred ( Ken Campbell ) has given her a good home. She just wishes she was sharing it with someone else. The full extent of her growing dissatisfaction would be displayed in the opening episode of Season 6 when she ( played by yet another actress ) came out of the closet and left Fred for another woman! Arthur English was missing due to health problems. Stepping into his shoes was Bill Maynard as 'Bert Luscombe', whom he had played in the 1972 'Till Death Us Do Part' story 'Pigeon Fancier' ( he was the man Alf had the bet with! ).
The episode begins with Alf once again looking forward to a miserable Christmas - cheese on toast for dinner instead of turkey. He concocts a scam; telling the Vicar ( Philip Fox ) Mrs.Hollingbery cannot afford food and begs for some as an act of charity. The Vicar duly brings round a hamper, but she refuses it on the grounds it has been dishonestly obtained. Alf offers to raffle it instead...
Better than the 1987 special, though Arthur English is sadly missed. Philip Fox was the annoying man in 'Duty Free' who wanted to have his photo taken with a chimpanzee, and later nearly sold his home in the first episode of 'I'm Alan Partridge'.
Funniest moment - the raffle in the pub. Alf tries to fix the result by filling his hat with bits of paper bearing no-one's name except his, but he is outsmarted by Bert! Having lost the hamper, things get worse for Alf as his ruse is discovered!
The episode begins with Alf once again looking forward to a miserable Christmas - cheese on toast for dinner instead of turkey. He concocts a scam; telling the Vicar ( Philip Fox ) Mrs.Hollingbery cannot afford food and begs for some as an act of charity. The Vicar duly brings round a hamper, but she refuses it on the grounds it has been dishonestly obtained. Alf offers to raffle it instead...
Better than the 1987 special, though Arthur English is sadly missed. Philip Fox was the annoying man in 'Duty Free' who wanted to have his photo taken with a chimpanzee, and later nearly sold his home in the first episode of 'I'm Alan Partridge'.
Funniest moment - the raffle in the pub. Alf tries to fix the result by filling his hat with bits of paper bearing no-one's name except his, but he is outsmarted by Bert! Having lost the hamper, things get worse for Alf as his ruse is discovered!