The Royle Family

Great article HERE on The Royle Family, a personal superslice:

The conceit of the show initially penned by series stars Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash was a simple but completely revolutionary one. Each episode would transplant you into the Royles’ livingroom as they chatted about their day and watched their favourite programmes. The first series, which is perfect from start to finish, focuses on the marriage of Denise and her dopey but well-meaning boyfriend Dave (Craig Cash). We hear about the wedding plans, see Denise try her dress on one Sunday afternoon and even see the events of the morning in question, but key, to the genius of the show, is that we never leave their house.

It captured something instantly relatable. You could see yourself in these people. These weren’t comedy characters like Victor Meldrew or Father Ted Crilly, these felt like real people. We can all relate to watching television with the family and moaning about the state of the programmes, finally settling on something and talking all the way through it anyway. When you watch it, you’re amazed someone hadn’t thought to do it sooner.

The ultimate reality tv show, the second it appeared every tv writer must've yelled at the tv screen for not having come up with the idea first.