The Season of Goodwill (23 Dec. 1979)

As Christmas nears, Father Duddleswell enters into his annual period of being on his best and most charitable behavior. It's a grand opportunity for others like Father Neil and Mrs. Pring ... See full summary »

Director:

David Askey

Writers:

Peter de Rosa (novel), Peter de Rosa

Stars:

Arthur Lowe, Daniel Abineri, Gabrielle Daye

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Arthur Lowe	...	Father Charles Clement Duddleswell
Daniel Abineri	...	Father Neil Boyd
Gabrielle Daye	...	Mrs. Pring
David Ryall	...	Billy Buzzle
Patrick McAlinney	...	Dr. Daley
Charles Lamb	...	Mr. Wilkins

Storyline

As Christmas nears, Father Duddleswell enters into his annual period of being on his best and most charitable behavior. It's a grand opportunity for others like Father Neil and Mrs. Pring to test the limits of his temporarily sweet disposition.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 1979 (UK)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

24 min 24 min (DVD)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

[the collection plates are found empty and Father D searches the nativity scene for the missing Christmas donations]
Father Neil Boyd: What're you doing, Father?
Father Charles Clement Duddleswell: I'm seein' if the infant Jesus is sittin' on me money.

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Soundtracks

""See, Amid The Winter's Snow"" aka Hymn For Christmas Day
Music by Sir John Goss
Lyrics by Edward Caswall
Performed by Arthur Lowe

User Reviews

We'll Shake on it Outside

A fine Christmas special of the gentle church based sitcom 'Bless me Father'

Christmas is arriving and Father Charles Duddeswell is spending it with his curate Father Neil Boyd and his house-keeper Mrs Pring. Duddeswell is in a good mood as it is Christmas, a bad thing for Boyd and Pring as that means he is much more difficult to live with than if he was in a bad mood. He has a bet with parish practical joker Billy Buzzle, saying that if it snows in the next two weeks, Buzzle wins £5 whereas Duddeswell wins a turkey and a Christmas tree. But it turns out to be a very small turkey and a fifteen foot Christmas tree when he wins. His performance as Father Christmas doesn't go well with the parishioners and he then gets chased by Buzzle's dog. Finally, it is midnight mass. The subject of his sermon turns out to be about people giving a good bit towards his Christmas collection. At the end of mass, the money from the collection goes missing, meaning Duddeswell worries and loses his temper and calls the police. Father Boyd has hid it for a joke to prove to Duddeswell that he won't be able to behave himself this Christmas.

This is the only episode I've seen of Peter De Rosa's sitcom. It is a very gentle sitcom, but because it stars Arthur Lowe, who due to his performance in 'Dad's Army', I rank him as the greatest comedy performer Britain ever had. He is great in this as Duddeswell, where he puts on an Irish accent for his role. It isn't a strong Irish accent and you can occasionally hear bits of English in his lines, but his mannerisms as they were in 'Dad's Army' were quite simply world class. Nice support from the other cast members as well. Having watched this one episode, I am considering getting the DVD of the complete series.

Best Bit: Duddeswell having the bet with Buzzle in the church: DUDDESWELL: I don't take bets in the kingdom of God (long pause) We'll shake on it outside: May not sound that funny, but the way Lowe executes it makes it funny Second Best Bit: NEIL: Will you buy a Christmas raffle ticket Father, DUDDESWELL: If you give me a discount, I'll buy one.