A Gert Lush Christmas is a British one-off comedy-drama film first broadcast on BBC Two on 26 December 2015. It was co-written by Russell Howard and Steve Williams, and features Howard in his acting debut. The programme also stars Kerry Howard (Russell's real life sister), Neil Morrissey, Sophie Thompson, Hannah Britland and Greg Davies.
Contents
Plot
The story centres around everyman Dan Colman (Russell Howard) who lives in London with his girlfriend Lisa (Hannah Britland). For Christmas, Dan takes Lisa to his home-town of Bamford in Bristol to meet his caring but dysfunctional family which includes his fitness-obsessed father Dave (Neil Morrissey), well-meaning but eccentric mother Sue (Sophie Thompson), charm offensive brother Jake (Dougie McMeekin), hairdresser sister Julie (Kerry Howard) and party animal Uncle Tony (Greg Davies).
What begins as over enthusiasm to welcome Lisa into the family ends with Lisa running away and making Dan regret having introduced her to them in the first place. The family then pull together in their own unstable but unique way to amend the mistakes that have been made.
Cast
Russell Howard as Dan Colman
Nathan Stone as young Dan
Hannah Britland as Lisa, Dan's girlfriend
Neil Morrissey as Dave, Dan's father
Sophie Thompson as Sue, Dan's mother
Kerry Howard as Julie, Dan's sister
Felix Hayes as Trevor, Julie's husband
Samuel Woodward as Bert, Julie and Trevor's son
Douggie McMeekin as Jake, Dan's brother
Maggie O'Neill as Aunty Jade
Greg Davies as Uncle Tony
Rosie Ede as Aunty Claire
Pamela Lyne as Nan, Dan's paternal grandmother
Sam Pamphillon as Mark, Dan's oldest friend
Paddy Navin as Deirdre
Maggie Daniels as Cath
Larrington Walker as Roger, Dan and Lisa's neighbour
Alun Cochrane as the barman
Rose Johnson as the ticket woman
Gabriel Vick as Wiggy
Jayde Adams as Kelly
Keith Chegwin as himself
Pat Sharp as himself
Production
A Gert Lush Christmas was confirmed in April 2015 and filming took place in May 2015.