'The Goodies Travelling Instant 5 Minute Christmas' by Tim Brooke-Taylor, Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden

The Goodies attempt to cheer up a lonely street urchin with the aid of their 'Travelling Instant Five-Minute Christmas' show. In a super-condensed series of Christmas-themed events, Tim, Graham and Bill sing a number of carols, put the boy to bed and then arrange for a visit from Santa, but this is hampered when Bill gets stuck up the chimney. Next, Bill puts up and decorates the festive tree and gets attacked by Christmas fairies, which then eat the urchin’s turkey dinner. After burning the Christmas pudding to cinders, Tim dresses up as the Queen to give a speech, and then the Goodies put on a panto, along with several of their friends. When Bill presents the urchin with the bill for the Goodies’ efforts (£755.95!), their fairy assistant grants the boy’s wish to become rich; now a wealthy millionaire, the boy drives off in a posh limousine – leaving Tim, Graham and Bill penniless on the street…

Bill Oddie (Bill), Tim Brooke-Taylor (Tim), Graeme Garden (Graeme), Paul Ellison (Street Urchin), Denise Distel (Showgirl Assistant)

Produced and Directed by Jim Franklin
Music by Bill Oddie and Michael Gibbs

TX (BBC 2):
25th December 1972

Notes:
*Featuring Tim, Bill and Graeme

*This short sequence is actually seven and a half minutes long

*It was shown as part of the 1972 edition of 'Christmas Night with the Stars', hosted by Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, which also included special guests Cilla Black, The Young Generation, Lulu, and The Breakaways, and contributions from television shows 'The Liver Birds', 'Dad's Army', and 'Look: Mike Yarwood!'