[Iceman]

The BBC has revealed details of this year's Royle Family Christmas special.

Following on from the ratings success of last year's Christmas Day 'Golden Egg Cup' episode, writers Caroline Aherne and Craig Crash have penned 'Joe's Crackers'.

The one-off will feature the regular cast of Aherne, Cash, Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Ralf Little, Peter Martin and Jessica Hynes.

'Joe's Crackers' will be based in the Royle house on December 25, with Barbara Royle (Johnston) struggling because her husband Jim (Tomlinson) has had "unfortunate incident in the precinct".

Meanwhile, Dave (Cash) and Denise (Aherne) are fretting because they are struggling financially and are worried that their fridge magnet won't live up to the rest of the family's presents.