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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 255512" data-attributes="member: 23">Victoria Wood’s Mid Life Christmas (continued) Thematically, this special feels a little like Vic’s greatest hits being given a new spin. There’s lots of familiar ground, and the new stuff is enjoyably analogous with earlier material, while still being fresh and new. Julie aside, there are none of Vic’s usual rep company. And while they’re missed, it’s to Vic’s credit that without them the special still feels, well… special. Additional recurring sketches in the series include Lark Pies To Cranchesterford, a spoof of earnest “bonnet” period dramas of the time. I haven’t watched these a great deal, but I’d have to assume it’s spot on. There’s some familiarity to fans of earlier satires such as Acorn Antiques and The Mall, with genre tropes (there is a lot of anachronistic contemporary language, and even some Americanisms, which is presumably a swipe at period telly’s lack of attention to detail. At one point Vic’s character says “You do the math”), bad dialogue and occasional technical glitches such as extras standing round awaiting their cue before moving, or poorly composed shots with Vic’s character’s huge sleeves dominating the shot in the foreground. Then there’s the thread which captures the episode’s title: the Mid-Life Olympics, which is wonderfully observed. One of the funniest moments sees footage of the Ladies Outdoor Parking event, where the commentators observe and discuss such dramatic moments as a woman bursting into tears after failing to reverse into a space with the task completed by a passing male motorist. It’s a typically hilarious, politically incorrect, life-based observation from Victoria. In common with As Seen On TV, the episode begins with a Vic monologue and closes with a song. The Christmas-themed monologue is nicely observed. From there being nothing on TV, to a visiting relative sidling up to a plug in air freshener to fart, hoping the scent of cinnamon and vanilla will cover up essence of sprout. The song is a highlight, which is a little surprising since it’s an old one. But it’s THE Victoria Wood song. It’s given a build-up right from the beginning, when Vic references all the Barrys and Fredas sitting at home, and we actually see Barry and Freda watching the show a few times throughout. In closing, Vic sits at the piano to sing The Ballad Of Barry And Freda before the audience. But in-keeping with the rest of the episode, this is a classic with a twist. Firstly, many of the lyrics are new, referencing everything from Russell Brand to an old favourite subject of Vic’s… daytime telly:There are even some new Christmas lyrics:This new version of the song becomes a green screen SFX extravaganza as numerous Fredas and Barrys - resplendent in cardigans and dressing gowns appear in order to dance round Vic’s piano, before stripping to baggy y-fronts and enormous bras to do a full-on Busby Berkeley inspired routine, complete with elaborate synchronised dance moves and aerial shots. It’s a triumph. Not quite as funny as earlier versions which have Vic and the piano - binging the story to life deprives the audience of the hilarious mental imagery the lyrics evoke - but it’s a great little time capsule version, and certainly brought my journey through Vic on DVD to an appropriately rousing, nostalgic close. </blockquote>

Verification: Who played Sue Ellen in Dallas?