Ep 3. Decorating

In "The Royle Family" season 3 episode 3 titled "Decorating," viewers are taken back to the Royle family's living room as they prepare for the coming holiday season. The family gathers around the television as their favorite program, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," is about to begin. They're all eager to watch the show and see if anyone can win the big prize.

As Jim Royle watches the show, he is grumbling loudly about the contestants, and when one of them misses an easy question, Jim yells at the television. When his wife, Barbara, tells him to be quiet, he argues that he has a right to express his opinion.

Meanwhile, Denise and Dave are working on decorating the Christmas tree. As they put up the lights and ornaments, they discuss their plans for the holiday. Denise mentions that her mother is coming for Christmas, and Dave says that he has to work. Denise is disappointed that Dave won't be able to spend the day with her and her family, but she understands that he has work commitments.

Denise's brother, Antony, is also present, and he is trying to help with the decorations. However, he is more of a hindrance than a help, as he keeps dropping things and making a mess. Jim is getting increasingly irritated with him, and when Antony accidentally breaks one of the ornaments, Jim tells him to leave the room.

Throughout the episode, the family engages in typical banter, poking fun at one another and engaging in friendly arguments. Barbara brings out some snacks for everyone to enjoy, and they settle in to watch the rest of the program. However, when the show returns from a commercial break, something unexpected happens.

Instead of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," a strange program comes on the television. The show features a man in a suit who is sitting in a chair, reading from a book.

As the family watches in confusion, the man on the screen begins to tell a story. At first, the story is innocuous enough, but soon it takes a dark turn. The man describes horrific scenarios and graphic violence, causing some members of the family to become upset.

Jim is particularly agitated by the program and demands that they turn it off. However, when they try to change the channel, they find that the television is stuck on the strange program. They try to turn it off, but the remote doesn't work.

As the story continues, the family members become increasingly frightened. They try to leave the room, but the door is jammed shut. Eventually, they are able to escape and run outside, where they find that all of their neighbors are gathered on the street.

It is then revealed that the strange program was a prank pulled by the neighbors, who had managed to hack into the Royle family's cable box. The Royle family is initially angry, but they soon realize that the prank was harmless and they all have a good laugh about it.

Overall, "Decorating" is a lighthearted episode that showcases the Royle family's typical banter and familial interactions. The episode's unexpected twist adds an element of suspense and surprises the audience with a unique take on holiday shenanigans.