Let’s be honest: most Christmas specials are rubbish. They’re saccharine, lazy, and festooned with baubles that remind you of family arguments. But “To Hull and Back” works because it’s a proper adventure. There’s tension (the cop is this close to nicking them), heart (Grandad’s speech about missing his wife is gut-wrenching), and a final twist that’s genuinely shocking. When the diamonds turn out to be fake? Chef’s kiss.
And can we talk about the title? “To Hull and Back.” It’s a joke that becomes a lie: they don’t go to Hull; they go to Amsterdam. The title is a deliberate misdirection, like putting a “Free Biscuits” sign on an empty tin. It’s the sort of cheeky genius that only John Sullivan could pull off. Plus, it gives you an excuse to shout, “Hull! We’re going to Hull!” in a dodgy Cockney accent for days afterward.
The Legacy of the Three-Wheeled Van
Let’s not ignore the star of the show: the Reliant Regal. That tiny, upturned bathtub on wheels is the true hero of the story. It struggles up hills, gets stuck in mud, and somehow survives a ferry crossing. The car is so iconic that a replica now sits in the National Motor Museum. And yes, someone actually drove a real one from London to Amsterdam in 2005 to recreate the trip. They got lost near Sheffield.
Only Fools And Horses - To Hull And Back on BBC Video (United Kingdom
Fun fact: the van’s number plate, XRJ 700T, is one of the most famous in British TV history. If you ever see it in a car park, you’re legally obliged to shout, “Lovely jubbly!” If you don’t, you lose your British citizenship. It’s the law. I checked.
