Just finished watching.

Anyone agree that the Nana death scene is one of the saddest TV deaths ever? When Jim breaks down it gets me every time

Makes me discharge salty discharge from my eyes every time lol.

Personally I think this is the greatest single episode of a sitcom ever made, and as many times as I've seen it over the years it's still hits me emotionally and makes me laugh. The scene with Nana and Barbara when she's curling her hair is exceptional

Every time I hear Que Sera Sera now I remember this episode and get quite emotional. So powerful.

I think it was probably best this episode never aired at Christmas at the time as for some reason watching at this time of year has turned me into an absolute wreck from the minute nana took Barbara's hand when she was doing her hair, such a subtle but effective scene

My head is thumping and eyes are sore from crying! What a brilliant episode, it is so well done. The Que Sera Sera scene starts me off then the hospital scene tipped me over the edge.

The bloody BBC announcer at the end rambling on about Mrs Browns Boys over the credits at the end can royally bugger off

R.I.P Caroline aherne

The BBC may not know this but Liz Smith is currently very ill in hospital. Her son visits her every day and he may have gone home and watched it tonight

Hilarious episode. I love the part where Jim borrows money off Anthony, and then kicks off about him wanting a biscuit. I also like the part with Solomon and them dragging him down the Feathers.

Ricky is a great actor.

I can't say I'm too surprised I mean this episode is 10 years ago and she isn't getting any younger, but what an absolute legend in all she's done I wish her well

Yeh she's 95 and had a bloody good innings, I just think that if the BBC knew the circumstances they wouldn't of shown this particular episode.
That said I laughed all the way through it but couldn't help feeling for her son!

The hair curling scene contains a serious mistake, Barbara passing in front of the camera half way through. I met the director some years later and asked him why it was left in. He said that the scene was so perfect that no-one wanted to touch it. They tried a couple more times to shoot it, but nothing came close, so they just left it. Surely one of the greatest ever scenes in TV and shot in one take. Best wishes to the lovely Liz Smith.

BIB - I think I concur.

A mix of very funny comedy and very real, very moving human emotion.

10 years ago?! that long?

Agreed. Exceptional writing and performances in The Queen of Sheba episode.

She moved into sheltered housing/retirement home in 2007 , had three strokes in two days back in 2009 but still didn't retire until 2013

What makes this so memorable is not only the writing and performances but also that the whole scene was recorded in one take. Kudos to both actors.

Personally I didn't like the Nana dies ep.

I thought the strength of the Royle Family was the fact they never left the house and it stayed in the same time frame for the duration of the episode. Both these things were changed for the first time in the Queen of Sheba.

I also just found the ep way too depressing myself.

I was just thinking about that. When Barb discovers Norma unconcious, it sets the heart racing a little. Then, before you know it, you see hospital doors being slammed open and thats unnerving as we have never ventured out of the house before.

A very sad ep. I didnt watch last night. Sad to hear Liz Smith is unwell, but at 95 thats not bad going!

I agree that leaving the house for the first time is done for massive dramatic effect in the ep.

I've always felt the Queen of Sheba is one of the most perfect hours of TV I've ever seen. It's funny, it's sad, and above all it's very real. I wish they'd stopped the Royle Family at this episode.

What I've always liked about the episode is that for all his moans about her over the years, you could see that deep down Jim was fond of Nana and upset by her death along with the rest of the family.

I always start crying the minute they start playing 'Scarlet Ribbons'.

I've just put it on iPlayer. What a silly thing to do. I'll be in pieces within an hour.

Was a bit cut out between Barbara coming down and finding Nana, unconscious and the hospital scenes.

I thought originally we saw a reaction from Jim, in between maybe I'm inagining