Only Fools and Horses (1981)

To Hull and Back (Christmas special, 1985) The first feature-length special, and the moment the show starts thinking like a film. Boycie and Abdul hire Del to smuggle diamonds out of Amsterdam, so Del, Rodney and old sailor Albert set out by boat from Hull, which goes about as well as it sounds. Shot entirely on film rather than studio video, it looks bigger than anything before it, and the running feud with DCI Slater pays off nicely. At 90 minutes it is a commitment, but it is the template for every big Christmas outing that followed.