Two Doors Down is set to return for a one-off Christmas special later this year, and the cast have shared their thoughts on filming the episode following the death of co-creator Simon Carlyle
Meghna Amin Screen Time Reporter
11:39, 30 Oct 2025
Two Doors Down is back this Christmas (Image: BBC)
The cast of Two Doors Down have spoken candidly about shooting the forthcoming Christmas special in the wake of creator Simon Carlyle’s passing.
The beloved Scottish BBC comedy launched as a standalone episode back in 2013, before expanding into seven full series alongside multiple festive shows.
Featuring Arabella Weir, Alex Norton, Doon Mackichan, Jonathan Watson and Elaine C. Smith, the comedy centres on the lives of residents living on a Scottish suburban street.
The ensemble will return for a standalone Christmas episode this year, with the BBC revealing: “The residents of Latimer Crescent will congregate at Beth (Arabella Weir) and Eric’s (Alex Norton) house to celebrate Christmas.
Filming the new episode of Two Doors Down was “emotional”(Image: BBC)
“The neighbours are all back: Christine ( Elaine C Smith ), Cathy (Doon Mackichan) and Colin (Jonathan Watson), Alan (Graeme Stevely) and Michelle (Joy McAvoy), plus Beth and Eric’s son Ian (Jamie Quinn) and his fiancé Gordon (Kieran Hodgson),” reports the Express.
Discussing the forthcoming episode, cast members joined Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary on the This Morning sofa this Thursday.
The group honoured co-creator Simon Carlyle, who passed away in August 2023 aged 43.
Simon Carlyle died in 2023(Image: BBC)
Reflecting on shooting the special, Doon revealed: “It was so exciting but the minute we walked in the room, we all had a moment where we went, ‘This is terrible,’ and then we had to get over that and just get on with it and do it for him.”
“Simon was with us, he was absolutely with us through the shooting of the Christmas special,” Arabella added.
Elaine went on to reveal that she never anticipated returning to the show following Carlyle’s death, confessing: “And the thought of walking into that set again, that living room, I just thought, ‘I couldn’t face it,’ it was really emotional.
“But because a lot of time had passed, we all felt that he was there.”
Members of the cast appeared on This Morning(Image: ITV)
Upon the announcement of the Christmas special, co-creator Gregor Sharp expressed his excitement: “It’s really exciting to be revisiting Latimer Crescent with all the regular cast for this new episode. Christmas is a time for getting together with friends and family and then becoming low level irritated by them so it feels like they’re the perfect group to celebrate the season with.”
BBC Director of Comedy Jon Petrie chimed in: “There’s something comforting about having the neighbours round for Christmas, even if they bring minor chaos. Gregor and the gang bring the warm laughs, sly digs and brilliantly petty moments that make Two Doors Down such a cracking comedy. Expect it to sparkle on BBC iPlayer and BBC One faster than Cathy can pop a prosecco.”
Josh Cole, Head of Comedy at BBC Studios Productions, and Steven Canny, Executive Producer, also said: “We’re so pleased to be returning to Latimer Crescent and can’t wait for the audience to be back in Beth and Eric’s for another tortuous Christmas. Gregor and Simon created a brilliantly funny show that has an outstanding cast of memorable and loveable characters and we’re hugely looking forward to seeing them torment each other again.”
This Morning broadcasts weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
