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The
Innkeeper waits for hours, but King Herod never arrives. He fears that he was wrong about "the star," misses Ruth, and feels tricked by God. Joseph arrives at the inn and asks for a room. The Innkeeper, drinking and refusing to give up hope, says he can't accommodate Joseph's family because King
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Upon arriving at the crib of Jesus, the clothing of Tony, Ruth, and the
Innkeeper turns white from the baby's holy presence. The Innkeeper apologizes to Ruth for being unkind. Tony tells Ruth to return to her husband, and he withdraws the demand for the Innkeeper's rent, apologizing for trying to
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Tony summons the
Innkeeper and demands rent. The Innkeeper doesn't have the money, but is confident that King Herod will stay at his inn, leading to an influx of cash. Tony threatens the Innkeeper that he better have the rent by that night or else he will meet a grim end.
565:"seems to have slipped under the radar of even the most ardent comedy fans." Davies pointed to highlights such as "Julian Barratt having a lot of fun playing the slimy villain," and "Matt Berry’s voice is suited to this over-the-top style of music"
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Planning for the arrival of King Herod, the
Innkeeper kicks everyone out of his inn, including his mother-in-law. His wife, Ruth, is angered by this, accuses him of "chasing dreams," and leaves. She and Tony consider rekindling their past romance.
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The special supposedly only aired once on BBC Three. However, the BBC Three
Programme Index lists a repeat airing on 3 Jan 2005 at 11:30pm, and the
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flashier motel. Depressed, the
Innkeeper plans to hang himself. God admonishes him, and instructs the Innkeeper to prepare for the arrival of "a
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in hotels. Ruth becomes a successful manager of the inn. Joseph and Jesus try to keep in contact with the
Innkeeper, but eventually lose touch.
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An epilogue explains that the
Innkeeper's fortunes improve after he and Tony call a truce. The two men work together and pioneer optional
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about the making of the musical itself," and felt "part of the fun is in watching the writers and actors play with the show’s layering."
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elements — such as crowds gathered behind chain-link fencing, 1970s products like chrome floor lamps, and
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praised the special as "a (literally) note-perfect parody of ’70s religious musicals, wrapped in a
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Herod will arrive soon. The
Innkeeper offers his shed as an alternative, which Joseph accepts.
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setting. It also features 1970s-appropriate music, clothes, language, and choreography. Comic
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Sitting at a piano in 1978, writer Tim Wynde introduces his creation as a new telling of the
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lists airings on 21 Dec, 24 Dec, and 31 Dec 2004, as well as 3 Jan 2005 on BBC Three.
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743:"You Should Definitely Add AD/BC: A Rock Opera to Your Holiday Movie List"
770:"Rewind: Matt Berry and Richard Ayoade's 'AD/BC: A Rock Opera' revisited"
709:"Rewind: Matt Berry and Richard Ayoade's 'AD/BC: A Rock Opera' revisited"
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to the inn, and are followed by dancing townsfolk, Tony, and Ruth.
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and features friends and colleagues of the writers, including
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430:have been following a bright star in search of the
347:include the use of poorly synchronized and mixed
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53:The BBC3 Christmas Rock Opera: AD/BC
411:during their journey to Bethlehem.
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25:2004 British TV series or program
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623:. British Comedy Guide
462:Innkeeper/Tim Wynde –
451:continental breakfasts
316:Jesus Christ Superstar
268:'s production company
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993:Critical Film Studies
826:"AD/BC: A Rock Opera"
261:on 21 December 2004.
800:genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/
532:Wise Man – Lydia Fox
389:." He mistakes the "
200:Baby Cow Productions
1173:Works by Matt Berry
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867:AD/BC: A Rock Opera
856:AD/BC: A Rock Opera
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568:Leah Schnelbach of
444:30 pieces of silver
264:It was produced by
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32:AD/BC: A Rock Opera
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547:Rich Fulcher
541:Townsfolk –
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351:, and high,
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188:Running time
178:Camera setup
154:Henry Normal
148:Steve Coogan
31:
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1163:Rock operas
561:noted that
535:Wise Man –
517:Shepherd –
511:Shepherd –
498:Julia Davis
287:Julia Davis
131:of episodes
80:Directed by
18:Anno Domini
1127:Categories
1043:Television
1036:Matt Berry
931:The Double
861:BBC Online
836:26 October
810:26 October
780:26 October
753:26 October
719:26 October
687:26 October
654:26 October
627:26 October
600:References
492:Matt Lucas
464:Matt Berry
442:make his "
398:King Herod
393:" to mean
383:Iscariot's
361:Ian Gillan
295:Matt Lucas
251:Matt Berry
247:rock opera
228:2004-12-21
191:30 minutes
139:Production
105:Matt Berry
91:Matt Berry
74:Matt Berry
66:Written by
1086:Witchazel
1070:(creator)
1062:(creator)
1059:Snuff Box
923:Submarine
830:bbc.co.uk
776:. CultBox
715:. CultBox
553:Reception
436:shepherds
379:Bethlehem
372:Innkeeper
353:hard-rock
259:BBC Three
215:BBC Three
995:" (2011)
804:Archived
681:Archived
524:Wise Man
503:Shepherd
470:Iscariot
428:wise men
328:Godspell
307:pastiche
270:Baby Cow
160:Producer
102:Music by
88:Starring
969:Related
802:. BBC.
747:Tor.com
679:. BBC.
617:"AD/BC"
582:Release
571:Tor.com
563:AD/BC's
559:CultBox
349:dubbing
226: (
221:Release
211:Network
123:English
1113:(2020)
1105:(2018)
1097:(2013)
1089:(2011)
988:(2008)
980:(2004)
961:(2006)
953:(2004)
934:(2013)
926:(2010)
479:Joseph
405:Joseph
345:motifs
341:Judean
325:, and
311:Christ
293:, and
244:parody
182:single
168:Editor
832:. BBC
648:/Film
594:AD/BC
468:Tony
242:is a
239:AD/BC
58:Genre
872:IMDb
838:2023
812:2023
782:2023
755:2023
721:2023
689:2023
656:2023
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457:Cast
409:Mary
391:star
301:Plot
281:and
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859:at
588:BBC
488:God
359:or
129:No.
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