© Rex Features
The popular comedy will return to the channel's schedules for the first time in two years this festive period.
The new episode - penned by Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash and Phil Mealey - will see Dave (Cash) plot to pitch an idea on Dragons' Den, while Jim (Ricky Tomlinson) pins his hopes of getting rich on a Christmas scratch card.
Meanwhile, a new neighbour moves onto the street with "an impressive cleavage", causing a stir in the Royle household, with neighbour Joe (Peter Martin) on the lookout for romance.
A Royle Family special was originally planned for Christmas 2011 but never materialised. 2010 special - 'Joe's Crackers' - pulled in an audience of 9.9 million, while 2009's special had 10.2m, and 2008's logged 10m.
The BAFTA Award-winning series - which first aired in 1998 - also stars co-creator Aherne as Denise and Ralf Little as Antony.
> The Royle Family: Tube Talk Gold
Watch a clip from the last Royle Family Christmas special below:
