Simon Ramsden

After Life - Series One [Contains spoilers] Ricky Gervais plays Tony, whose wife (Kerry Godliman), has died recently of breast cancer. He struggles to come to terms with his loss and is in a perpetual state of deep depression and despair. He has nothing to live for. Except for his dog. Gervais is no stranger to uncomfortable and shocking subject matter. And it’s not all played for laughs. As well as some laugh-out-loud moments there are also many solemn and touching scenes. For example, Tony visits daily, his father (David Bradley), in the care home. On one occasion, his father surprises Tony by remembering him as his son. In After Life, Gervais engages many such subjects with confidence, empathy and wit. In the six episodes of the first series we encounter a near A-Z of sensitive subject matter: Attempted Suicide, Breast Cancer, Child Abuse, Depression, Mental Health, Terminal illness and Xenophobia. Plus, some more common themes: Alcohol and substance abuse, Dating, Death, God, Marriage, Old age, Prostitution and Racism. This is a Comedy/Drama. There is a scene where, Tony (in a prolonged state of despair) attempts suicide with a razor blade, only to be interrupted by his dog (Brandy, his only companion), who wants feeding. I thought it was quite poignant and effective how we are encouraged to engage with and learn about his wife (and their relationship), through her video blog - as if she were in the here and now. However, we are brought sharply back to reality as he abruptly closes the laptop and she is gone. This is also emphasised with flashbacks to fly-on-the-wall scenes of their private moments during happier times. Now they only exist in Tony’s memory. Tony does attract an eclectic bunch of friends and confidants in the form of: ‘sex worker', Roxy (Roisin Conaty); homeless drug supplier, Julian (Tim Plester); widow, Anne (Penelope Wilton) and his father’s nurse, (Ashley Jensen). Yes, it is a Comedy/Drama. Both elements are played well by all the cast. His daily visits to his psychiatrist (Paul Kaye), provide several opportunities for giggles. And, as part of his job on the local free newspaper, Tony and news photographer, Lenny (Tony Way) find themselves ‘covering’ some very lame and banal ‘stories’ which is played out to good comic effect, including one about a damp stain that resembles Kenneth Branagh and another about an infant that resembles, Adolf Hitler. All good stuff!