Brian Burris

I caught the first of this series quite by accident and was immediately enthralled. Superb acting: understated, genuine and comfortably comedic (never farcical) and endlessly entertaining. The writing is so typically English in series such as these: crisp, clever and, in this series, inoffensive. There’s no real social satire and the characters are uniformly likeable, even endearing. Each character is developed so well we really see them as unique individuals with their own peculiarities, phobias and deeply human qualities. And that is why you come to care for and feel for each character. This is a series about people, people facing their pasts, present insecurities and keenly aware of the need for family and the support a family brings to each person in the ensemble. But it’s the quick-witted humour that keeps you watching and, in every episode, laughing right out loud. There’s a quiet, likeable and even humorous dignity about this show. Do try and pick it up.