Our Ex-Wife

The BBC pilot sitcom season has been rather mixed. Some promising funny material, some average and a few just plain bad. I expect the bad ones to be green-lit to become a series.

Our Ex Wife showed promise from the very beginning. It really hits it stride from the first scene and goes with it. It is probably inspired by the black comedy movie, The War of the Roses starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

Jack and Hilary were once in love and a decade later had a messy nasty divorce. He calls her psychotic and she responds in kind and they fantasize about sadistically killing each other.

Five years later Jack is engaged to a sweet, kindly American vet, Sarah who wants to meet Hilary and think that both of them could get along for the sake of their children.

I was surprised how much the writer has painted Hilary out to be a monster. In the divorce court scene it is mentioned she repeatedly cheated on him as well as being a conniving liar. Our sympathies are clearly meant to go with Jack.

Melanie Lynskey as Sarah and Peter Egan as Jack's dad steal the show as their roles are more subtle.

However I did find that although I found the show refreshing I did not laugh that much and I also wondered how much mileage you can get out of two people hurling abuse at each other. There is only so many times you can call your ex a psychotic whore.

Why is this still not being made? I remember this pilot from years back and still find myself awaiting the series. Maybe Robert Webb should find it himself? Surely we can crowd fund it? Or Netflix can pick it up?

Our Ex-wife

The best comedy on British TV (any TV) since The Office.

It looks like 'Auntie' accidentally stumbled on to this and commissioned the pilot because of some administrative error because this one is 'laugh out loud' funny.

Just when you think that British humor had curled up and gone to politically correct BBC heaven a thing of absolute genius springs from the ashes.

After a wave of abject failures and simply unprofessional attempts at making comedy at the BBC, this one actually IS funny!

You better get used to the idea of only having the pilot to cherish though, because 'The Beeb' will never ever actually make a series out of this. They are probably still busy scratching their heads wondering how this brilliant pilot got past their humorless lefty managers and producers.

I'll bet a few people were fired over this. Making funny TV isn't what the BBC do well so enjoy the pilot... it's already all you have to watch.

Maybe Sky will give it the life it deserves.

Is it me, or have most new TV sitcoms been a bit weak & soft of late? Or merely rewritten 'homages' to old sitcoms that should have instead been left to run repeatedly on 'Re-run Gold', or whatever those channels are called. Yes, it's time for Mrs Slocombe's pussy to be finally laid to rest.

Well 'Our Ex-Wife' was a refreshing change for the better. a brilliantly fast paced romp of a sitcom with a vicious edge as sharp as a well honed knife.

You'll know the story-line from the other reviews above, but have to watch the pilot show itself to truly appreciate the masterful writing and the stunning performances of its cast.

Victoria Hamilton was amazing as Hillary, the O.T.T. 'Cruella DeVille' of an ex-wife, whilst Robert Webb as Jack, her ex-husband, tried to give as good as he got. but usually failed.

Melanie Lynskey and Peter Egan were excellent as Sarah & George, Jack's new Fiancée and Father. Sarah trying feebly to form a bond with the 'psychopathic' Hillary, whilst George wisely trying to stay out of the line of fire as best he could.

Even the supporting actors were great, especially the kids.

At last we have a sitcom that is pure gold, and I for one cannot wait to see more episodes of 'Our Ex-Wife'as soon as possible.

This is easily the most promising sitcom I have seen for a long time. I enjoyed it so much that I signed up to IMDb so I could write this review.

Having been through an acrimonious divorce myself, I wasn't sure if I would find this funny but this pilot has a similar excruciating resonance to that which made The Office so good.

I have been a fan of Robert Webb for a long time and this suits him down to the ground. In fact all the characters look very promising with plenty of scope for development.

The writing is very good indeed, very well observed and the humour is exquisitely brutal. Clearly some first hand experience at work here.

I cannot wait to see how this develops in the full series.