Roger Roger

Another John Sullivan comedy treat, very different from his 30 minute sitcoms like Fools & Horse, Just Good Friends, Dear John, etc. but just as good. The characterisations and storylines are superbly put together, and as with all Sullivan's comedies, moments of high comedy are richly interspersed with pathos to provide a simply great comedy which for some reason never got anything like the plaudits it deserved. An understated classic.

Possibly one of the most underrated and finest comedies ever written. Fabulous cast, comprising mainly of misfits, dreamers and losers, who just gel together perfectly under the guidance of Sam and Dex. Some fantastic comedy moments such as the mix up with the music at Dex's funeral, with the theme tune from Minder blasting out instead of the theme tune from The Bodyguard. And Basils dates at the Golden Rickshaw are cringingly embarrassing. Plenty of touching moments too, the sadness that Sam feels due to his wife's Alzheimer's, and the sexual feelings he has for Reen. A superb understated piece of humour which lasted 3 series, probably enough before running out of steam and finishing on a high as all good comedies should do.

A very underrated show effectively buried after transmission. Funny, bittersweet, well cast and performed, it had maybe one major problem. John Sullivan wrote it, it might be that much of the audience were expecting another 'Only Fools And Horses', canned laughter included and written at a pace for a 30 min sitcom - even the later longer episodes were too. Which Roger Roger was not, If I recall it wasn't exactly heavily promoted either even for the first series.

I certainly don't remember anything about 'from the creator of 'Only Fools And Horses' being mentioned. Another factor might have been the BBC seeing Roger Roger as a rival to ITV's hit comedy drama 'Cold Feet' from the same period, when it did not have the impact of the other show (Also with John Thompson in the cast), maybe the BBC rather got Cold Feet themselves. Though the ITV show was from the start structured towards more and longer series.

Though in truth, two series of Roger Roger was enough, good as it was. And well worth catching if you get the chance.