Saxondale

It amazes me that this flawless and innovative comedy seems to be all but forgotten and never mentioned when Steve Coogan's work is reviewed.

As I force myself to sit through increasing turgid and unsatisfactory incarcerations of Alan Partridge (he's even touring as him now!!) I can't help but wonder why this stone cold classic is not better known.

Coogan created a character of incredible comedic depth and constructed hilarious scenarios week after week.

For a long time after it's second and final series I hoped he would return to the character but alas he never did.

I suppose it is a case of the great classic UK comedies quitting whilst at their peak after series 2 (The Office, Fawlty Towers, I'm Alan Partridge, Dinner Ladies, Extras, Phoenix Nights etc)

I still really wish Mr Coogan would revisit Tommy Saxondale using his co-writer Neil MacLennon but I guess it's never going to happen now.

This is one of those series that I can watch once a year and never get tired of it. I do think you have to be a certain age to appreciate it though.

Steve coogan is mainly known for being Allan Partridge- a character he and his brilliant team Armando Ianucci, Patrick Marber, Rebbecca Front and Doon McKickan developed over a period of ten years to perfection. This growth of the character plus the genius of mainly Marber as an actor were one key to the Partridge success. Saxondale is his first stand alone character to go through two complete series. Saxondale works surprisingly well. The ex roadie turned pest controller with an anger management problem is unlike Allan not a character you laugh at but you laugh with- in other words he is "funny but with dignity". A lot of the ideas are very original and Coogan is a master in creating expectations of what will happen next and then not doing it not unlike the late John Hughes. The first series is entertaining but not great. Hardly ever do you laugh out loudly but some of the gags stay with you and make you chuckle for quite a while. One of the reasons why series 1 doesn't quite deliver is that Coogan over acts Saxondale. The second series however is superior in essence. The timing of the gags and jokes is perfect, again the standard of writing is very high and Coogan is more restrained than in the first series which makes it much funnier, like the conversations with his nighbour when Saxondale deadpans every attempt at humour. Each show begins with a very funny anger management therapy session and also has an exchange between Saxondale and dimwit secretary Vicky played very well by Morwena Banks.

This series really needs more praise, I know Partridge is the Golden goose (and for good reason. But it's suprising how many people haven't seen or heard of this.

Coogan plays the character perfectly. The fact I met the real life Tommy when I was a bartender at a rock night, honestly I spent over an hour chatting to him just to see how many things he did like Tommy and it was endless entertainment (for me).

On my yearly DVD run through, so I've seen it all over 15 times, I just wish this had come out in "nineteen ninety nine" so I could of seen it more.

A must see for any Coogan fans or fans of genuinely good comedy!

We all know him. The mildly intellectual ex-hippy who twists himself into knots with cliché upon tongue-in-cheek rock reference upon flipped round adage...

Yes it is set pieces. Eery episode has the secretary scene, the neighbour scene. and so forth.

but its really funny. steve coogan is an actor as well as a comedian, inhabiting the role with tics and grimaces.

Morenna Banks (rarely on screen at mo) has her chance to shine every week and Rasmus Hardikeris a brilliant newt-faced straight man.

worth a watch, especially mid-week when there's sod all else on TV!