Don't Wait Up

This series was immediately seen as one of the worst sitcoms for many years. Just as TV comedy was becoming gritty and modern, the BBC decided to launch this old fashioned sitcom. Certainly, some of the jokes had seen better days. Blatantly unfunny, it amazingly defied its critics and continued for several years, when one series was more than enough.

Aimed at the bland middle class little Englanders of the 80's and as distant from ground breaking as possible. The toffee nosed protagonists interact in dated even for the 80's "situations". Much hilarity does not ensue.

Unfortunately, PBS, is having battle of the britcoms, again. The viewers get to vote, what britcoms we would like to see, on Our own pbs station. So, everynight, a different britcom is shown. They have shown 2 episodes, of don't wait up. Well, I could'nt, wake up, much less. It's bloody awful, and to think 39 episodes, Don't wait up, should be re-named, Don't wake up.

This was a very funny sitcom, one of my all-time favourites (on a par with Fawlty Towers, The Good Life, The Likely Lads and others) because it had everything a good sitcom should have.

It was perfectly cast and very well written by talented scriptwriters, including George Layton.

The storyline was great, about a GP in his early thirties who is going through a divorce with his ex-wife, on top of which his father and mother are separating and his father decides to move into his flat, plus he is falling in love with his father's (a doctor in Harley Street) new secretary, Madeleine.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a sense of humour!

Nigel Havers has made a successful career playing likable toff's and this sitcom from the 80's sees him playing that sort of role to perfection.

The premise is very much like the classic play by Neil Simon called 'The Odd Couple', and obviously worked as it ran for 6 series.

Not all of the jokes work, and unlike other sitcoms from the era it feels a little dated in places. But Havers is good at what he does, and even when the plots get a little thin, his charm carries the show.

It's not easy to find this show on TV or on DVD, but it's pleasant enough viewing if you can find it.