Life of Riley

The BBC have the far superior My Family filling the "family sitcom" role - why keep dragging this terrible sitcom back into schedules kicking and screaming. The public don't like it and neither do the press. That comment will make people mad but if you don't believe me check the ratings.

Caroline Quentin is a sitcom legend but does herself no favours with this new project and the guy who plays her husband will probably just be happy to start his new job on Midsummer Murders.

All the ingredients of My Family are there - strict mother, weird son, attractive daughter only very very watered down. Put this on CBBC and it wouldn't look out of place.

The BBC used to have quality sitcoms but their current comedy line up is very very weak. That's why they keep going back to Fools and Horses. I'm not saying My Family is perfect but it's better than this.

I have been watching this show for a long time, and have laughed during every single one. I now cannot wait for the next one.

I have absolutely no idea why anyone thinks this is bad show. Episode 4 is very funny, on my opinion. The start was only a little funny, which may have put people off, but it shouldn't have, as the rest of the show is funny, amusing and good! It's really nice to have a fresh new sitcom on the screens, and it's child-friendly (no swearing etc). This show will be finishing soon, so you might as well give it a good ending. I know that people like sitcoms, I've seen many people watch episodes of 'My Family' and 'Ther Vicar of Dibley'. It's just like that, but with a different plot, cast and crew. I beg of you to watch this. It is a really funny show every Thursday, 8pm on BBC1.

This is one of the most miscast comedies on television. Apart from the baby, Patrick Nolan gives the most natural performance as youngest son Ted Riley. At times he seems to feel sorry for his older co-stars who struggle to deliver their lines with any degree of conviction. However, when you look beyond the awful acting you find a delightfully funny and quite intelligent script, and you have to wonder what it could be like with a more capable cast. It is not that any of the actors are bad actors; it is just that they do not suit this particular project. It does not flow natural for them. So, the best way to approach Life Of Riley is with few expectations and a belief that the pen can sometimes be mightier than the thespian.

This is a great show which cleverly explores the modern family; step parents and step-children. The Mum clearly loves all her children ('step' or not) and will go to any lengths to protect them, often leading to her downfall. Her ritual humiliation, often in front of the neighbours - who define the word, smug - is frequent and very funny. The whole cast is great, but I'd particularly single out Patrick Nolan (Ted) as a joy to watch - great timing and a real natural in front of the camera.

Life of Riley is funny, warm and charming and is a pleasure to watch with the whole family. Everyone from my Grandma to my eight year old nephew loves this show.

You see, "The Good Life" also had a terrible title, but at least it was funny (cf. "Brittas Empire", "Fawlty Towers"). But I digress.

It seems to me that the writer (whose previous credits, lest we forget, include "My Family") is somewhat of a disadvantage, in that they've neither been exposed to an actual family, nor I suspect, have they ever heard a real human conversation.

Rather than creating humorous situations, solid story arcs and good dialogue, the (two dimensional) characters merely bounce less-than-witty one-liners at each other, showing scant regard for good timing and natural pace. Still, at least they are well en-un-ci-at-ed in order that the elderly weekday afternoon audience can hear the jokes.

So we just get subjected to poor-quality wit and embarrassing pauses in places where any decently funny sitcom would be riding the laugher.

With this in mind, one might think that we'd get a break with some visual gags, but even they are poorly executed and physically awkward. Even the audience sound bored. Normally I'd be optimistic and hope that it picks up towards the end of the series, but this time I'd advise you not to bother.