Time Gentlemen Please

The sheer amount of racism, sexism and general bigotry in this series is unbelievable - and it's all the better for it. Other shows water down their comedy to make it "acceptable", but this one doesn't bother and is absolutely hilarious. Great performances and some great lines.

Shear genius!!! This sitcom just keeps getting better!!! 18 Episodes in (18! - you don't get that on terrestrial) & it still has me wetting myself every week. Catchphrases abound: "Its not normal","never confused","I'm cheeky me","Look at his face - its a picture","Back off Brussels","Damn my bean shaped face","COW! Never pulled a pint in her life","Mustards Yellow - not Brown!","They play bowls on gravel for pitys sake!" and "Do you remember when the Prof won £2 out of that machine". Funniest telly since the Fast Show.

Yeah it isn't the best comedy ever, but as someone who grew up watching shows such as "mind your language" and "Love Thy Neighbour" it is a refreshing return to the great sexist, racist un-pc British sense of humour that those shows had. For the most part the characters are amusing and I get at least a few laughs out of each episode. Considering how "nice" comedies have generally become in recent years it is a pleasant change.

This is without a doubt one of the funniest shows British television has produced in ages. Al Murray is superb as he translates perfectly his stand-up character, the landlord, into a sitcom star. His unusual and un-PC rantings almost always hit the spot and though his supporting characters are rarely given any material to work with who cares? He carries the show on his own with only Terry and, more recently, The Prof lending any comic support. Julia Sawalha is completely wasted. Steve is equally unfunny, and he's a stand-up comic apparently, but to be fair to them they haven't much to work with. The gags come fast and often and with most of them revolving around the pub trade (which has been meticulously copied, go to a real pub during the day and you'll see what I mean), the French and the landlord's own take on life, they're always good. A rare treat and I've become quite hooked, here's to a second series.

Pretty much found this series by accident after looking up Al Murray's YouTube channel. Am up to episode 10 and loving it.

Murray isn't mentioned at all here in New Zealand on mainstream media, maybe because he isn't PC enough, which is a shame as he's very funny. At least we have youtube to get our fix.

This series is like a cross between Bottom and Cheers, well, more like Bottom and quite a bit ruder but funnier for it.

I suspect it has been swept under the carpet because it is so un-pc but that is what makes it so funny. Worth a watch imo.