Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps

This is a funny show. The young cast are good with some great lines but, as you would expect, lack some of the qualities that come with experience. Overall though, does it matter? This show makes me laugh and I watch it whenever I can. With a better-than-average script overall infused with little spots of genius, this show is one to look out for.

I never watched this on its first airing but have done so on UK Gold re-runs. I found this to be extremely funny with a talented cast.

You either love it or hate it, but its classic, a sort of cross between Men Behaving badly and Coupling. Honestly give it a try, like coupling we can all relate to the storylines.

A realistic comedy

I found the first series unexpectedly funny. The writing is fresh and delightfully obscene! The young writer has had the courage to put lines and topics into a sitcom that have not been used before, but which people make jokes about all the time in real life. The cast, particularly the girls are superb and seem the fit the roles like a glove. So what if the show is a little like Friends, set in Runcorn - so long as it's funny! The show is let down by the laughter track - in an odd reversal of the usual criticism - it is not strong enough. I have been creasing myself with laughter with some lines only to hear silence from the recorded audience. The repeated viewing of the first series was even better - which is always a good sign. I am glad that the Beeb has agreed to a second series despite the criticism.

I have not seen the new series yet but I am looking forward to it coming to terrestrial soon.

I can't understand why people have criticised this show so heavily because it's absolutely hilarious.

I missed the show the first time around and only recently caught a few episodes on UKTV. The very first episode I saw had me laughing so hard, I cried! I was immediately hooked and bought the first two seasons on DVD.

One of the reasons the show is so funny is that most people can identify with the basic situations the writer, Susan Nickson, looks at. In addition, the characters are all human, complete with some pretty awful flaws. Even the actors fit their parts perfectly. They're not all staggeringly beautiful and they're not the world's greatest thespians - most of them are newcomers to TV or have relatively little experience. Having said that, the main characters Donna (Natalie Casey), Janet (Sheridan Smith), Johnny (Ralf Little) and Gaz (Will Mellor) are all played brilliantly ...with perfect delivery and comic timing.

The humour is often very crude (lots of jokes about "bum love") and some of the "issues" looked at are a little tasteless (one of the newest characters has learning difficulties) but isn't this how real life is? How likely is the man in the pub - who's just sunk six pints - to hold back from telling a joke that is a little racist or sexist? How many people do we meet day-to-day that have old-fashioned views about people with learning difficulties, or hold weird misconceptions? The important thing to remember is that the show always treats its characters/situations affectionately in the end. The character with learning difficulties (Munch), for example, always ends up on top or always gets the care and attention he needs from his brother (Gaz) or other people.

If you're not easily offended and are reasonably up to date with youth culture, give it a try!

The actors aren't too bad, but they're only young and haven't got the best comic timing yet. The direction (especially in the interludes) tries to be just a bit too hip and the writing relies too heavily on making jokes that a) aren't very good and b) are largely based on the sort of in-jokes that seem really funny to you and your friends, but that no-one else understands or appreciates.