Grandma's House

When I first watched this series when it came out I already found it funny, witty and at times I could really see some of my own family life in the interactions between the actors. But now that I've watched the show a second time I'm only now starting to begin to realise its sheer brilliance. The characters became that more real to me, Simon's awkwardness is at times (all the time actually) really endearing, the way the grandmother just tries to keep everyone happy reminds me a lot of my own grandmother... It's definitely worth your time to watch it and then maybe let it sink in and watch it again some time later and come to the same realisation as me: Grandma's house is a magnificent series and it just keeps getting better as the episodes progress!

This series is so spectacularly bad on almost - actually strike that - every level, it's almost worth watching just to soak up its sheer awfulness.

And I'm not just deliberately hating on it out of badness.

Simon Amstell - the real-life Simon Amstell - is a charismatic, likable, ferociously witty young man who manages to stay on the right side of smugness.

And Rebecca Front is one of my favourite comic actresses - glorious as a foil to Alan Partridge in the Knowing Me Knowing You days.

But, goodness, do they sink to the depths in Grandma's House.

I sometimes wonder during the process of making a show as execrable as this, why a friend or a colleague of the makers doesn't point out - politely - how bad it is.

Does no-one notice when they watch the rushes how painfully inept it is.

So what's so bad? Well, the acting for starters. For someone so effortlessly relaxed with pithy putdowns on Buzzcocks, Amstell is surprisingly uncomfortable in front of the cameras.

It's like watching a particularly stilted sixth former during am dram.

And, Jesus wept, the script. The second episode seems to have endless scenes of Amstell's character arguing with his aunt: "You shut up!"

"No, you shut up!"

"No you..."

That's not direct quotes but that's the gist of that 'plotline'.

It 'climaxes' in a scene where Amstell's mum and various family members act out a new play he has been working on about - sighs - talking eggs.

Can't bring myself to elaborate on that one.

In fact, I've whinged on enough about this.

Devoid of laughs, it's kind of worth catching in a cringeworthy sort of way.

This is a truly brilliant piece of writing and an excellent example of British comedy. The brilliance lies in the interactions within Simon's family, which are probably familiar scenario's and characters to all of us. The Clive character is just awful and is so wonderful to watch.It's a very self-aware and post-modern piece of TV that seems to meld real life (Amstel having left Buzzcocks) with a fictional family - you do tend to wonder what Amstel's real family is like and how much of this might be based on true events? There are obvious comparisons with The Royal Family and perhaps The Office but I don't think these bear more than a superficial resemblance. I am very much looking forward to the next four episodes to see where this all leads!

A really funny sitcom that ran for two series, if memory serves shown late on BBC, and passed over by volume audiences. Such a shame, because it's actually a terrifically funny show, with some cringeworthy moments.

A really funny show from start to finish. You couldn't really say Simon Amstell was the best actor on the planet, but his awkwardness is brilliantly realised. He's surrounded by a wealth of talent, Rebecca Front, Linda Bassett and Sam Spiro. The characters are brilliantly funny and realistic, the awkward moments are fantastic, particularly those involving Clive.

I'm a huge fan of Sam Spiro, I love the character of Liz, her Uma Thurman is hilarious, she's so talented, every time she laughs I hear Barbara Windsor.

So many incidents in the show remind me of stuff from my own crazy family, I think it's the real life humour that makes it so funny. Poor Grandma Lily trying to keep everyone happy, and failing miserably.

Great show, 9/10.

This is such a genius and well thought comedy! It captures Jewish humour so well, even better than Woody Allen! Simon Amstell's awkwardness is just so funny and his dry sense of humour is so good! Can't fault this at all! So brilliant! The aunt is just amazing! As is his grandma and his mum! Love this! Definitely watch it!!! I can understand why some people probably wouldn't get it and or find it funny, but it is just so good and you need a brain to comprehend the humour! It most definitely got better as the series went on. Casting Iwan Rheon was just brilliant! So clever. I loved when they mentioned how his character was an Olivier-Award winning actor (because Iwan Rheon did actually win an Olivier Award for Spring Awakening). Genius!!!

10/10!!!