The Job Lot

Its one of those shows that many can relate to no matter what industry they are in

...but still manages to be funny in its own right. Like every BritCom of the last 25 years, everyone is doing Gervaisisms (see Harry and Paul's YouTube clip for a very amusing crash course) but once you've managed to tune that out there are some good laughs to be had. All the stereotypical office/Office characters are here - the insecure boss one, the uptight one, the roguish laddish one, the macho/probably ex-SAS one, the aggressive little woman who swears profusely, the decorative female one...the writers do some interesting things with them nonetheless. Undemanding.

Accurate too the name. So funny. Love this show! Well worth the watch!

Having spent a short time doing work experience in a job centre the crazy stuff the staff get upto is almost spot on. I seen a whole lot of weird and funny stuff but something like coworkers disappearing and the whole office knew that they were going to the toilet to have sex, other crazy things like that so this show isn't really that far from the truth but the comedy factor is just my style of humour so that makes it work for me. Russell Tovey has been in some amazing shows and I started watching after "Him & Her" another similar show but about a couple. Laura Aikman coming in for season 2 really takes it up a notch and adds the office romance between her and Russell's character so that's an added bonus to the comedy. Overall not for everybody but it's my style of humour and I really enjoyed watching it.

ITV has a patchy history with sitcoms and here is a great one that didn't get the mainstream exposure which it deserved. A strong well chosen cast playing engaging and believable characters which an audience can easily relate to, no canned laughter and very well written with a high laugh hit rate. Other reviewers have compared it to The Office - the setting may be similar but I find it more gentle with the characters better developed.