Big Kids

Everybody knows one or two of those families, where the children seem to be more sensible and mature then their parents. When you come to think of it it isn't funny at all but rather tragic. This is the theme of the BBC childrens comedy Big Kids, where the parents of Simon and Kate Spiller (played with a charming sourness by Matt Adams and Kelly Salmon) repeatedly fall under a mysterious spell and behave like two rather hyperactive kids (varying, for unexplained reasons, from toddlers to early teens). It constantly causes terrible embarrassments, especially for Simon and Kate who have to look after them. The spell was caused by a hypnotist, surely not the most original idea one could think of but if you are willing to accept it, it all works rather well just like the rest of the series. The big joke, kids having to tell their parents of, wears a bit of after a while but the situations stay inventive and the dialogues are wonderfully written. It is all very, very funny and at times the tragedy of being stronger then your own mother and father at at age you have troubles enough in your own little world is even moving. Yet all is down with that great Anglosaxon sobriety and down-to-earthness, which avoids empathic sentiment and corny lessons about family that the Americans probably would have made of it. This series deserves a film of some sort.

Big Kids is a British comedy about two kids whose parents can suddenly act like immature children one minute, and then like mature adults the next. It's hysterical to see how crazy the parents act when they are in their child mode. This show can be corny at times, but it's still worth watching!

This series is really very good. Imogen Stubbs, Duncan Duff, Kelly Salmon and Matt Adams make up an excellent cast who make this show, obviously aimed for children, enjoyable not just for them but for adults too. Stubbs and Duff play parents Sarah and Geoffrey Spiller, and the excellent Salmon and Adams play their children, Kate and Simon. Seemingly an ordinary family, an evening changes all that when Sarah and Geoffrey are hypnotised into behaving like children at their very worst! Through the series the spell remains, and as the family ponder what it could be that triggers these periods of becoming children, much embarrassment is caused to Kate and Simon, and, when informed of their antics, their parents too. The spell would often kick in at the worst of times, such as when Dr Geoffrey had to deliver a baby, but was reversed back to childhood and Kate and Simon had to take over. Stubbs and Duff appear to revel in the opportunity to perform as petty, squabbling, messy children always trying to get their own way. Whilst Salmon and Adams are forced to take roles of maturity and to 'parent' their parents, and they show what fine, accomplished young actors they are. Certainly a very entertaining show, often quite funny, well-written, and very well performed. They found the perfect balance appointing this cast, and it looks as though they would have had a lot of fun making this series! - Colin Peppiatt.