Car Share

A feel good, refreshing comedy.

I have been a huge fan of Peter Kay since his 'Top of The Tower' stand up days, Phoenix Nights is comedy gold in my eyes and Max and Paddy was a solid spin off to that. Car Share is his latest 6 piece comedy show and it is vintage Peter Kay!

Peter Kay plays a manager at a Supermarket; his company have introduced a car share scheme and Peter matches up with a woman from the promotions team.

The episodes are 30 minutes each and are evenly split, the first 15 minutes are the trip to work and final 15 minutes are the return home. Pretty much the entire show is shot in the car and simply follows them on their work commute and their every day; general conversations with each episode will have a vague backdrop story, a general topic of conversation. The episodes link on loosely and give the impression that the episodes are spread out over weeks at a time as many personal situations change and their relationship develops.

The on screen chemistry of Peter Kay and Sian Foulkes is completely perfect, they bounce of each other in such a way that you would see them as a married couple. They are hilarious together, their style and approach are almost identical and they complement each other faultlessly.

Through all the laughs and silliness of the show, it does manager to reach out to the viewer, offering some emotional, touching moments. Even with a mere 6 episodes, the characters are developed and the chemistry of the two actors is developed very well.

My negatives would be that I didn't like the musical animated scenes in the middle of the episodes. I didn't really get them at all. It was also disappointing to see that there were only 6 episodes, with the series ending in a way that I don't see a second series being made.

10/10

Car Share is everything I want in a comedy, it's a show I can sit down, watch, laugh my head off, and feel good at the end of it. As someone that does love a black comedy, it's nice to have a show that is so fresh, uplifting, and truly brilliant. Peter Kay can do no wrong in my eyes, his very definite Northern humour has always struck a chord with me, and it feels like the majesty we were given in Phoenix Nights, has been found and reborn in Car Share.

Kay and Gibson are both hugely likable people, and their enjoyment and pleasure in working together is so infectious that we as viewers get caught up in the fun and enjoyment that they are having. The music all the way through appeals to me, as being the same age as the cast I appreciate the journey. I'm so glad the second series has been the same high quality as the first.

Expect love, tantrums, monkeys, urine in a bottle, and a hedgehog.

Not many shows leave you wanting more, this certainly did, I'd love to see it return some day.

Peter Kay I applaud and thank you. 10/10.

I saw trailers for this which led to a splurge watch on iplayer before its TV appearance. Thoroughly enjoyable. Excellent performances from the cast, the characters are believable within their own world, though just a little exaggerated of course, but there is the familiarity to ensure a connection. Very good chemistry between the two and i wonder how much was ad libbed, some of their own amusement at each in the car seems genuine mirth with a hint of corpsing at times. Good support too from some familiar faces. I'd love to see a second series but wonder whether the format can carry that to the same level (as was the case with the Trip and the Trip to Italy which struggled a little). DVD soon please.

A manager of a supermarket and woman from promotions are thrust together as part of a company promoted car sharing scheme.

Every so often a great comedy appears on British television and Car Share fits that particular description. Like most successful comedies its strengths lie in the fact that it's well-written and well-acted. And while it is frequently successfully funny, it also is genuinely heart-felt without being naff about it. But, while all the above is true, what elevates it even higher is that it has a pretty original format. Practically the whole show is set in the confines of a car, with each episode split into two - the journey to work and the trip back home. We learn everything about the characters via their car conversations, with little in the way of traditional 'action'. The only other accompaniment is the constant radio banter and retro tunes, while once an episode one of the characters daydreams themselves as part of a music video for one of the songs playing in the background. In other words, this really is a proper minimalist sitcom. On paper, it sounds like a possible disaster but it works so very well because the script is very good and, in Peter Kay and Sian Foulkes, it has two actors with great chemistry with one and other. Essentially, besides all the laughs, what we are watching is the progression of a friendship. Another reason it works so very well is because it's a set-up that most people can immediately relate to, i.e. sitting in a car, listening to incessant radio chatter while going to and from work. All-in-all, this adds up to a very good series indeed, one which has a second series in the works – I have confidence that season two will continue the excellence.

Comedy, like most genres, is a personal preference and, from my own viewpoint, I had a blast this afternoon as I became immersed in the Car Share onscreen camaraderie that I stumbled across. I guess an upside of the covid-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to watch various programmes I'd probably have otherwise overlooked...this being one programme where I wasn't disappointed.

Personally, for me as a viewer, I'd be inclined to say Peter Kaye and Sian Gibson are naturals...I'm sure there are other viewers who found the show entertaining and, are with me when I subtly express ....

• ok maybe not the right use of the word ....pedantic much ........let's adopt the word .....succinctly ...

....when I 'succinctly' convey to Peter and Sian to...'come back my car share buddy......'

Thanks to all involved for much needed laughter.