The Trouble with Maggie Cole

I prefer this to Delicious, it's only been on 2 episodes but i enjoyed them both, i like all the characters and Dawn French and Mark Heap are brill. Good story and good acting

In isolation at home and flicking through ITV hub I came across a Dawn French show I wasn't aware of, wasn't initially sure why this had passed me by.

However, halfway through the first episode I realised why none of my friends and the media had been talking about this show. Extremely poor writing. Are there no good writers out there anymore?

I struggled to get to episode 4 and then just had to give up.

Sorry Dawn I love you, but most certainly don't love this! This is truly another failure for ITV.

Words have a powerful impact, as Maggie Cole finds out when she gives a frank and explicit interview on the local radio, where she discusses the locals. Maggie quickly falls out with everyone, and must spend her time building bridges.

It's a bit of a slow burner, but as it develops it really does come to life, the first episode is great, and you're left with no idea the direction it's going to take. Stick with it, as the last few episodes are incredibly rewarding, and very dramatic.

There is a definite Doc Martin vibe running through this, the setting and tone etc, but it is different.

French and Heap are very good throughout, showing they can do drama on the more serious side, the laughs are supplied by Vicki Pepperdine, who is just a joy as Secretary Karen.

If you need to know how harmful gossip can be, just watch this.

Very enjoyable, 8/10.

The well-known cast (Dawn French, Mark Heap etc) draw you in, but the cliché characters and cheap storyline develop at an extremely slow pace making for a difficult watch. The writing is truly a mess and all over the place. Neither funny, dramatic or interesting.

I kept watching trying to fathom why ITV thought this would be suitable for an 8pm mid-week slot, possibly more suited as a daytime drama on an unknown satellite channel.

Please please ITV don't waste your money on commissioning another series, a better option would be throwing it down the drain. Dawn French, focus on making another series of the exquisite drama Delicious.

1 star for the stunning location and costumes, most certaintly not worthy of the ghastly writting.

I have no idea what the negative reviewers watched, but it wasn't this show! I found none of their reviews accurate or relevant. This is a very well made show telling a great story with beautiful scenery and great acting. See it for yourself - it's short and I watched it all this morning.