The UK TV channel "Gold" has, in the last decade, been shifting a little bit from repeating classic shows, to producing some of their own. "Newark, Newark" is perhaps their biggest attempt at a hit series yet. Admittedly three episodes isn't much to get stuck into, but the securing of Morgana Robinson and Mathew Horne as two of the stars shows a certain commitment. The result is . . . Not awful, but I can't say I'm overly enthused at the prospect of anymore.
Recently divorced, Maxine (Morgana Robinson) balances her job running a chip shop, whilst taking care of her dramatic teenage son Leslie (Jai Hollis). Her ex-husband Terry (Mathew Horne) is desperate for the relationship to rekindle and is conspiring with Maxine's mum Pauline (Beverley Callard) to get back with her.
I like Morgana Robinson a lot, she's contributed enormously to "House of Fools" and is a great guest star in "Inside Number 9" and "Toast of Hollywood". I don't think she's particularly suited to this character though, as dowdy, middle aged mother isn't necessarily what I think of, when I think of her. The accent is, to my ear - living in the Midlands but not specifically Newark - sometimes a bit much, but it's not entirely false.
I found the first episode, revolving around Maxine's birthday to be the best of the three and laughed a few times in that one, unfortunately it wasn't maintained into the second and third episodes and by the end I was reasonably relieved to discover that there were only three episodes of the series.
Honestly, I can't imagine I'll have any recollection of this at all in three months as it's neither good, nor awful enough to have made much of an impression.
