The Cafe

This show is a very understated comedy gem. Brilliant writing and acting make the ordinary seem hillarious as only the British can do.

I may disqualify myself by having been brought up in an English seaside town, but The Cafe is one of the two shows on TV at the moment I would be mortified if I had missed, (the other is the Norwegian crime series The Killing on BBC 4) If you do need special qualifications to appreciate The Cafe, then I am very glad I have them. The story is driven by the characters, the characters are true to nature, the dialogue is authentic, the comedy understated. The production has all the right values. At last we are having some authentic new comedy on TV. Thanks to Sky for standing up and putting their weight behind a project that must have been way out on a limb.

Having read the present reviews beforehand I must admit that I had mixed feelings when I started to watch the show. I think the viewer will be pleasantly entertained instead. I've watched the characters unfold in the first two episodes and could appreciate the 'underbelly' humour that is continuously present in the lines and performances of the well-cast actresses and actors. This is not meant as hilarious entertainment; rather, it is the subtle dynamics of close acting that does the trick. The environment is set up very nicely. This is not a decor. Not at all, this is almost a reality show in its set up. So, let's see how this series develops in time.

The more episodes I watched, the more I enjoyed this series in a quaint seaside resort. There were an unbelievable number of quirky characters wandering around, but the real local characters shone through. It's not for everyone, but if you're the type that likes to sit back and people watch, this is for you. Simply lovely.

Appreciating The Cafe requires the watcher to slow to the pace of an English Seaside, what a delightful escape. The characters are gentle no hacked off limbs, no tawdry affairs. I love the subtle development of each character, no the jokes are not always belly laughs but then that's what makes it real - bad jokes bind the characters just as they do in real life. There is the same conspiratorial feel to that shared knowledge and that creates a bond. There is also an unspoken acceptance of each person's quirky behaviour that shows us, the viewer, that these people care about each other and that it's a privilege for us to be sharing it. I thought the series charming and absolutely addictive. I only hope more people 'get it' so that we can have series 2 - otherwise l will be left watching this series over and over - and l will !