Count Arthur Strong

In the time of reboots of shows people forget they were sick of this is an original idea and completely original character and plot. It's not mean spirited It's not sex filled or innuendo laden it's well written and genuinely funny, though it pokes fun at age its the same way a family does. The star, who is much younger than the character he portrays is brilliant. This show would have almost no chance in the US mainly because it would morph into an angry old man who hates everyone and everything the anger would only stop when uncomfortable old people sex. This is nearly the perfect sitcom or should I say the closest to perfect a sitcom can get.

I've come to this late, and not heard of the radio series.

For the first minute I thought this looks dated and this Count Arthur Strong actor is overacting a bit. Then I realised I was watching hilarious comedy gold.

I've just watched the 4th episode. Maybe they've gone a bit heavy-handed on the tragedy - I think it works but I think it just lingers a bit too long, like on Eggy's face during his sorry tale, and in the taxi ride back from the hospital.

Perhaps this is a slight editing problem, where just a 5 or 10 second cut would have got the balance right. The problem is that the tragedy is very real and sad, which is an achievement in itself that we care so much about the characters so quickly, but it's just a bit too real and sad, for 10 seconds too long :)

I think people must be drawing parallels between The Count and John Shuttleworth, another hilarious older-than-the-actor Yorkshire buffoon in his own internally logical world.

This is the loudest and longest I've laughed watching anything since Curb Your Enthusiasm, it's a work of absolute genius in both Steve Delaney's masterful performance and the Father Ted-like farcical comedy plotting. As soon as I've seen the last 2 episodes I'll be straight onto the radio shows :)

I've heard the radio version. If you are into wacky humour this one is for you!

Steve Delaney has played Arthur Strong since the 1980s and like Steve Coogan is rapidly approaching the actual age of the character he is well known for.

Arthur Strong is a retired comedian and actor who has grand delusions, clumsiness and is easily confused.

He comes into contact with Michael who is researching a book about his late father who was an entertainer and comic partner to Arthur Strong. Whilst encountering Arthur, Michael also comes into contact with his circle of misfit friends.

This TV adaptation is based on the radio series and after a dicey first episode it seems to have settled down. The character of Arthur Strong has been softened for the television although he can still grate and irritate.

Some of the plots are inspired by the radio series and some of the slapstick looks to be tailor made for the TV version.

The Michael character as played by Rory Kinnear is our entry to this strange world of Arthur Strong, although by the final episode of the first series we realise we know little about Michael.

It seems that he actually lives in York and we do not know whether he is even married or not.

What works is the buffoonery between Michael and Arthur and this was demonstrated in the second episode with the Jack the Ripper tour

It is not perfect and it has been labelled as Marmite as some viewers have just found it unfunny.

However there is enough there to entertain and make you laugh.

I arrived late to this show, never having heard of Count Arthur Strong before the current TV series. Neither was I enticed by the trailers. But having seen episodes of the re-run on BBC 2, I am convinced that Arthur is the funniest TV comedy creation since Basil Fawlty. Having enjoyed the first 2 episodes I went out and bought the DVD only to discover that the remaining 4 episodes were even funnier than the ones I had previously viewed. Rory Kinnear gives excellent support as the bemused writer Michael. I hear this is booked for series 2. I can't wait! The delusional Arthur reminds me of some characters I used to know at a poetry writer's club, one of whom described herself as "a household name" despite the fact that no-one had ever heard of her. Maybe Arthur should start something similar as one of his rackets. It would give him excellent scope for his ham acting talents.Having read the reviews mentioning the Radio Show, I bought season 2 on audio CD and found it to be equally hilarious. Standouts were Arthur posing as a self motivation guru and his lecture on Creationism vs Darwinism with reference to the films of Charlton Heston. Totally hilarious. Whether on TV or radio comic genius is still comic genius