Review by bob the moo

Four black men living in London experience the impact of infidelity and unplanned pregnancies in their lives in different ways. Gus is a successful manager of his family's jeweler and is seeing a black single mother but is tempted by a light skin dancing teacher. Linvall is a photographer who is seeing the white daughter of a washed up rock star while helping out his friend with her son. Beres is happily married with a young daughter, but the cracks begin to show. Johnny meanwhile has a wife and a daughter, but has another girlfriend - both are pregnant. The fallout and the secrets in each man's life gradually come to the boil.

Based on the book Babyfather no.1, this drama was marketed as a `black thing', but there is much to enjoy here no matter what race you are. The comedy is broad and will appeal to a culture familiar with the culture of the main characters, but it can be easily picked up by any viewer. The stories of the four men are really enjoyable and interesting - even more so because they use humour. The appeal and consequences of infidelity are all dealt with and the events are reasonably realistic. The characters are likeable and real, the only downside of the story is that it gets rushed in the fourth episode and gets tied up a bit too quickly and easily.

The actors are all good - treating the material as both serious but fun - quite like real life where you get by the best you can. Don Gilet is the best as the funny but stupid Johnny and has the best role in the thing. Each actor is well cast in their role, but the women aren't all as good - Griffin in particular is a bit cubby and too easy going for her role and some of the others are not as likeable as the men's characters.

Overall the story may be too tidy at the end and rely too much on coincidence and leaps of imagination but it's entertaining and done with humour and charm. Fun to watch and an involving drama too.