Sitcom about life in a mixed-race Birmingham family as seen through the eyes of a teenager with cerebral palsy.Sitcom about life in a mixed-race Birmingham family as seen through the eyes of a teenager with cerebral palsy.Sitcom about life in a mixed-race Birmingham family as seen through the eyes of a teenager with cerebral palsy.
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.... But only if someone is kicking you in the ribs very very hard.
Yes you can guess this is going to get a poor review from me . I had the fortune of not seeing the first series and if it was ten times better than the second series it still wouldn`t have deserved a second series . This is awful with punchlines you can see coming a mile a way . I`ll give you an example . Young daughter dressed up in bandages says to her father at Halloween : " Would you like to become a mummy ? " and her father replies * Answer at the bottom of the review .
But it`s not only the flat jokes that caused me to hate this - It`s the flat jokes combined with a politically correct agenda . The plot revolves around a mixed race step family and one of the children suffers from cerebral palsy. If this was a politically incorrect show it might possibly be sick but it might also possibly be funny in a sick way , but being PC there`s no chance of offence and no chance of a smile either as most of the running time seems to be taken up with issues like handicapped relationships and Hindu festivals , and the cynic in me believes that the BBC will counter-act anyone criticising this flop comedy with cries of " racist " or worse . I`m not racist but I do have a sense of humour ( You need one if you`re a working class Scot called Theodore ) and this sentenious garbage is just not funny
Jasper Carrott is a comedian I can take or leave but like any other comedian he`s at his best when he`s at his most politically incorrect . He had me in stiches with a sketch spoofing CORONATION STREET from 20 years ago :
" Oh we`ve just received a wedding card "
" What`s it say ? "
" All the best and thumbs up "
" That`s nice . Who sent it ? "
" The Faircloughs "
You`ll get the joke if you can remember a certain court case from 20 years back .
* And the punch line is " No thank you it`s bad enough being a daddy " . Bet you didn`t see that coming
Yes you can guess this is going to get a poor review from me . I had the fortune of not seeing the first series and if it was ten times better than the second series it still wouldn`t have deserved a second series . This is awful with punchlines you can see coming a mile a way . I`ll give you an example . Young daughter dressed up in bandages says to her father at Halloween : " Would you like to become a mummy ? " and her father replies * Answer at the bottom of the review .
But it`s not only the flat jokes that caused me to hate this - It`s the flat jokes combined with a politically correct agenda . The plot revolves around a mixed race step family and one of the children suffers from cerebral palsy. If this was a politically incorrect show it might possibly be sick but it might also possibly be funny in a sick way , but being PC there`s no chance of offence and no chance of a smile either as most of the running time seems to be taken up with issues like handicapped relationships and Hindu festivals , and the cynic in me believes that the BBC will counter-act anyone criticising this flop comedy with cries of " racist " or worse . I`m not racist but I do have a sense of humour ( You need one if you`re a working class Scot called Theodore ) and this sentenious garbage is just not funny
Jasper Carrott is a comedian I can take or leave but like any other comedian he`s at his best when he`s at his most politically incorrect . He had me in stiches with a sketch spoofing CORONATION STREET from 20 years ago :
" Oh we`ve just received a wedding card "
" What`s it say ? "
" All the best and thumbs up "
" That`s nice . Who sent it ? "
" The Faircloughs "
You`ll get the joke if you can remember a certain court case from 20 years back .
* And the punch line is " No thank you it`s bad enough being a daddy " . Bet you didn`t see that coming
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
I was interested in giving this show a glance 'cos it's set in my home city of Birmingham and,of course,who better to headbill it than that legendary stelwart of our comedic prowess,Jasper Carrott.But I have to say,the results are certainly not very encouraging.Jasper was fantastic in The Detectives,which I happen to regard as one of the finest comedy series ever created by the BBC,but here he just can't seem to help matters at all.
The premise rests around Colin the Builder (Carrott),his three children from his previous marriage,new wife Rupinder (Nina Wadia) and her disabled son (Jamil Dhillon) and the various mis-adventures they get up to in each weekly episode.
It opens to various shots around Birmingham (i.e.,the BT tower,the Brindley Place canals) shot in a cheap,almost camcorder esque fashion,which plays to a rather unappealing opening soundtrack.It also sets the tone for the rest of the series.Indeed,as one IMDB reviewer already pointed out,it feels more like one of those videos they might have played to you as a class back at primary school as opposed to a professionally made BBC production.Such shoddy,see through production values are complimented by poorly executed gags,with dire delivery and almost non-existent comic timing from the mainly inexperienced younger cast members.Jasper merely seems trapped by such a witless,dire script that even the greatest comedic expertise in the world probably could not save.It's no wonder,in fact,that Meera Syal appeared to have walked out by the second series.
The high notes lie in it's ingenuitive plot angles,that of the problems and adversities that may lie in a mixed-race family,and of having a child with a disability as one of it's main characters.These are certainly very inspired angles to explore.Unfortunately,this dismal series is never able to exploit them to their full potential,and ultimately emerges as a waste not only of some creative ideas,but of the talents of one of our finest funnymen ever to hit the big time.*
I was interested in giving this show a glance 'cos it's set in my home city of Birmingham and,of course,who better to headbill it than that legendary stelwart of our comedic prowess,Jasper Carrott.But I have to say,the results are certainly not very encouraging.Jasper was fantastic in The Detectives,which I happen to regard as one of the finest comedy series ever created by the BBC,but here he just can't seem to help matters at all.
The premise rests around Colin the Builder (Carrott),his three children from his previous marriage,new wife Rupinder (Nina Wadia) and her disabled son (Jamil Dhillon) and the various mis-adventures they get up to in each weekly episode.
It opens to various shots around Birmingham (i.e.,the BT tower,the Brindley Place canals) shot in a cheap,almost camcorder esque fashion,which plays to a rather unappealing opening soundtrack.It also sets the tone for the rest of the series.Indeed,as one IMDB reviewer already pointed out,it feels more like one of those videos they might have played to you as a class back at primary school as opposed to a professionally made BBC production.Such shoddy,see through production values are complimented by poorly executed gags,with dire delivery and almost non-existent comic timing from the mainly inexperienced younger cast members.Jasper merely seems trapped by such a witless,dire script that even the greatest comedic expertise in the world probably could not save.It's no wonder,in fact,that Meera Syal appeared to have walked out by the second series.
The high notes lie in it's ingenuitive plot angles,that of the problems and adversities that may lie in a mixed-race family,and of having a child with a disability as one of it's main characters.These are certainly very inspired angles to explore.Unfortunately,this dismal series is never able to exploit them to their full potential,and ultimately emerges as a waste not only of some creative ideas,but of the talents of one of our finest funnymen ever to hit the big time.*
Hi
I have been watching this programme from the first episode. I am grateful to the writer for including within the family unit a person who has a disability. In doing so you are raising awareness of disability issues in a way that is inclusive and portrays,with humour, the `normalness' of family life. Respect!
However, As this particular sit com developes, I am becoming very interested in the writer for one reason. The characters portrayed are beginning to eclipse my own family, with the exception that we are not a divorced couple with children and neither are we of different cultural backgrounds. The uncanny similarities lay primarily with the disabilities portrayed.
Our eldest son had a rare metabolic illness which meant he had no co-ordinated movement or speech but was intellegent and communicated, like Rhaj through facial expression. My youngest son has, yes, you have guessed it, Aspergers Autism. I watched this evenings episode and the script unveiled explaining to my `Builder' husband that I suspected that the youngest boy had autism. At that point my daughter rang me to ask if I was watching the programme and if I had been instrumental in providing the plot. As she is a script writer she was mortified to think I had given away a potential story line which she could have used.
So my question to the writer is this. Out of pure curiosity who did you base the script on and what research did you undertake?. Is this co-incidence or it there some divine explanation for the similarities. Scaaaarrrrry or what!
P.s Has Ruvinda got a job and if so what?. (hopefully she hasn't or if she has, is it the same occupation as mine!)pass me the garlic please!
Regards
Sandra Duncan
I have been watching this programme from the first episode. I am grateful to the writer for including within the family unit a person who has a disability. In doing so you are raising awareness of disability issues in a way that is inclusive and portrays,with humour, the `normalness' of family life. Respect!
However, As this particular sit com developes, I am becoming very interested in the writer for one reason. The characters portrayed are beginning to eclipse my own family, with the exception that we are not a divorced couple with children and neither are we of different cultural backgrounds. The uncanny similarities lay primarily with the disabilities portrayed.
Our eldest son had a rare metabolic illness which meant he had no co-ordinated movement or speech but was intellegent and communicated, like Rhaj through facial expression. My youngest son has, yes, you have guessed it, Aspergers Autism. I watched this evenings episode and the script unveiled explaining to my `Builder' husband that I suspected that the youngest boy had autism. At that point my daughter rang me to ask if I was watching the programme and if I had been instrumental in providing the plot. As she is a script writer she was mortified to think I had given away a potential story line which she could have used.
So my question to the writer is this. Out of pure curiosity who did you base the script on and what research did you undertake?. Is this co-incidence or it there some divine explanation for the similarities. Scaaaarrrrry or what!
P.s Has Ruvinda got a job and if so what?. (hopefully she hasn't or if she has, is it the same occupation as mine!)pass me the garlic please!
Regards
Sandra Duncan
I think ive seen every episode but am not sure. I just saw the last episode a couple of hours ago(holiday episode) and i think it was the best so far. I would like to think the type of racism shown in the episode doesn't happen in a modern day society but unfortunately it does. I think Rupinder dealt with it well by not letting it bother her and giving a good example to the children, of both races.
I came onto the website looking for more information on the older coloured daughter but am not sure which actress or character she plays so i would appreciate some help with this if anyone knows.
I came onto the website looking for more information on the older coloured daughter but am not sure which actress or character she plays so i would appreciate some help with this if anyone knows.
Oh how I laughed....this has it all...an Asian/White family, a disabled Asian boy...everything a healthy person needs to see in the eyes of the BBC.
What utter tribe: This was a total insult to my eyes that viewed this rubbish for one episode and ONE EPISODE ONLY.
When you think of some of the quality the BBC has put out over the years (Fawlty Towers for example) and then this comes rolling in...Its a disgusting disgrace.
Its all geared on political-correctness and is devoid of any humour whatsoever.
This is straight from the bowels of hell: but what would you expect from the ultra left-wing BPC...I mean BBC.
What utter tribe: This was a total insult to my eyes that viewed this rubbish for one episode and ONE EPISODE ONLY.
When you think of some of the quality the BBC has put out over the years (Fawlty Towers for example) and then this comes rolling in...Its a disgusting disgrace.
Its all geared on political-correctness and is devoid of any humour whatsoever.
This is straight from the bowels of hell: but what would you expect from the ultra left-wing BPC...I mean BBC.
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