User reviews

It appears I'm one of the few who found this TV series - called "The Gil Mayo Mysteries" in Australia - to be addictive and entertaining. No, it's not "Dalziel and Pascoe", but perhaps it's more 'The Last Detective' with a twist. However you define it, it's an acquired taste, and obviously not everyone's cup of tea. Whatever, I love it, and am saddened by the news that a second series is not to follow.

On the surface, the combination of wise and droll boss, with pretty, but quirkily-dressed side-kick, accompanied by klutzy young Welsh dude and cyber-nerdy-girl-trouble-shooter seems a trifle familiar, and even clichéd. Heck, I love a good cliché, so long as it's well done, and for me, this series is well done. It's improbable, yes, but I don't watch TV for reality - if I want reality I can step outside my front door.

I enjoy it for that which is expected - like Mayo's fastidious attention to correct grammar and pronunciation, or the next 50's hair style of Alex's (who in their right mind would go to such bother just to go to work?), or Mayo's daughter's next indication that she's more an adult than anyone else in the story? You'll love it or hate it, but one should see it just for the experience alone.

I liked this program. Alistair McGowan is clever, pedantically wordy, dry and a little needy. With a wife that's gone missing, an obsession with shopping on eBay and Lucy Evans as a wise beyond her years daughter. Jessica Oyelowo is funny and gorgeous. Deliciously curvy with a fashion sense rooted in the fifties. If only I knew how to pronounce her name. I've always wonders how Jessica actually sounds. The two side kicks, Loo Brealey is cute and clever as anorak and Huw Rhys as a stereo-typical Welshman is considerably more endearing than his two timing character in Cardydd. OK, so it's Sunday evening, pre-watershed entertainment for the family. There is no violence, swearing, nudity or excessively stylish music. There is wit, an attractive cast, and the potential to build on a successful start. Roll on series two.

Has anyone else noticed that these characters resemble the Scobby Doo crew?

My wife and I loved this show. It certainly deserves a DVD release of the series. It was smart and witty, not only in dialogue but visually as well.

Even to a male the wardrobe variety of the main female lead was something to amuse and savor. Always she looked really good. Her quirky relationship with Mayo was something quite beyond cliché and held one's fascination by never being adequately explained.

Mayo's grammatical pedantry was brilliant in an age which no longer pays attention to such matters. Indeed, writers seem to go in the opposite direction just to follow the mob.

Shows of this quality are unfortunately very different and very rare. Please let's buy the DVDs.

Other have mentioned some of the merits of this witty, often funny mystery. It isn't deep, dark and gut wrenching. It IS light, well written and has a fine cast.

But, there is something seriously familiar about the cast and characters. Here's what I mean.

There is the (relatively) handsome male lead and the gorgeous female lead. They are backed up by a long-haired (shaggy) male who provides a lot of the comic relief and a short, dark- haired, bookish, glasses-wearing, female. The team travel around in a large van solving mysterious deaths in out-of-the-way places.

The only thing missing is the dog.

Freddie, Daphnie, Shaggy and Velma?

No... there aren't ghosts and glowing, algae-covered sea Captains rattling chains, but I would bet a bucket of Scooby snacks that the people who created and cast this fun show are real fans of Scooby Do, Where Are You?

And, if you watch these shows with that in mind, it becomes even more entertaining.

After watching the first episode, my wife and I had high hopes for a non-violent detective series laced with some humor. We were disappointed. A lot of the humor didn't work. There really wasn't all that much serious detective work. The ongoing relationship between the lead detective and his assistant became a distraction. It was also a little ridiculous since she was much younger and much more attractive than he was. Skip this one.

I loved Mayo, and I was saddened it was so short lived. It wasn't the best show ever to grace my screen, but a thousand light years away from being the worst. What I loved about Mayo was that it was funny and addictive, very like New Tricks in some way. One or two of the secondary characters were a little stereotyped and one or two episodes are a little slow to start with, my only problems with Mayo, but what did compensate was some very funny and intelligent writing, interesting plot lines and very good lead performances from Alistair McGowan, Huw Rhys and the gorgeous Jessica Oyelowo. Plus the music and photography were quite excellent. Personally, I think Mayo should have lasted longer, it may have had one or two problems but if given a chance, like I think it should have these problems could have easily been rectified. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Those who have knocked this series have merely proved that they simply are so unused to being required to look beyond the surface (despite The Simpsons) in a television programme that they are no longer capable of seeing the joke.

This is a surreal world with real world concerns, a joke at the expense not only of English stereotypes, but of the very concept of detective drama. It is never intended that you should believe that the four central characters would, in the real world, be ranking police officers. This is an alternative universe where forensic pathologists hang about in a police caravan (which appears, as if by magic, at the scene of the crime) with detectives and comes up with a detailed analysis without ever entering a lab, and the West Midlands contains a street full of old school friends who speak with thick Lancastrian accents! What this 'unreal' setting does, as is the case in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, for example, is to free the writers to use the characters to gently mock those traits which so painfully reflect our own idiosyncrasies (repressed emotion, ebay addiction, our inability to escape those social conventions which we know to be ridiculous, all come in for laser accurate mockery that is nevertheless affectionate and always acknowledges that when a finger is pointed at anyone, there are three more pointing back at us.

The central characters are lovingly crafted by writers and actors, the 'jokes' are subtle and knowing, and the series greatly rewards those prepared to look beyond the focus and read between the lines. It's a work of pure television heaven that sadly may be cast into the outer darkness because it does not appeal to the lazy viewer who, despite its public service credentials, the BBC seems so desperate to attract.

I made these comments to the BBC drama site just in the hope.

Mayo is currently being replayed here (in Australia) on ABC. I missed most of the original showings but made a special effort not to miss the replays.

As it is one of the best shows I have seen on television, I have just investigated the length of the series and any further series.

I was horrified to find that only 8 episodes were made. Is there any possibility of further episodes being made? Is it possible that a DVD will be released?

I am sure many others before me have pointed out what makes this program so good. And I am equally sure that you know what makes most programs available for viewing so appalling.

As far as I can tell from comment sites it seems there are just not enough thinking television viewers left on the planet. Therefore, I guess, we are stuck with all the 'loud', 'confrontational', 'realistic' programs which seem to be the norm these days.

What a pleasure it was to watch today's episode with its clever repartee and subtle humour.

In what they are trying to pass for comedy- the lady DS, vain, over dressed but goo hearted, has a styck. As does the dullard, but "cute", likable lower dectective- how could he get hired? they over play. It's not that clever- but they get "B" for consistency. The premise that DI's wife walked off 3 years ago, no cell phone, wallet, passport, clothes, is somewhere out there, really..... she coul reappear at any momnt. really.... I am having a problem with the ages. The DS is a former girlfriend, they make a fuss thaat she had a nose job, she is one of the few thai looks like her nose. the DI has a daugheter looks 18, but let's say she is 16, played as a young woman. So the DI met and married Lynne, the disapperred wife, right after their break up- and has this child- they mention the DS had just entered the force so- 19-20. met marry, have a child- 20 years, she'd really have to be 40, lets. say 38, that's pushing the numbers. she look 30-35. not 40+. Iy's hard to do light ocmedy when you have murders that means you have to ignore the gravity or the creulty of the crime. but htis is a ight hearted comedy. Again, not the worst- an there are so many really bad shows, with nothing entertaining that get renewe. what's wrong with this show is wrong with many. it's clear from the last episode, they were planning for another season. and probalby had the story lines.

Those that have queued up to criticise this detective series have shown they have no idea of what constitutes quality TV (they are probably closet TV producers). Just once in a while a TV executive commissions something worth making, this is one of those occasions. To say that Mayo is quirky, witty and, at times, satirical is to state the obvious. The acting talents of Alistair MacGowan and his cohorts are remarkable, they each have, hopefully, long futures in TV and film. Critics or "people who have no abilities and hate seeing ability in others" have said "inane", "grating" "poorly written", these are the sort of people that praise the latest 'reality' show where shop assistants, cleaners, airport workers, bailiffs or wheel clampers parade their lack of talent, or of hopeful singers (some with talent) are crushed by non-entities. When loudness makes up for lack of humour and mediocrity for lack of imagination, it is unsurprising that one of the best TV series in 10 years is cancelled in favour of non-entities showing their inability to dance.

Maybe people are just too involved in the so-called reality programs to truly appreciate the quirky attrbutes of this show, but it was so short-lived it could not possibly have been given a real chance at success. Pity. Some have likened it to the Scooby Doo crew -- and they're right. Some have found it a bit trite, and they're right. But it was damned good fun and I'm glad I found it on BritBox.

The Gil Mayo Mysteries is like a breath of fresh air! Great cast, great script, great concept. A true pleasure; a witty script with wonderful characters. I love them all. The reference, by a previous reviewer, to Scooby Doo, is spot on; I just hadn't realized it before. I find it so disappointing that television this good, is cancelled, whilst mindless garbage keeps coming back! Who decides what stays and what goes, anyway? Whoever they are, they are obviously not asking the right viewers!

Is it too late to continue this wonderful series???

P L E A S E ! at least release this fine morsel on DVD so we may savour what little we have been served :)

This show is awesome such a shame it didn't have more than 8 episodes Really enjoyable Gil Mayo's fascination with the Correct use of English is quite amusing.

He always has great quips and one liners

Alex's hairstyle changes through most episodes, she adds great balance to the slightly left of centre character name of the show Alistair McGowan

The character of the junior male DC "kite" is slightly annoying but in a good way.

Anorak the forensics officer has slightly bookish character which rounds out a really clever take on police murder mystery's

What a shame that Gil Mayo only got one season! I honestly don't understand what is going on in the minds of TV execs most of the time. Here, you get a light, funny mystery with wonderful brain-teasers--a nice break from darker, moodier fare. I love the attention to detail that the writers put into every character. Gil is a lovable trivia-nut who is addicted to buying junk on the internet. Alex is warm, intelligent, and acts as the perfect foil to Mayo. She spars with Gil and matches him beat for beat. Kite is a lovable goof-ball with an--unfortunate--sense of fashion, Yet underneath, is a razor intellect and delightfully mad observations about the world. Anorak is the perfect compliment to his character. I would have been so happy to stay in this world and learn more about these characters for years to come. The writing is excellent--possibly some of the best I've seen. I loved wacky supporting characters and regional accents. A ton of laugh-out-loud moments. Just such a wonderful show. Treat yourself.

We are great fans of British movie and TV offerings; the sense of humour is usually quite subtle and very funny, and the detective shows, while often highly improbable and unrealistic, are entertaining. We sort of expected something from this show along the lines of the sadly missed "New Tricks". Apart from a few good lines that never really made it to a chuckle, we found the show to be confused, poorly acted, and basically silly. The main actors seemed to be trying their best and generally doing a good job, but the script seemed to get in the way.

Obviously it will appeal to some people, and for those who consider that the qualities of "unusual" and "artistic" are more important than entertaining, then they will probably give it a high rating. For all others, I recommend giving it a miss.

I wish this show would come back I don't think it was given chance.

I watched this show in 2009 and have been looking for it since then with no luck. As a grammatical pedant myself, I felt right at home with Mayo's attempts to correct the speech of some of the characters. Because I managed to record all episodes - except for Ep01! - I have been watching the show again, and enjoying it just as much as the first time I watched it. It was a joy to see Jessica Oyelowo's character dressing in such beautiful clothes and shoes - unfortunately, the shoes in particular did not serve her well in the area in which she was working. I have spoken to friends who also want the show to be available on DVD, because we all know there won't be another series. Why is it that a quirky, intelligent and funny show is shafted because TV show producers believe the mindless majority are all that count? Please, a DVD! Pretty please!

Loved Gil Mayo Mysteries! It was full of wit, charm, humor & clean. So little to watch these days that isn't raunchy, boring and/or gorry. Saddened Studio Execs don't keep on shows like this one! It was so fun to watch!

Wish there had been more seasons. I loved this series. Maybe a reboot????.

The latest ratings stinker from the BBC, Mayo attracted me to watch it just because of the sheer critical mauling it was getting from all the critics and reviewers. It seemed that this series was not only a dog, but the type of dog that everyone was queuing up to gleefully kick. The basic concept seems to be about a, wait for it, collection of unorthodox detectives led by the unusual Inspector Mayo. So each week we get a different case that the team take on with a light sense of humour, lots of goofing around and a sharp sense of deduction.

I watched a couple of episodes to see if it was worthy of my attention or worthy of the kicking and very quickly could see all the things that the others must be hammering it for (although it probably isn't as bad as everyone says). The problem with it is just how very derivative, unimaginative and lazy it all it. It seems to be trying to repeat the many successful "quirky" detective shows but do it in a sort of ironic sort of way. However it isn't any good just by doing this and indeed if this approach does anything then it only succeeds in undercutting the value of the material, leaving me wondering why I was supposed to be interested in or amused by these characters. The cases lack any tension or excitement and the focus is very much the "humour" of each episode.

Sadly I didn't find it funny so much as, well, inane and grating. The script is clunky and lacking energy so even reasonable gags just fall flat. The cast don't help this at all. McGowan is a fine impressionist but as an actor he is all at sea here. You can see why he was cast – his style does suit the material, but this isn't of any value because the material doesn't work. Outside of this he has no ability to get to grips with his character and bring anything of interest out. His team are just as weak as he is – Bealsy, Rhys and Oyelowo are too basic and just seem to be hanging in there until the next lame line comes their way. The occasional guest stars don't do anything to help either, mainly because the tone and material is all over the place.

Overall then, a silly, poorly structured and pointless entry in the "quirky TV detective" genre. It isn't interesting, the cases are dull and the attempts at jokey humour mostly fall flat and, at worst, are embarrassing. With so many good cop shows on television there are many that are much better than this; for the love of God, Monk is on various channels all the time – even repeats of that series are of greater value than this.

This program has what you might call an "actor's script" - in other words, it needs a considerable input from the actors to bring the characters to life and make the dialogue sparkle. The deadpan delivery it gets from this crew of C-listers just doesn't do the job. Judging from the plot types and visual style of this series, the producers were trying to re-create "The Avengers". That, too, depended on the actors, and stopped working after Diana Rigg left. This material might work if delivered by a really over-the-top team, like Monty Python or the Comic Stip. With these actors, it's just a turkey. I'm surprised it lasted as many episodes as it did. Well, you get that with the BBC I guess: their lack of slavery to the ratings sometimes leads to some brilliant TV that wouldn't succeed commercially - but also to total rubbish like this.

This show was very quirky, so wasn't everyone's thing in 2006, hence only one season. I think it might do better in a 2020s reboot as quirky is more appreciated.

Fortunately I had recorded some of this series when it first went out, sadly I don't have it all. It's a cracking series, it's light hearted, humorous and hugely entertaining.

Alistair McGowan was perfect casting, most people probably know him as a funny man, and an impressionist, but here he shows what a fine actor he is too.

I remember some of this very well, particularly episodes three and four.

This really is a lost gem, it deserves a DVD release, and hopefully one day Britbox will show it.

Very watchable, 8/10.