Big Top

I've forgotten the last time the BBC did an amusing comedy , as has the majority of viewers in Britain , so I'm guessing BIG TOP with its large ensemble cast playing a circus troupe is a throw back to the days of DADS ARMY , HI DE HI and ARE YOU BEING SERVED . It also features Tony Robinson best known for Baldrick one of the truly great comedy characters from the classic BLACKADDER series , and there's John Thomson from THE FAST SHOW fame . That said the cast also features Amanda Holden at the top of the cast list who is so untalented she strikes me as someone who'd have a problem playing herself . If the omens weren't good the reality is far worse than can be imagined

As has been pointed out the jokes are lamer than a horse that's had its limbs amputated . This is only be expected from a BBC comedy from the 21st century . That's not the main problem . One episode centres around the immigration bureau investigating one of the circus acts who might be an illegal immigrant . Being a BBC show there's not much call for racist gags - which might have raised a chortle if only for nostalgia's sake - but no the real offence comes with Holden's character thinking about whoring herself to the immigration investigator ! This in a show broadcast at 7.30 pm ! It's amazing the amount of sexual references and innuendos there is in a sit-com that on the surface considers itself a family show . In fact if you can imagine a children's show with sexual references this is what it looks like - a kind of TORCHWOOD with canned laughter

Family friendly sit-com set in a travelling circus, featuring a surprisingly top notch range of comic performers (its good to see Ruth Madoc back performing regularly on TV again), this show is never going to win any awards for the quality of its scripts, but there are some inventive touches that show there is enough potential for a second series.

Other reviewers have commented stating that it bears no comparison to The Office, Fawlty Towers etc - and indeed it doesn't, but this show is clearly aimed at family viewing and is going out in a relatively early evening time slot so should be viewed in that context.

Very possibly the worst alleged comedy the BBC has produced in years. With few rivals for worst ever you need only see Amanda Holden's name in the credits of anything to know it's bad but this has to be her personal best/worst. This turkey was moved to a late night slot after the 2nd or 3rd ep to limit the damage. Contrived plots with wooden acting combine to swallow the hopes and dreams even the most dedicated career actor who has the misfortune of being cast in this, the 2nd worst ver sitcom to come from the same management team. It is hoped that just this once the BBC go back to the practise of reusing video tape to insure the complete erasure of this embarrassing pile of ick.

Hideous acting, and worse writing - Big Flop was doomed from the start. Basically Amanda Holden runs a circus and tries her hardest to warm the nation into appreciating her as a comedian. Unfortunately she isn't the slightest bit funny, and has made the entire country question how she ever became a judge on the popular 'Britains Got Talent'.

Fortunately there is light at the end of the tunnel. If you feel this is an accurate description of the show you can complain to the BBC - they have, after all, used your money to make the show and pay Amanda's ridiculous wage.

For America viewers I apologise but this is by no means considered watchable television in Britain.

Enthusiastic ringmaster Lizzie has been handed Circus Maestro from her father, but it's struggling. Week after week, it moves from one crisis to another.

One thing I've always wondered: how on Earth did the BBC transmit the whole series? I can remember the backlash after episode one aired; people didn't respond well, but they put out the whole thing. I quit after about only ten minutes. Sixteen years on, I decided to dip my toe in once again.

This must rank as one of the worst comedies ever commissioned. Nothing works; the scripts are unfunny, the acting is poor, and all efforts to make Amanda Holden a comedy sitcom star failed.

There just aren't any laughs, apart from one or two decent lines in episode three. The stereotypical characters aren't likable, goofy, or in any way appealing. I'd argue Georgie and Boyco are the worst of the lot. Boyco's accent will make you think of Miss Popov.

At times, it felt as though it was written many years before it went out; it's dated, but I'm being unkind to the great comedies of yesteryear.

The biggest crime had to be the misuse of the great Tony Robinson. I can't understand how he agreed to be in it.

2/10.