The Syndicate

Series 4 is the first one of these I've seen, and it's bad. The kids in this syndicate are all irritating characters and hard to like, with predictable and boring back stories too. So I just ended up rooting for Frank, which I'm pretty sure isn't the intention. Some of the scenarios are just plain stupid, and painfully unfunny. This should be a CBBC show.

When I saw the trailer, I assumed another reasonable comedy/drama.

I was pleasantly surprised, Wonderfully emersive characters who will be relatable to everyone, tell a heart warming story of rags to riches.

The first episode introduces the motley crew of shop workers who instanly feel like people you have grown to know and love. Each with their own story to tell it was a nice surprise after I had expected giddy comedy from an outlandish group of characters

Supprisingly moving at times, especially the second episode which has set up a brilliant potential series which thus far has some excellently believable characters wonderfully written, a good prospect and a really emotional yet feel good programme!

This is a typical bit of light entertainment about groups of people who formed syndicates, and won the lottery. The series explore, and dramatize the characters, and how their lives changed after winning. There are the usual story lines with intrigue, personal secrets, struggle between good and evil, all the necessary elements for this type of show. Some of the acting is better than others but at other times it's just overdone. The portrayal of the "idiot savant" gardener in series 3 by Lenny Henry is a case in point. Just seemed to be a poor copy of Dustin Hoffman in Rainman. The actors do get the Midlands accents right and that helps introduce the feeling that winning the lottery does happen for the ordinary folk. If you just want a bit of light TV with a story that has a good dose of predictability, and "feel-goodness" in it, then the series will work for you. The concept does lend itself to repeat series, and so far there have been 3 seasons. Overall, it's not terrible but also not great TV!

This is one of the worst written, worst acted, and most sophomoric programs I have ever seen. Every single line, every element of backstory, and every character is so predictable that it feels like a 12-year old wrote it. Add to that a soundtrack of smarmy, imitation pop music, and it makes the perfect stew of intellectual diarrhea. A decent premise gone completely wrong.

As many have said Kay Mellor needs to up her game. 15 years ago this kind of stuff was the only kind of thing that you could get and look forward to. It's harmless and easy watching if you just want to turn your brain off and laugh at how bad it actually is.

It's ridiculous and portrays northerners as a bunch of imbeciles. Terrible writing and bad acting but I have to say I am enjoying it for what it is. Just don't expect much. Enjoy.