The Wrong Mans

James Corden and Mathew Baynton star and also co-wrote what can be best be described as a comedy action series.

They play in The Wrong Mans, Phil Bourne and Sam Pinkett. Office workers for Berkshire County Council although Corden is not a council employee he just works in the mail room.

Their lives are turned upside down when Sam (Baynton) answers a mobile phone left lying around after a car accident.

It might be case of mistaken identity but soon they are mixed up in a kidnapping, there are people out to kill them, corruption, nefarious spies. While all the time our hapless duo try to escape from increasingly bizarre situations against the odds.

It would be wrong to call this series a sitcom as this is far away from a sofa in a living room you can get.

Explosions, people being chased through country roads, dropping from the higher floors of car parks this is a topsy turvy show.

Baynton is perfect in the lead role an innocent goaded at work by office politics who just wants to do the right thing and has bitten off a bit too much.

Corden who is a fine dramatic thespian in my opinion can be overbearing when it comes to comedy, but tones his performance down enough as the more adrenaline fuelled one who is prone to taking risks.

The first series was successful enough and seemed to have tied up its plot lines nicely but a second series has been commissioned by the BBC.

From the very first frame of this clever Hitchcockian comedy/thriller you will be glued to the screen wondering how the two leads are going to escape the situations they find themselves in. Time after time, inventive, funny and dangerous escape plans are hatched and executed with a cleverness we haven't seen on TV for a long time.

There are so many moments in the series were it delves into the cliché and tired tropes of thrillers, yet takes them and twists them in clever and unexpected ways which makes it so much fun to watch.

Episodes three and five are stand outs and it's one of those series where you just want to watch the next episode immediately. The production values are great and the acting in general is good.

My only complaints are: 1. I'd like to have seen the love interest developed a little smoother and 2. The last episode does fall into those tired and cliché tropes of movies in general. It feels lazy in comparison to all the cleverness that has led up to the ending, but the journey as a whole is still extremely satisfying and ultimately a blast to watch. Totally recommended.

An epitome of splendid British comedy! A fast-paced tastefully funny show with great dialogues and laced with some appropriately portioned action scenes. The plot is simple, two male employees of an obscure town council get involved in a criminal underworld, double agent-turned culprit, law enforcement chase only to find themselves deeper in the mess. The script is smart, carefully and very well written. When you'd think you know what comes next you are in for a surprise, as the story has its twists and turns. The acting is superb, the actors in the leading roles play characters that are likable and who are quite the opposite of today's boring all muscular and super smart super heroes. We are shown two ordinary guys with ordinary thinking and who eventually do manage to make a great job of living through all sorts of dangerous situations, and even the score with the bad guys. The wrong mans is thoroughly entertaining, and is one of the very best of its kind in recent years. Strongly recommended!

The Wrong Mans is a TV series that I didn't hear anything about until I saw it advertised a week or so before it aired. It looked like a decent show and I liked James Corden in Gavin & Stacey so I decided to give it a go. As the weeks went on the series just got better and better and it turned out to be very good.

Sam (Matthew Baynton) and Phil (James Corden) are the case of a mistaken identity following a phone call that was not intended for them. They are thrown into some quite bizarre situations. They are always on the run for one thing or another and they are just two innocent guys. The action is quite fast paced and each episode ended on a cliff hanger and you just wanted to see what would happen next.

The action was all sorts such as car chases and being taken hostage. When one thing is sorted out, something worse happens. The drama is really good and you really feel for the main characters. The acting all round is impressive. Then there was also the humour side of things, each episode had its moments. It wasn't the funniest series I've ever seen but it had just enough to give the series a different side. Silly humour in a completely serious situation, like debating how Ginsters is pronounced while there is somebody chasing you who wants to kill you.

The way it ended made me think it was all over but since it has already been confirmed that there will be a 2nd series I am really looking forward to seeing what will happen next. Hopefully it won't go downhill from here because the 1st series was extremely impressive.

9/10.

I use this site like a bible, usually agreeing with general reviews and ratings, yet I have never written a review on this site before.

The poor rating has prompted a first review, as this show is one of the best BBC sitcoms to find it's way onto television! James Corden's timing is second to none, the writing is extraordinarily clever and cliffhangers keep you guessing and watching each week.

Granted the show is not always laugh out loud, but the show isn't slapstick...It's clever and interesting.

The series is only 3 episodes in, but I for 1 am gripped and those posting terrible ratings after only 1 episode, because they haven't laughed due to there being no 'high school humour' need to get a grip!

9 star, and a genuine admiration to Corden and Co