stoph-4 I thought this failed on so many fronts. I really wanted to like it, but it's just quite shocking to watch. It's not because I didn't find it funny, that's too subjective and personal, I just thought the execution was poor. I found it really poorly written, bad story structure, badly drawn characters without the tiniest grain of realism, meandering and unrealistic dialogue peppered with the occasional swear words to make it seem edgy. I really don't think the writer has met anyone outside of his passport to success Cambridge footlights bubble. I guess this is what happens when nepotism continually gets people sitcom commissions - Dear BBC, the Footlights produced some talent once, but it looks like they never will again. The directing was poor, the editing was poor with lingering shots and then jarring cuts. The cinematography was very amateurish to look at. Overall I'm just amazed this was deemed BBC quality, but then again that's not saying much nowadays. I just hope that Netflix etc stays well clear of the sort of people at the BBC who let this happen.

ianlouisiana .....which is a bit of a handicap for a programme advertised as a comedy. Miss Manville and Mr Mullan just about save it as they underact whilst the rest of the cast chew the scenery. I'm afraid I'm not clever enough to see the subtle understated depths so many other reviewers rave about. Every character descends from a whole slew of earlier sitcoms,but is simply a little more extreme or offensive as the case may be. The youngsters appear to have the intelligence,perceptiveness and critical faculties of pre - pubertal molluscs. The older members of the cast speak their lines as if they were written by Oscar Wilde. Peter Mullan appears genuinely stupefied by the antics of his fellows. Either this is great acting or he has managed to keep his brain in neutral. Apparently "Guardianistas" have greeted "Mum" as one of their own,heaven knows why. I gave up on wondering what they seize upon to give their seal of approval. Perhaps the awfulness of most of the characters strikes them as irony. Personally I just think they're awful.Occam's Razor.

cairney227 Having watched the first series I could only hope for an improvement. This would put anyone of parenthood if they saw this unfortunate woman unable to escape her lame brained son and his even stupider girlfriend, her foul mouthed aggressive parents and her insufferable snob of a sister in law. There is a difference between laughing at someone playing the fool and laughing at someone who is mentally challenged. And we have the f word. Does anyone over ten years old still find this funny? It now seems to be a staple of BBC sitcoms.Once it would have been called brave, now it is just lazy writing. And Patricia Routledge has already done the snob part to death as Hyacinth Bucket. Following on the awful Two Doors Down I despair of seeing a new genuinely funny comedy. How about a show with quirky and amusing characters rather than dimwits and grotesques.

bgsmall I have recently started watching this series (1) again after having lost the thread when the series was originally broadcast on the BBC. This is a TV sitcom / drama that is a joy to behold. The exquisite and nuanced characterisation, mellow pace across differing sinusoidal melancholic - comedic storylines and superb acting (Lesley Manville is derserving of all nominations!) makes for very special television.The plot revolves around the death of the husband of the central character (i.e 'Mum') and in the aftermath of that awful event the personalities that inhabit her house and life. In short (and having only watched the first 3 episodes of Series 1) I would recommend this if you like intelligent, nuanced screenplay, great acting and an all round wry look at the everyday lives of us.