Some of the reviewers were savage about Watson & Oliver. 'Oxbridge', 'canned laughter', 'derivative'. You can attach those labels to about 80% of BBC 2 comedy over the years. But the acting was great and Lorna and Ingrid had a nice chemistry. Not many double acts cut their teeth by filling that mid evening mainstream sketch show slot. The big problem you have is 'watershed' weakness. Most new comedy acts go late on Channel 4 or 5 and pack the sketches with rude, sweary-Mary arse jokes which pull in the student/pub/fringe set. The other extreme is trying to be cerebral and building an audience on BBC R4. This in some ways did neither.
Miranda got around this problem with a sit com and I think this might be where Watson & Oliver could succeed in the future. Loved the fighting women, the Police car sketches, Mad Men and the 30s eyebrow sketch. Other sketches (French resistance) ran on far too long and yes, the canned laughter was a mistake. So rather than Watson & Oliver I think some editorial issues at fault.
Not many new double acts would impress doing this mainstream stuff. Audiences are primed now for either sassy Ianucci style satire or wise-alec panel shows hosted by Brydon/O'Briain.
They need a better platform. Maybe a later edgier slot.
