The Power of Parker

As someone whose from Manchester and lived there in the 80s/90s the memories this series brought back are excellent.

What really makes the show is the banter. Northerners are known for the banter and every episode is littered with one liners that from the time. Setting it in Stockport is a stroke of genius for many reasons. At this time many of us in Manchester thought Stockport was 'posh' and a great night out. People in Stockport cherished a Stockport address and looked down on Mancunians.

The two sisters at the centre of the story are great and watching Parker slowly unravel just adds a layer of dark comedy.

In trailers this sitcom looked pretty silly initially, but turned out to be something of a gem. Polished acting and a funny script, the series was slick and fast-moving. I enjoyed the nostalgia of the times and the premise of a smaller entrepreneur doing battle with the Rumbelows of the day. The two ladies in Parker's life were tremendous and played with aplomb by Sian Gibson and Rosie Cavaliero. The other characters in the sitcom all played their part too in producing a very enjoyable series. I don't often laugh out loud at today's humour but the blend of nostalgia, quirkiness and a funny script performed by some excellent character actors, really hit the mark for me.

As a big fan of Sian Gibson and Conleth Hill I had high hopes for this new comedy. And in parts it hits the spot, especially in the first couple of episodes.

But I got the feeling as it progressed that the writers were caught between creating a straight comedy and a light, romantic drama. It's rarely laugh-out-loud yet equally doesn't carry sufficient weight in the drama stakes.

Gibson brings her usual charm to the role, with Sheila Reid in good form too, but I felt overall the plot overstretched and at times plodding to fill six episodes. A three-part series would, I think, have given ample time to tell the story and better pacing.

I really enjoyed 'The Power of Parker'. I was expecting a well-written but fairly run of the mill comedy - not so! There's a lot more going on than first appears. As the series progresses, it subtly morphs into a comedy drama, with the plot almost threatening to outdo the comedy. Fortunately 'The Power of Parker' is packed full of funny characters, witty observations and social satire, some cracking dialogue, and a scene stealing performance by Steve Pemberton.

We learn more about Kath (Sian Gibson) and Diane (Rosie Cavaliero) and their respective relationships with the eponymous Martin Parker (Conleth Hill), and Martin's other - potentially deadly - indiscretions are revealed. The backdrop of 1990 is a treat for those of us who remember when wallpaper and rugs really were that beige, and it affords some well-observed satire about gender roles (many of which have sadly not gone out of fashion with the furnishings).

Wonderful writing, well-crafted characters and a gripping narrative. And very, very funny! Recommended!

Martin Parker is a self made man, but he's run into financial difficulties, he's forced to take drastic action. His family life is also complicated, he has a social climbing wife, and a demanding mistress.

When I saw a sitcom starring Conleth Hill and Sian Gibson, I was all over it, I wanted to love it, and for the most part I did.

The best thing, the nostalgia, if you're my age, and grew up in this era, you'll spot so much, the accuracy was amazing. It's the late 80's, early 90's brought to life, the music is awesome.

It's funny, there are definitely a good few laughs, it's not belly laugh humour, but it's amusing, Sian Gibson really does supply a lot of the humour.

The BBC doesn't exactly have a comedy armour right now, I'm not sure Not going out will run for much longer, inside no.9 is ending, it needs good shows, this one has potential to run for a little while.

As well as Hill and Gibson, you'll see plenty of well known faces, including George Costigan and Sheila Reid, it's very well cast.

Very watchable.

8/10.