Newark, Newark

The UK TV channel "Gold" has, in the last decade, been shifting a little bit from repeating classic shows, to producing some of their own. "Newark, Newark" is perhaps their biggest attempt at a hit series yet. Admittedly three episodes isn't much to get stuck into, but the securing of Morgana Robinson and Mathew Horne as two of the stars shows a certain commitment. The result is . . . Not awful, but I can't say I'm overly enthused at the prospect of anymore.

Recently divorced, Maxine (Morgana Robinson) balances her job running a chip shop, whilst taking care of her dramatic teenage son Leslie (Jai Hollis). Her ex-husband Terry (Mathew Horne) is desperate for the relationship to rekindle and is conspiring with Maxine's mum Pauline (Beverley Callard) to get back with her.

I like Morgana Robinson a lot, she's contributed enormously to "House of Fools" and is a great guest star in "Inside Number 9" and "Toast of Hollywood". I don't think she's particularly suited to this character though, as dowdy, middle aged mother isn't necessarily what I think of, when I think of her. The accent is, to my ear - living in the Midlands but not specifically Newark - sometimes a bit much, but it's not entirely false.

I found the first episode, revolving around Maxine's birthday to be the best of the three and laughed a few times in that one, unfortunately it wasn't maintained into the second and third episodes and by the end I was reasonably relieved to discover that there were only three episodes of the series.

Honestly, I can't imagine I'll have any recollection of this at all in three months as it's neither good, nor awful enough to have made much of an impression.

OK.. it's exaggerated but that's TV for you. And although the slang exists I think it was way over used.

The people who are complaining about how the show portrays newark obviously are not the same people who would have watched shows like shameless for example.

I actually quite enjoyed it and I thought the acting was good.

But Obviously there is plenty of room for improvement.

I don't think we all watched the same program, it cracked me up! Loved it duck lol. I hope they do make more, very reminiscent of people that I met during my childhood in Lincoln.

Hilarious, weird and different. Why are there only 3 episodes? So many great characters and a flawless performance from Morgana Robinson. We need more insane comedies like this.

For what it is I absolutely enjoyed it for three episodes a laugh every other minute and Morgana Robinson is class as usual and Beverly callard back in comedy since two pints of lager and a packet of crisps.