A Bit of a Do

This is a magnificent programme which falls into the comedy/drama genre, there is plenty of comedy and some of the drama tends toward the serious.

Each episode begins with a cast member on the phone to a friend..."Sorry I can't make it, got a bit of a do on". Then ta-da-da-da-da-da-da George Melly leads us through the opening credits.

To set the scene: the daughter of Mrs Posh (Nicola Pagett) is marrying the son of Mr Common (David Jason). Never mind the class difference, both sets of parents are concerned that their offspring have grown up to be be wet liberals (perish the thought).

Ultimately, all that is irrelevant. The selling points of the series are Pagett and Jason but as the shows progress David Nobbs does a fine job of gradually inserting the rest of the cast into the plot. Relationships are forged, relationships fall apart, there are births, deaths and marriages. All leading to a "do".

I can't fault the first series which is close to perfect. I think Nobbs tries to do a bit much to start the second series with some questionable scenarios but it recovers. All the other characters blossom to make this a true ensemble piece.