Funny Woman

Based on the book by Nick Hornby Funny Woman start's with a Blackpool beauty queen, who has her future mapped out for her. Bored in her Blackpool rock making factory, destined to marry the local butcher. She gives it all up to head south to London in search of fame and fortune.

As always this does not go to plan wannabe comedian actress Barbara Parker aka Sophie Straw. Works her way through various mundane job's in between auditions before getting her break in a TV situation comedy written and staring by oxbridge performers who fail to grasp her northern humour.

Set in the swinging sixties Funny Woman is a delightful nostalgic trip through the period of early television and how women were faced prejudices to be seen as funny in what was a man's world. 8/10.

Loved this mini-series. These days, they usually go on for too long, but there's not an ounce of fat on this one and it breezes by in six episodes.

Gemma Arterton shines as the funny woman, and Rupert Everett is quite hilarious, seemingly channeling Alastair Sim a bit. The rest of the cast is excellent, and the script is very fine. I haven't read the book, so I cannot compare the two, but I found this totally enjoyable and highly entertaining. The recreation of the 1960's was very good, including some imaginative use of vintage films of London with Arterton skillfully inserted into them. Highly recommended.

What a treat this show turned out to be. Gemma Arturton in the lead was quite stupendous, consistently bringing every emotion to every scene - she ought to be right up there when the tv awards are handed out. Indeed, the whole cast are superb and so believable. Feel-good, yes, but I reckon it would be almost impossible not to be pulled in every emotional direction as this programme just gets better and better as it goes on. It would be great if a sequel came along, however, somehow it could just as well stay as a one-off. Finally, it should be thought of as a virtually unique tour-de-force and possibly one of Sky's ever dramas.

For me, Funny Woman was a fabulous accidental find ...so needed a laugh tonight after a bleak day. Thankfully Funny Woman gave the laughs I needed...Gemma Arterton is mesmerising on screen & perfect as comical Sophie Straw. Loving this show & need more...such a great find! Hope there's a series 2, 3, 4 etc...thanks for great television, such a rarity today... Sophie Straw aka is Barbara Parker from Blackpool; Funny Woman is set in the swinging 60's & Barbara is off to London to make a better life for herself. This she does with gusto & great humour...love the music too! Great watch tv that is essential viewing...

I largely enjoyed Funny Woman but I do understand the negative reviews. The problem, IMO, is the show is about a woman in comedy in the 1960s and not actually a comedy.

Gemma Arterton plays Barbara Parker, an attractive woman who learned to love comedy from her father. The show is about Barbara rebelling against the stereotypes associated with being an attractive woman and wanting to make her own way.

When it sticks to that premise, it's fantastic. We see Barbara fighting to be comedic when everyone else just wants to see her assets. Her relationship with her father is an absolute treat.

Another great part of the show is the relationship with her friends. Women sticking together instead of stabbing each other in the back.

It's great as the show runner, writers, and other lead slowly understand she's funny, that audiences laugh at her. Is she actually funny to modern viewers? Not really but considering Lucille Ball is the standard she measures herself against, you get what she's trying to do.

Where it fails is when it tries to be comedy, particularly the slapstick scenes they throw in every episode that are just totally out of place. It's not a comedy! Even the writers seem confused by this, let alone the viewers.

This would be one of my favorites if they stuck to the premise instead of trying to make it comedic. It's a drama and a darned good one.