Ruby Speaking

The first few episodes I wasn't quite sure what to expect of this series. There's a lot of over the top silliness. Ruby's character is the most consistent and real of the cast. A few of her workmates are one note stock sketch comedy characters. But there are still laughs to be had with pretty much all of them. By episode 3, it's clear what the program is at its core. This is a truly heartwarming show, focusing on empathy, humanity, and just old fashioned kindness, connection and contact. I may have even had a tear in my eye during the finale episode, which I never expected. I do hope there's a season two. So glad I watched the first series all the way through!

I only watched this because one of my favourite actors (Osian Morgan) guest starred in it and even he couldn't make it look funny.

I also used to work in a call centre.

This programme aims to portray call centres as wacky, zany places where everyone likes and respects each other. Call centres are NOT like that, not one bit. I agree with another reviewer who described call centres as 'hellish'. Furthermore, the customers that Ruby and her team interact with are different from the customers that call centres usually face. In real life, customers expect you to wave a magic wand and sort out everything for them, then get nasty with you if you don't have all the answers.

The casting needed to be stronger. Jayde Adams is not a comedienne or a good scriptwriter. I was highly disappointed by the casting of Osian Morgan as 'Harrison, the security guard' in the last episode. He is a fantastic actor, but he just fell flat. I suspect he was told to exaggerate his accent as well as his voice sounded to me to be at odds with how he usually has spoken and acted in other roles. He's best known for playing complex characters in dramas, and it felt to me like the role wasn't the best use of his talents. Also, I wouldn't say I liked many of the other characters. The only character I did like was Katherine Kelly's character Vicky Because it felt to me that she at least attempted to inject some humour into the show.

Other reviewers have also pointed out that the storyline, which implied that they might be a romantic frisson between Ruby and her posh, middle-class supervisor, Mark, was just poorly executed and unrealistic. The whole storyline with the choir could have been more robust as well.

I hope this doesn't get another series. It's not a programme I would stay in on a Friday night to watch. ITV could do much better than this. It's a 1/10 from me!

New sitcom for ITVX set in a Bristol call centre and starring Jayde Adams - who was the best thing in it, she has good comic sensibilities.

The situation a bunch of misfits in a job they mostly don't want in a sales led call centre has obvious comic potential but Ruby Speaking didn't really capitalise on it. There were a lot of characters and only a few of them made any impact - Ruby and the big boss Vicky. The pilot story was a bit weak and fizzled out.

For me there's many other comedies that explore the world of sales and get much more comedy out of it, 'Phone Shop' for example. There was very little to laugh at in this, just a few one-liners.

The device whereby you could see who the call operators were talking to on screen was a bit clunky and didn't work.

Overall not the worst comedy of 2023 but not much to recommend it, felt a bit flat.

If you love comedy shows that make you feel comfy and warm you'll love this. The characters all have their own shining personalities and you're bound to relate to one of them. The show reflects the family atmosphere of working in a small team and reminded me of my own colleagues. I think many people will relate to working in a job that wouldn't be the same without the people you work with. With short and snappy episodes you can binge this in one evening and go to bed with a smile on your face. Really hope this comes around for many more seasons. Great cast too, a mixture of recognisable faces and new faces who you'll love and I can't wait to see more of them.

Been waiting for this to come out and I binged it in one sitting and loved it. It's a funny and refreshing sitcom centred around Ruby, played by Jayde Adams. Really good script writing which had me laughing, smiling and crying. Full of heart, some wonderful set pieces (I won't say what for spolling it) and great music. Jayde Adams is a great comedian, actor, writer, and is incredibly charismatic, so it's a delight to have this offering from her. The cast is great and everyone really compliments each other. Good to see some new faces too. Absolutely loved it and cannot wait for the second series...hopefully many more.