The Power of Parker

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.

Six episodes of this new comedy.

It's a very entertaining show. The laughs come quickly and the two lead woman are excellent.

Season two already being filmed and season three commissioned and I'm not surprised.

Coupled with the soundtrack it's pure entertainment with some risqué jokes.

We laughed all the way through. I never received facsimiles that Parker did. What a shame.

Some of the jokes are toilet humour but that sits fine with us. Maybe we are an immature audience.

I'm surprised there were low reviews as it's easy viewing at only 30 minute episodes.

Can't wait for the new season.

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.

This was obviously written by someone who lived in Stockport in the 1980s / 90s. The dressing of the sets is spot on. The tea sets, the sofas cars etc etc. It's not perfect some of the writing is not that funny but I've given it 10 stars because it took me back in time and I like many of the actors. It's a very good cast and the script has a lot of northern humour in it that they deliver well. Although, some of the humour may be too nuanced for anyone who is not northern. What is also nostalgic is the choice of music which is a backdrop of chart hits from that era. I'd love a season two to be made.

Just watched the whole thing in one go. We were entertained throughout, it's not belly laugh after belly laugh but it is funny and engaging.

It looked pretty authentic, loved all the contemporary references especially Rumbelows (for the young ones, think Curry's or the Amazon electrical page)

The acting was great, no Oscars for sure, but it was great to see some actors we hadn't seen for a while rather than the same ol' same ol' faces you see on everything these days.

Overall it's worth a watch. It's not going to tax your brain cells, there were some laugh-out-loud moments and it'll make you chuckle, so give it a go.