Daddy Issues

Two episodes in I wasn't sure why the newspaper I read gave it such a rave review. But, even the slow start gave some funny moments. Gemma finds out she is pregnant right at the start just as her dad is trying to recover from a very messy split from her mother. Everything start to progress when he moves in with Gemma. I really found some of the characters a little unlikeable at the beginning but even this improved each episode. Aimee Lou Wood, who I didn't really care for in the dreadful 'Seize Them' plays Gemma with a combination of biting humour and sweetness. Most of the other main characters do become more lovable but I struggled with David Morrisey as Dad (Malcolm.) He has clearly been totally emasculated by his wife but his man-child persona grates at times and I thought he became a little unbelievable, even at the end of the final episode. That said, other moments of his character are really quite funny. Do give it at least three episodes before judging it.

With two great actors leading the line up in David Morrisey and Aimee-Lou, a fantastic pairing, who brought this comedy to life. The straight up one liners, contrasted by a great cast throughout the scenes within the show, really took this show to another level.

The writing, acting and direction of the show, all came together to bring together a hapless young person, who is following a certain energy, to becoming a young mum, whilst her dad evolves and becomes a true dad and grandfather, after a poor marriage.

A great series and glad to have watched this. A great show, worth watching! Ignore the other reviews.

(Reviewed after watching the first episode.)

Bravo BBC for making an actual comedy, rather than something that thinks it is a comedy but is not actually funny.

There are some nice lines here. I especially liked the one about Argos vouchers.

Getting David Morrissey on board as the dad is a good sign. Being the only person not to have watched Sex Education (2019-2023), I'm not familiar with Aimee Lou Wood, but she also seems like a real catch. (Perhaps she looks a little bit too comedic, but she does resist the urge to ham things up.)

It's clear a lot of thought has gone into the scripts and the performances. I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the series.

Aimee Lou Wood is new to me, but so impressed. A very engaging, natural actor who the camera seems to love. A UK Jenna Ortega even? Fresh presence, who I could also see being deeply effective in a heavy tv drama.

Have enjoyed David Morrissey for decades and will be intriguing to see how his weak/wet father character develops.

Hoping this show maintains the fresh approach and sharp splashes of wit ("Argos vouchers" etc).

Could be a great year for BBC comedy, who have already blessed us with inspired female roles and writing, allowing them free reign. I'd also recommend Such Bad Girls. Well observed and arrived fully-formed. Inspired slapstick and clever throwaway lines, while not shying away from mental issues with a deft / realistic touch.

A solid first episode, with 2 unusually strong, individual leads. Hoping the show continues not taking the obvious routes and flushing out support roles.

This is a warm hug of a show, the sort of series that is quintessentially British with the humour coming from real situations. The humour isn't forced, making the best lines real laugh out loud moments.

David Morrisey is outstanding as the hapless Dad, and provides most of those laugh out loud moments. Aimee Lee Wood proves again, as she did in Sex Education, that she is a master of playing the relatable character that you just want to root for. Whereas is SE she played a somewhat ditzy character, here she plays a much smarter and self sufficient character but again pulls off the warm loveable persona. The chemistry between the two main character is faultless and as we come to expect from very British sitcoms there is a fine supporting cast of characters to bounce off, some serious and some for comic effect. It all just fits together nicely and once I had finished episode one I just wanted to carry on and watched the whole series in one go.

The final episode is very moving with a couple of twists that leave scope for a second series and I for one would welcome it.