Time Gentlemen Please

This is without a doubt one of the funniest shows British television has produced in ages. Al Murray is superb as he translates perfectly his stand-up character, the landlord, into a sitcom star. His unusual and un-PC rantings almost always hit the spot and though his supporting characters are rarely given any material to work with who cares? He carries the show on his own with only Terry and, more recently, The Prof lending any comic support. Julia Sawalha is completely wasted. Steve is equally unfunny, and he's a stand-up comic apparently, but to be fair to them they haven't much to work with. The gags come fast and often and with most of them revolving around the pub trade (which has been meticulously copied, go to a real pub during the day and you'll see what I mean), the French and the landlord's own take on life, they're always good. A rare treat and I've become quite hooked, here's to a second series.

i have been watching this show, which is on it's first series, after seeing interviews with Al Murray in a lot of the monthly magazines. Al plays a sexist, narrow minded, stubborn landlord of what must be the scruffiest pub in Britain, where only the 5 regulars seem to be the only customers! The laughs come thick and fast as Murray rants about women, the French('they're up to something!!') Brussels, and pub theme nights('the only theme a pub needs is BEER!!!') Julia Sawahla(Absolutely Fabulous) plays the brash, foul mouthed Aussie barmaid who never gets paid, and Phil Daniels (Quadrophenia) plays the local slob who keeps getting barred out!If you like the humour of 'Harry Hill' and 'Bottom', then you'll love 'TGMP'.

The sheer amount of racism, sexism and general bigotry in this series is unbelievable - and it's all the better for it. Other shows water down their comedy to make it "acceptable", but this one doesn't bother and is absolutely hilarious. Great performances and some great lines.

Set in a no name pub somewhere in England, it was a brilliant sitcom full of satire such as the guv's speech on proper food after insulting the Germans and the Koreans "bangers and mash...the genitals and offal of a pig mashed up and stuffed into an intestinal sheath...now thats proper food". The amazing catch phrases that sprang up and not bothering to give half the characters proper names such as the old man and up to a point which gave birth to a wonderful line.

(on the phone) Old man: Yes its the old man with no name...at the pub with no name.

It was a sitcom completely unafraid to be non-PC, poking fun at religion and countries whilst making fun of the Guv's small mindedness and ignorance. I believe this to be one of the best sitcoms to ever be made definitely in this day and age. I hope its released on DVD one day.

Pretty much found this series by accident after looking up Al Murray's YouTube channel. Am up to episode 10 and loving it.

Murray isn't mentioned at all here in New Zealand on mainstream media, maybe because he isn't PC enough, which is a shame as he's very funny. At least we have youtube to get our fix.

This series is like a cross between Bottom and Cheers, well, more like Bottom and quite a bit ruder but funnier for it.

I suspect it has been swept under the carpet because it is so un-pc but that is what makes it so funny. Worth a watch imo.