Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps

I never watched this on its first airing but have done so on UK Gold re-runs. I found this to be extremely funny with a talented cast.

You either love it or hate it, but its classic, a sort of cross between Men Behaving badly and Coupling. Honestly give it a try, like coupling we can all relate to the storylines.

A realistic comedy

'Two Pints' is hardly the show of the century and outside of the UK I doubt anyone would understand or enjoy the humour, but I love it for everything it is. The humour is very hit or miss, and sometimes too childish or exaggerated, but the rest of the time it has me laughing out loud.

What makes 'Two Pints' stand out to me is the fact that it's so honest. It doesn't shy away from anything, no matter how detestable it might be to others. Many of the jokes are filthy, there's open prostitution, alcoholism as a culture, scamming of the benefits system and many more things that other shows refuse to explore but that are very much present all over the UK. The characters are all hugely flawed, underachievers that are lacking in ambition, intelligence and integrity, but they're all endearing and relatable on some level, because they're just trying to do the best with what they have and know.

'Two Pints' needs to be taken and enjoyed for what it is. It's simple, it's flawed but it's funny and authentic and provides some light-hearted comic relief that's perfect for helping you to leave your worries behind for half an hour.

I found the first series unexpectedly funny. The writing is fresh and delightfully obscene! The young writer has had the courage to put lines and topics into a sitcom that have not been used before, but which people make jokes about all the time in real life. The cast, particularly the girls are superb and seem the fit the roles like a glove. So what if the show is a little like Friends, set in Runcorn - so long as it's funny! The show is let down by the laughter track - in an odd reversal of the usual criticism - it is not strong enough. I have been creasing myself with laughter with some lines only to hear silence from the recorded audience. The repeated viewing of the first series was even better - which is always a good sign. I am glad that the Beeb has agreed to a second series despite the criticism.

I have not seen the new series yet but I am looking forward to it coming to terrestrial soon.

The idea is not bad. Although it's been done before, the basic situation is one that can be given many different angles. However, the jokes are forced and predictable, and although refreshingly non-politically correct, lack any sort of sophistication. The girls are either in a constant state of anger, or just plain stupid. The boys are macho monsters or just clumsy buffoons.

Ralph Little and Will Mellor gel well, however, and should try to find roles in less shallow material together.

I can't understand why people have criticised this show so heavily because it's absolutely hilarious.

I missed the show the first time around and only recently caught a few episodes on UKTV. The very first episode I saw had me laughing so hard, I cried! I was immediately hooked and bought the first two seasons on DVD.

One of the reasons the show is so funny is that most people can identify with the basic situations the writer, Susan Nickson, looks at. In addition, the characters are all human, complete with some pretty awful flaws. Even the actors fit their parts perfectly. They're not all staggeringly beautiful and they're not the world's greatest thespians - most of them are newcomers to TV or have relatively little experience. Having said that, the main characters Donna (Natalie Casey), Janet (Sheridan Smith), Johnny (Ralf Little) and Gaz (Will Mellor) are all played brilliantly ...with perfect delivery and comic timing.

The humour is often very crude (lots of jokes about "bum love") and some of the "issues" looked at are a little tasteless (one of the newest characters has learning difficulties) but isn't this how real life is? How likely is the man in the pub - who's just sunk six pints - to hold back from telling a joke that is a little racist or sexist? How many people do we meet day-to-day that have old-fashioned views about people with learning difficulties, or hold weird misconceptions? The important thing to remember is that the show always treats its characters/situations affectionately in the end. The character with learning difficulties (Munch), for example, always ends up on top or always gets the care and attention he needs from his brother (Gaz) or other people.

If you're not easily offended and are reasonably up to date with youth culture, give it a try!