Opening Night

Brian is stressed that The Phoenix Club isn't quite ready for its opening night, the builders haven't finished, the bingo machine is missing and the bouncers are having problems, but a new fruit machine has arrived and Half a Schilling are set to provide the musical entertainment.

From that very first scene where Potter arrives to Yazz's The Only way is up, you just knew this was going to be something special, and it was.

It is an out and out side splitter, the one liners, the gags, the appearance of Roy Walker, Ray Von, everything Peter Kay touches is golden, surely one of the most memorable debut episodes of any show.

This is exactly what clubs were like at the time, back then I was working in a working men's club, and this is exactly what they were like, they got the visuals spot on, the sounds, the faces, and of course the demand for the torture that is bingo.

10/10.

The Phoenix club opens to a multitude of problems.

Peter Kay, David Bramwell, and Neil Fitzmaurice introduce the characters and setting of their wonderful comedy in a great first episode.

The strength of comedy for me is how prolifically the material and performances deliver laughs. I appreciate this depends very much on your own sense of humour and these reviews are always the most subjective. I personally find the situations, dialogue and sight-gags to be excellent.

It is difficult to pick a favourite moment, but virtually everything that comes out of Brian Potter's mouth is funny to me. Plus all the details that make it look and feel like a typical working man's social club create a brilliant first impression. My biggest laugh always comes from Les' perfectly timed final line that starts the first of many recurring wind-ups in relation to the character Ray Von.

All actors are on terrific form especially Kay, Bramwell, Fitzmaurice, and Paddy McGuinness.