Big Top

I just viewed the first episode of the new British comedy "Big Top" and it will be the last time I will ever watch this show. It features a traveling circus full of misfit clowns and incompetent performers managed by the only competent person on the show, Lizzy, an attractive female ringmaster. Boyco, the acrobat character is almost unbearable to watch with his horrific Eastern European accent. The jokes are second rate retreads, and overused clichés. I had to force any of the few laughs I had while watching it. I've seen some great British comedy series such as "Spaced", "Peep Show", "The It Crowd", and "The Office" and this series just makes me appreciate them more.

Having just watched an episode of Big Top, I was moved to write my first IMDb review in years! What a piece of ****!!

Some of the best comedy ever penned has been for the BBC so it amazes me that they could commission something as banal and witless as Big Top.

The gags are obvious, clumsy, and devoid of any humour and I was constantly reminded me of the spoof Ricky Jervais comedy, 'When the Whistle Blows'.

Got to be seen to be believed.

PS. If you are someone who enjoyed this show (statistically there must be some), I suggest you check out Ballamory and Mr Tumble on Cbeebies.

I've forgotten the last time the BBC did an amusing comedy , as has the majority of viewers in Britain , so I'm guessing BIG TOP with its large ensemble cast playing a circus troupe is a throw back to the days of DADS ARMY , HI DE HI and ARE YOU BEING SERVED . It also features Tony Robinson best known for Baldrick one of the truly great comedy characters from the classic BLACKADDER series , and there's John Thomson from THE FAST SHOW fame . That said the cast also features Amanda Holden at the top of the cast list who is so untalented she strikes me as someone who'd have a problem playing herself . If the omens weren't good the reality is far worse than can be imagined

As has been pointed out the jokes are lamer than a horse that's had its limbs amputated . This is only be expected from a BBC comedy from the 21st century . That's not the main problem . One episode centres around the immigration bureau investigating one of the circus acts who might be an illegal immigrant . Being a BBC show there's not much call for racist gags - which might have raised a chortle if only for nostalgia's sake - but no the real offence comes with Holden's character thinking about whoring herself to the immigration investigator ! This in a show broadcast at 7.30 pm ! It's amazing the amount of sexual references and innuendos there is in a sit-com that on the surface considers itself a family show . In fact if you can imagine a children's show with sexual references this is what it looks like - a kind of TORCHWOOD with canned laughter

Enthusiastic ringmaster Lizzie has been handed Circus Maestro from her father, but it's struggling. Week after week, it moves from one crisis to another.

One thing I've always wondered: how on Earth did the BBC transmit the whole series? I can remember the backlash after episode one aired; people didn't respond well, but they put out the whole thing. I quit after about only ten minutes. Sixteen years on, I decided to dip my toe in once again.

This must rank as one of the worst comedies ever commissioned. Nothing works; the scripts are unfunny, the acting is poor, and all efforts to make Amanda Holden a comedy sitcom star failed.

There just aren't any laughs, apart from one or two decent lines in episode three. The stereotypical characters aren't likable, goofy, or in any way appealing. I'd argue Georgie and Boyco are the worst of the lot. Boyco's accent will make you think of Miss Popov.

At times, it felt as though it was written many years before it went out; it's dated, but I'm being unkind to the great comedies of yesteryear.

The biggest crime had to be the misuse of the great Tony Robinson. I can't understand how he agreed to be in it.

2/10.

I just caught an episode of this dreadful "sitcom". The writing, acting, sets and costumes can only be described as appalling and dated. You'd think it was a repeat of something made in the early 70s.

I agree with the other reviewer who couldn't believe our licence fee was spent on this. I also can't believe that people like John Thompson (of Fast Show fame), Tony Robinson (of Blackadder and Time Team fame) and Sophie Thompson (who was amazing in the film version of Emma) got involved in this tripe!

Even Amanda Holden is above this. She should clearly stick to Britain's Got Talent. Even if this is a classic example that it clearly has not.