Catastrophe

My wife, 41, and I, 45, love Gavin and Stacey, largely due to the fine writing and interesting character development of the show's supporting players, Ruth Jones and James Corden. Catastrophe, on the other hand, stays with its leads -- thank goodness -- through an abbreviated six-episode opening season, and we're both hooked.

Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney star in this frank and funny look at two generally kind-hearted adults in London. One's a frustrated Irish school teacher; the other's a knuckle-headed American ad executive. They hook up, then team up, after Horgan's Sharon Morris is knocked up by Delaney's Rob Norris during a week-long sex slog.

That this odd, endearing couple is surrounded and supported almost completely by assholes is just part of their troubles, and it's a flaw that must be addressed if this Catastrophe is going to grow. Indeed, it's almost solely to the daffy duo's credit, both on screen and as co-writers, that the show avoids the mean-spirited ditch lurking around each episode's next twisted turn.

The serious events Sharon and Rob stumble through -- often based on the personal experiences of 45-year-old Horgan and 38-year-old Delaney - - are handled delicately or bluntly as warranted. But it's the honesty of the leads, who riotously portray two human beings with big mouths and big hearts, that's so attractive.

We look forward to their next Catastrophe.

Travelling in the UK American businessman Rob meets attractive Sharon, a teacher in her late thirties. The pair have an instant attraction and hit it off, it's more then a one night stand, but when Rob returns to the USA the pair think they can draw a line under their encounter. However weeks later Sharon rings Rob to tell he she's pregnant. He returns to be with her for the pregnancy, they encounter highs and lows until the big day.

Sharon Horgan is so funny as Sharon, she's a foxy woman with great comedy timing, she gets some wonderfully sarcastic lines. Rob Delaney is also great as Rob (I love how they both keep their own Christian names,) Mr nice guy and American beefcake. They combine so well.

Sometimes you can't help but laugh when you know you probably shouldn't be, but it truly is outrageously funny.

Of Series 1, Parts 1 and 6 I'd say are the best of the episodes, so cool that it got a second series.

Channel 4 comedies keep on delivering! 9/10

As I am not a "rom-com" kinda guy, I went into this short six episode series with some trepidation. Shouldn't have worried. From the first ten minutes of the first episode, you will be hooked. Witty, smart dialogue coupled with great comedic acting equals seriously entertaining watching. You'll breeze right through the six episodes and will immediately want Season Two, which allegedly will commence in October. Can't wait. The two leads are unbelievably great and the supporting cast is equally fine. One caveat - this is an R rated series, so if you're uneasy with a lot of sexual activity and hilarious sexual banter done in sometimes a crude way, steer clear.

This show is just fun!! Right from the very start, it just grabs you as does not let go. These two (Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney) are truly talented.. on both sides of the camera. Why can't we learn here in the US how to produce these kinds of quality programs. And it's only the early going for this series, but it's hoped that it might have a very long run, for it is everything you can want in this genre of programming. Yes, it's a TV series comedy, but really it is so much more, and it has a not-real/ real-life quality about it that is most appealing and entertaining. All categories are well done.. casting, writing, acting, and production values. There are few, if any, weaknesses. It appears it will wind up being a sixteen episode split-season. It's wished there would be more, but you'd find few to complain, just as long as they can kept it going with such outstanding quality work.

Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan are pastmasters of black humour, so it's no surprise that after just ten minutes of this show you're left going over in your head the sick and or/crude things you laughed at, but probably, strictly, know you shouldn't have. What is surprising is their capacity, in their role as writer-actors, to balance that most well practiced aspect of their craft with pathos and, occasionally, a sweet and cheesy moment that just lightens the impending doom a little.

The first series starts and ends very well, and though it does begin to feel a bit lethargic 3 or 4 episodes in, there's still always enough there for a fair few good laughs. It'll be interesting to see how they approach the next series, but however they do it, I'm optimistic it'll keep up this brand of dark/light sitcom humour that's a pleasure to indulge in.