My Family: A Brief History

At last! It’s been long overdue, but tonight sees the last-ever episode of My Family being broadcast. But rather than bowing out with its dignity intact, most of its viewers have deserted it, and the BBC’s well-worn axe fell after work on the latest series was completed. Even more shamefully, tonight’s episode wasn’t actually supposed to be the last in the series, having been postponed after Andy Murray’s growling intimidated the Beeb so much that they bumped My Family off the schedule. If only he had had that same power a few years ago…

When watching series 1 of My Family, two things spring to mind. One: ‘They all look a lot younger.’ And two: ‘This can’t be the same show.’ This series contains sharp, very funny writing (they should put that as a BBFC warning on the back of the DVD for fans of the later series), as well as likeable characters in the form of grumpy dentist Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay), his fanciful wife Susan (Zoë Wanamaker) and their kids, stroppy Janey (Daniela Denby-Ashe), nerdy Michael (Gabriel Thompson), and, everyone’s favourite, their bonkers big brother Nick (Kris Marshall).

The second and third series are even better, and definitely show My Family at its peak, with Lindsay and Wanamaker carrying the show brilliantly, bringing great chemistry and relentless energy to each episode. We also get a new family member in the delightful Abi (Siobhan Hayes), who very nearly gives Nick a run for his money.

Series 4 was also excellent, the last series that that label can truthfully be applied to, but, despite the addition of a new dentist to the cast, Roger Bailey Jr (Keiron Self), there were some signs of decay starting to show, with some episodes not quite being as good as others. Also featured Attempt to Make Michael Interesting No. 1: Make him lust after every girl he meets.

Series 5 was the series that marked the end of My Family’s golden age, with episodes becoming increasingly hit and miss. The show’s decline was mostly blamed on the departure of Kris Marshall, whose career really developed when he joined BT.

After a 2 year absence, and the number of episodes being slashed from 13 to 7, you would have thought that series 6 would have seen a refreshed My Family hit our screens. Instead, the writers treated the scripts like a 12 year old treats their homework, and it marked the beginning of the longest end in TV history.

While it didn’t have to work too hard, Series 7 was undoubtedly an improvement on its predecessor, with some hugely enjoyable episodes. Attempt to Make Michael Interesting No. 2: Make him a waster.

Series 8 was where My Family became the My Family that everyone now thinks of. Abi left to become a nun and Pauline Quirke guest starred as a bank robber. Hmmm.

Series 9 saw it stagger past the 100-episode mark, even if very few others were there to see it too.

And after years of dedicated viewing, and slightly fewer years moaning about how bad it was, I finally stopped watching My Family during series 10, a series where, if an episode was pathetic, it was considered a highpoint. Attempt to Make Michael Interesting No. 3: Make him gay. Because that fits in so well with what he’s been like up to now…

I therefore couldn’t tell you how bad the eleventh, and final, series has been because I had far better, and funnier, things to do, like loading the washing machine. I’ve caught a few clips, but with the canned laughter sounding yet more strained, and Lindsay and Wanamaker constantly looking like they’re about to phone their agents to check that their cheques have come through, I’ve not subjected myself to a full episode.

So farewell My Family. Had you ended in about 2007, I might have missed you, but, like a bad tooth, you should have been extracted long ago, and I can say, without a shadow of doubt, that I won’t miss you at all.

See the last-ever episode of My Family tonight 8.30pm BBC1.

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