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Well, this is exciting isn't it? Previously in our A-Z, we've had binge-drinking 60s throwbacks and a silly Spanish waiter, amongst other things... But now we come to a sitcom starring a woman who, literally and metaphorically, stands tall, and a sitcom starring that guy from Would I Lie to You? On with the article!
“The queen of all words, of course, moist. The king of all words, plinth. Imagine a moist plinth. Oh lovely.”
Whaaaat have you done today to make you feeeel praaaowd? If you asked this question to the real Miranda (i.e. the immeasurably lovely Miranda Hart), and if she was the kind of person to boast about how jolly well spiffing she actually is, she would say: ‘Well, I’ve written and starred in the best sitcom to come out of the BBC in ten years.’
Synopsis: You’re probably now aware that Miranda centres on a joke shop owner (called Miranda…), who must regularly overcome the increasingly extreme situations she finds herself in, while trying to win the love of chef Gary (Tom Ellis). But, rewind 2 years, Miranda Hart was more commonly known as Miranda Who? and the first series of her new sitcom, by no means certain to be a success, was tentatively stepping out into the world.
The first episode began with Miranda saying hello in the first of her marvellous “Previously in my life…” segments, where she explained to the audience that her mother had tried to marry her off. Cut to Patricia Hodge holding a sign reading ‘Bridal Sale’, wailing into a loudspeaker: “Someone, pleeease marry my daughter. I’m not asking for money. I’m, literally, giving her away.” And within just 30 surprisingly brilliant seconds, the tone, and the standard, of what was to come was set. Miranda is an unashamedly silly, extremely witty, magnificently performed sitcom that absolutely everyone should watch. It’s just such fun.
Ooh, bear with, I just have to update my tally of the number of Miranda catchphrases I’ve used… Right, moving on.
Best character: Miranda
While Miranda is packed with pitch perfect performances, from Sarah Hadland’s splendid Stevie to Patricia Hodge’s perfect Penny, it is Miranda herself who gets the top trump. She is utterly charming, ridiculously engaging, and she falls over with a pizzazz that few can match. What more could anyone ask for?
Best episode: ‘Just Act Normal’
A delightful two-hander between Miranda and Penny, who go to see a therapist following an, unfortunately unseen, run-in with the police. At times, excruciating to watch, this episode is all the more impressive considering very little actually ‘happens’. What I call, superb.
Best moment:
“I’ll be a little bit different from the old me, but so as you’d hardly notice. Like a Coldplay album.”
When it comes to sitcoms, Not Going Out is the fat-free option. There’s no room for any unfunny wobbly bits in a script that pelts you so relentlessly with gags and one-liners that by the end of an episode, you can’t go out anyway because your head’s fallen off. But then, what do you expect from a show written by Lee Mack with contributions from writers such as Milton Jones?
If you like believable characters and plausible situations in your comedies, you won’t find it here, as Not Going Out is essentially a vehicle for Mack and Vine’s terrific stand-up personae, with a heavy reliance on Northern vs. Southern stereotypes. Yet despite being axed after Series 3, the show proved to be so popular that fans demanded a fourth series. It must be doing something right…
Synopsis: Each episode focuses on Lee (Lee Mack) and his attempts to a) impress his landlady, Lucy (Sally Bretton); b) wind up his best mate, Tim (Tim Vine); and c) cope with the various eccentric women in his life, mainly his cleaner, Barbara (Miranda Hart), who doesn’t know how to operate a duster, and Tim’s girlfriend, Daisy (Katy Wix), who just doesn’t know how to operate, full stop.
Best character: Daisy
Katy Wix turns stupendous ignorance and deadpan naivety into an art form, coming out with classics such as, “Is this dessert homemade?” in reference to a Fab ice-cream, and then – “Oh, you’ve even printed a little joke on the stick!”
Best episode: 'Drugs'
Tim returns from a “night out” clubbing (he gets back about 9pm), only to find that he’s brought back the wrong coat. A more contrived plot you couldn’t find, but the coat happens to belong to a drug dealer who’s kept a stash of supplies in the pockets and would quite like it back, even if it means holding Tim and Lee hostage. The episode concludes with Daisy’s finest moment: taking down a murderous butcher, with a nail-gun. Accidentally.
Best moment:
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