TV review: The Tuckers Series 1 Episode 1

King Gary contained portrayals of working class characters that suffered from a surfeit of toxic masculinity and unfortunately so does this, I'm sure it's a coincidence they both went out on the same night and were presumably commissioned at different times and by different people, but it's unpleasant to see such a thing twice on the same evening. With The Tuckers you have two fathers who treat their sons appallingly, as Glyns Dad deliberately wants his son to be miserable and so tells his granddaughter to steal from him, while Glyn himself calls Bobby a pussy for apologising for punching Roberto, it's ugly, ugly stuff and something I found painfully unfunny.

Radio Times review

Joyce has survived her botched facial at the hands of Kenneth and wants to know exactly what was injected into her skin. The delusional Geoff (Johnny Vegas) builds bridges with the Dykes but only makes an even bigger fool of himself - in a bizarre incident involving hot coals. Les's embittered ex-wife Gloria (Denise Black) tries to lure their son Liam back to Oldham, while Jacqueline and gloomy Glynn gatecrash a pilota ball game.

An eventful episode then, but almost mirth-free as Benidorm paddles in ever shallower waters. And Janine Duvitski looks bereft paired with Alan David in place of her comedy partner, Kenny Ireland.