John Robinson

  • Actor

Press clippings

Jo Brand continues her rewarding relationship with naturalistic comedy in this drily enjoyable series revealing more of the life of Kim Wilde, the care assistant first seen in [z]BBC4/z]'s Getting On. Jackie and Kim are facing up to having to pay £875 a week for their mum's care following her stroke. Husband Dave (Omid Djalili), meanwhile, must contend with a bilingual satnav, and "helpful" suggestions from his co-worker Terry (the very funny Tom Davis).

John Robinson, The Guardian, 26th May 2016

This harmless take on the Grumpy Old Men-style talking heads show enters a second series. The thesis of the series is this: comedians and celebrities celebrate the social awkwardness that is held to be representatively British. This opening episode focuses on school: unfathomably enduring nicknames, playground meanness and the difficulties of fitting in. Stand-up comic Romesh Ranganathan nails the latter with his account of attending a comprehensive school - but doing so with a public school accent.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 9th May 2016

Acceptable banter with intermittent sporting references as the quiz series continues. Tonight's guests include Jonathan Ross and Chris Kamara, the famously haphazard Sky football pundit. The quiz itself is fair enough, and reveals Frank Lampard to be capable of justifying his alleged genius-level IQ in his solo round. Still, Jonathan Ross is a far better host than guest, and Kamara is wont to seize the limelight whenever possible, making for uncomfortable viewing.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 30th April 2016

The sitcom about Scottish suburbia continues. The plot (Eric moves a bed into the garage; Sophie won't name her baby's father) is undistinguished, but makes for some strong character comedy. Colin and Cathy are a strangely believable couple, with all the idiosyncratic loyalty that that implies. When Eric sees the funny side of Cath's therapy, Colin does not - though he's not serious for long. "Women are easily distracted," he explains to Eric. "Is that a dartboard?"

John Robinson, The Guardian, 29th April 2016

Characters from last year's festive Scottish comedy are reborn into a generally funny sitcom. The premises can be pretty thin - tonight's is that evergreen plot standby "man wanting peace and quiet is constantly interrupted" - and the characters often feel as if they have moved north from Gavin and Stacey. Still, there's some good caustic humour, not least when Eric reveals he's given up drinking. His neighbour Cathy is incredulous: "Not even a beer in the morning?"

John Robinson, The Guardian, 22nd April 2016

Forty-five minutes of high spirits in front of a rowdy audience - Play To The Whistle isn't so much a sport quiz as a chimps' tea party hosted by Holly Willoughby. Team captains Bradley Walsh and Frank Lampard attempt to keep things steady, while Romesh Ranganathan supplies banter. The show distinguishes itself, however, with the inclusion of physical games, which add an element of surprise. Diver Tom Daley and career panellist Richard Osman are tonight's guests.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 16th April 2016

Like QI but without all the difficult stuff, As Yet Untitled brings you amusing chat, skilfully directed to a destination via some anecdotal coordinates. Rounded human personas do better in this environment than people who seem to be rehearsing new material, and so it proves tonight, where Russell Kane spends yet more time talking about his mum. More enjoyable are Lucy Montgomery, who has had trouble in Iran, and Bob Mortimer, who explains how he became "the cockroach king" and his generosity with M&S vouchers.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 2nd February 2016

A new series of affectionate mockumentaries following Brian Pern, the erstwhile frontman of progressive rockers Thotch. In tonight's first episode, Brian unveils a radical look, courtesy of new wife Astrid (Suranne Jones), who reveals that she will soon be taking over as Brian's manager. Astrid's quest for easy money lands Brian at the Isle Of Wight festival, and also on a Thotch fan cruise, complete with celebrity auction. John Thomson gets it just right as Thotch's fan club president, Perry.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 14th January 2016

The comedy-drama returns. As the eighth series begins, change is very much in the wind at the Solana. Les (Tim Healy) is on duty without his customary makeup and chestnut bob, while Jacqueline is saying goodbye to Donald by scattering his ashes over the bay with the help of a wind machine and the lads from the Blow & Go. New guest cast members materialise in the shape of the Dawsons (featuring Julie Graham as mum Sheron) while sex-comedy mainstay Robin Askwith debuts as aspirant barman/lothario Marcus.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 11th January 2016

Not to everyone's taste, but Mrs Brown's Boys is widely watched over the festive season. There's precious little concession to the holidays in this New Year special - more, as ever, a procession of near-the-knuckle jokes, delivered while the cast try their hardest (not always successfully) to avoid laughing. Tonight, Robert Bathurst guests as a surprise visitor to Foley's Bar. He has designs not on Kathy (who has "been on so many blind dates she needs a guide dog") but on Agnes Brown herself.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 1st January 2016

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