John Robinson

  • Actor

Press clippings Page 5

Goodness Gracious Me was a groundbreaking show 16 years ago: the first sketch comedy to have a principal cast that was all-Asian, and a launchpad for actors such as Nina Wadia. Now reunited to celebrate 50 years of BBC Two comedy, some of the team's staples are revived. Elsewhere, a UK with some strong views about immigration and an emerging political party such as Ukip provide a lively background for their satirical comedy to work.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 26th May 2014

An idea pioneered by the BBC, lately adopted by Sky, and now back again on the BBC, Comedy Playhouse was an exciting notion: a kind of "try before you buy" test on potential new comedy series. Originally created as a way for Tony Hancock's writers Alan Galton and Ray Simpson to spread their wings beyond East Cheam, the series spawned Last Of The Summer Wine and more Galton & Simpson gold in Steptoe And Son. This doc features the pair as talking heads alongside stalwarts such as June Whitfield.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 29th April 2014

Traditional as its set-up may seem, in practice, Rev. manages to maintain a light level of satire alongside its gentle comedy. Tonight, with St Saviour's under financial scrutiny, Adam is forced to attend a course with the self-important Roland (Hugh Bonneville) about how to rescue his parish. As if he needed the extra drama, he also seems to have agreed to perform a gay marriage, more or less, for his friends Rob and Jeremy. The lightly delivered sermon being: you can't always do what people expect of you.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 31st March 2014

Alan Davies having won us over on QI, the revived Jonathan Creek is a pleasantly unchallenging proposition. A show in hock to Midsomer Murders - rural setting, quality cast, mystery and shortbread - this feature-length episode finds Creek and Polly's rural idyll proving turbulent. There's apparently something out there in the bushes, while the vicar's wife has an ear for imagined double entendre. When a cosmetic makeover at an elderly man's house reveals an odd secret, Jonathan's advice is sought.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 7th March 2014

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton have strong opinions on the subject of stage actors, a theme they explore in this excellent instalment of their dark anthology series. Jim is understudy to Antony, a bellowing thesp. When Tony is drunk during "the Scottish play", Jim's fiance Laura urges him to take the lead, at which point the episode's satirical retelling of Macbeth becomes delightfully apparent. It's a spooky and highly satirical take on actors, Shakespeare and power - and of course, there's a twist in the tale.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 5th March 2014

After the success of Benidorm, this new comedy-drama series seems to be attempting to replicate some of that salt-of-the-earth comedy on British soil. Our location is Margate, and an 80s-themed B&B where actors from better productions (Him And Her; Gavin And Stacey; The Inbetweeners) attempt to shore up flagging material. Tonight's episode offers relationship upheaval for Alfie, although this may be a relationship he's better off out of. But a bit like Margate itself, perhaps, this feels unlikely to improve anytime soon.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 28th February 2014

Michael decides to take Stella as his date to the charity dinner to annoy his ex-wife. Stella's vow to steer clear of men for the foreseeable melts in the glare of Michael's twinkly eyes, even though he's a tool with no consideration for her feelings. Meanwhile, daughter Emma treads on dangerous ground with Marcus and Big Alan loses his nerve with Celia. Still good but this was more fun with Elizabeth Berrington's alcoholic, sexually voracious funeral director. When's she coming back?

John Robinson, The Guardian, 28th February 2014

Shearsmith and Pemberton interview each other

We listened in as these writer-actors became journalists for the afternoon. Pickled werewolf foetus, anyone?

John Robinson, The Guardian, 7th February 2014

Love is blind - at times in tonight's episode, quite literally. Unseen for years, Sharon's feckless husband Chris turns up on her doorstep. He wants a divorce, not on principle something Sharon objects to; although on meeting his intended - the charming, blind Angie - she is given pause for reflection. Why do Chris and Angie seem so happy? Should she inform Angie just what kind of a philandering idiot Chris is? Or has he changed? Tracey isn't convinced, and soon discovers the real reason for Chris's need for legal closure.

John Robinson, The Guardian, 6th February 2014

Last seen 16 years ago on BBC One, things are much the same in this Laurence Marks-Maurice Gran sitcom. Times are hard, and space is at a premium in the Chigwell house: Dorien has moved in, not to mention Tracey's son Garth and his partner Marcie. So in this week's instalment, Sharon beds down for the night in the attic, and makes a surprising discovery. Meanwhile, Dorien's revamp of the World Of Quid staff rotas has brought her to the attention of founder Barry Quid. Surely nothing can go wrong?

John Robinson, The Guardian, 16th January 2014

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