Review: The Festival

Puerile but exuberant Inbetweeners-style comedy featuring typically game work from Joe Thomas.

Immediately following Cuckoo, BBC Three debuted a new sitcom from Keith Akushie (who co-wrote an episode of Fresh Meat) called Siblings, that stars one of that Channel 4 comedy's actresses, Charlotte Ritchie. She plays lazy office girl Hannah, who co-habits with her dumb, unemployed brother Dan (Tom Stourton). They're the "worst brother and sister in the world", merrily ruining other people's lives thanks to their stupidity, selfishness, and indolence.

It's a very stripped-down premise, so a lot relies on the capabilities of Ritchie and Stourton to make these potentially horrid characters sympathetic and fun. They mostly succeed, as it's easy to identify with their aim to live a carefree life as infantile adults. They also seem to have a moderately healthy relationship as siblings; as this first episode revolved around Dan agreeing to help his sister impress her new boss (Tracy Ann-Oberman), by pretending he's a wheelchair-user like her own son, Charlie (David Proud). Naturally, the lie runs away with itself and lonely Dan quickly bonds with Charlie (over a mutual appreciation of Keanu Reeves), and struggles to keep up the pretence that he can't walk.

While the set-up doesn't feel very special or interesting, this does mean the weight of the show rests on the performances and material. And, for the most part, I found Siblings gently amusing with occasional big laughs--even when you knew where the storyline was heading. Fortunately, while it was ridiculously obvious Dan would be exposed as a fraud during a game of wheelchair basketball, it was less obvious Hannah's attempt to befriend her strict boss (so she can take advantage of her) would result in an unwanted threesome with a hotel barman!

It certainly feels like there's potential with Siblings, which has a strange tone that suggests something quite light-hearted and twee (mainly thanks to the music), and yet finds the dysfunctional characters doing terrible things and digging themselves into big holes. Provided they don't become detestable idiots (which feels unlikely given the inherent niceness Ritchie and Stourtone kept exuding), I think Siblings could grow into something very good.

Radio Times review

From the makers of The Inbetweeners comes a new sitcom that also boasts two graduates from Channel 4's first-class university caper Fresh Meat: Charlotte Ritchie (aka neurotic Oregon) and writer Keith Akushie. Ritchie is perfect as selfish, work-shy Hannah while Tom Stourton - best known for pillorying his Etonian education on the stand-up circuit - plays her needy brother Dan.

The first episode of a new comedy is often a strained affair, but Akushie is a good student, walking the same fine line between laughs and cringe-worthy antics as Fresh Meat. Tonight, Hannah is so desperate to befriend a new boss she pretends her brother uses a wheelchair.