Kerry Godliman, comedy review

Kerry Godliman ponders whether to stick with the sourdough-loving hipsters or twist for a taste of the countryside.

Kerry Godliman interview

The standup and actor on the things that make her laugh the most, from animals wearing clothes to The League of Gentlemen in a loft.

Bad Move (ITV) refers to Steve's (Jack Dee) and Nicky's (Kerry Godliman) move from the city to the country. But it might also mean the move of Dee and Pete Sinclair, who you'll remember also co-wrote Lead Balloon, from BBC2 to ITV. Or perhaps even to them doing this at all.

There's nothing really wrong with it, it's just a safe, predictable sitcom that could have gone out in 1987. Except that most of the gags in this opener are about not being able to get broadband, because they're in a dip. Meh.

Jack Dee returns to sitcom as half of an urban couple who rashly relocate to the country. Dee plays a web designer, tricky because the new house is "in a dip" and can't seem to connect to broadband; his wife (Kerry Godliman) is a gardener who must learn to charm the uniformly irritating villagers. Like Dee's BBC vehicle Lead Balloon, it relies on intricate plotting and heavily so in an opener that, in an effort to appeal to a wider audience, keeps its gags safe and gentle.

Bad Move: preview

Bad Move is definitely not The Good Life, since Steve and Nicky can't do anything for themselves (and don't want to grow any veg). But it feels even safer than the 1970s sitcom: a couple of enjoyably wry lines and photogenic scenery barely enough to warrant a return visit.

I talk to: Kerry Godliman

Eleven years since Lead Balloon began, Jack Dee is back with his second sitcom, Bad Move, this time for ITV.

Scripted comedy on ITV isn't something you see very often, but Jack Dee is hoping to have success on the channel with Bad Move, which he's co-written with Pete Sinclair who also worked with him on Lead Balloon.

Starring alongside Jack are Miles Jupp, Sue Vincent, Seann Walsh and Kerry Godliman who plays his wife Nicky. I caught up with Kerry to find out more about Bad Move, her character Nicky and her latest stand-up tour.

Bad Move, ITV1, preview

It's the holy grail of comedy. The mainstream family sitcom. So full marks to ITV1 - not a channel with a great track record in the genre lately - for having a crack. Whether they've totally succeeded is another matter though.

Interview: Kerry Godliman

"I'd love to be able to nail satire. I love great political comedy."

John Finnemore's guide to The Queen's Speech double act

Well, I have finally finished writing this series of Double Acts - only five weeks after they started going out - and so have time to write something about Double Acts. The first of the series, The Queen's Speech, starring Stephanie Cole and Kerry Godliman, is still available on iPlayer for the next five days.