Press clippings

Joe Lycett Vs Sewage review

In new documentary, Joe Lycett Vs Sewage, the comedian calls for water companies to stop paying dividends to shareholders until they stop polluting rivers

Adrian Lobb, The Big Issue, 20th February 2024

Boat Story review

Daisy Haggard's hilariously dark drama is worthy of Tarantino or the Coen brothers.

Lucy Mangan, The Guardian, 19th November 2023

Inside No. 9: Mother's Ruin review

I've always liked the creepy episodes the most, an episode involving necromancy, possession and graphic torture is the perfect way to kick off the season.

Nick Bartlett, Critical Popcorn, 28th April 2023

Inside No. 9: Mother's Ruin review

Pemberton and Shearsmith's script skilfully sets up the backstory without ever feeling like laboured exposition - and almost every nugget of information proves crucial to what happens next.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 27th April 2023

Inside No. 9: Mother's Ruin review

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's goriest episode yet.

Ed Power, i Newspaper, 27th April 2023

Inside No. 9: Mother's Ruin review

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton return with a cleverly compact, nastily comedic story about two brothers searching for hidden loot.

Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 27th April 2023

A charming new sitcom about hapless pizza delivery drivers Josh and Ricky (Samson Kayo and Theo Barklem-Biggs) attempting a get-rich-quick scheme. Standout performances in this opening episode also include Josh's acid-tongued mum (Shola Adewusi) and the tragic and hilarious Scott (Phil Daniels).

Hannah J Davies, The Guardian, 15th May 2019

TV preview: Sliced, Dave

Sliced, co-written by seasoned hand Phil Bowker who worked on PhoneShop, is only three episodes - being screened over consecutive nights - but like the best Italian food it leaves you wanting more.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 13th May 2019

Five Rings can't utilise the element of surprise like the first episode did 12 months ago, but all the strong characters and understated yet charming writing is still present. The real difficulty many of the naysayers had with the programme at the start of the year was that it did not contain the same belly-laughs that OFAH did, but when taken for what it is (a gentle comedy drama), Rock and Chips still delivers low-key entertainment, cosy nostalgia and no small amount of wit.

Tonight's episode is set during Christmas of 1960. A very Inbetweenerish Del Boy has left school and started an apprenticeship at the university of life and street hawking. Watching James Buckley attempt to get girls into bed by faking a marriage proposal is eerily familiar of his other show and in templated sitcom fashion, he ends up stringing a couple of girls along. But Derek's petty tax misdemeanours and comic love-life are safely offset by his warm-hearted charm and an all-conquering love for his mother.

The same can not be said for his feckless old man, who has had his disability stopped ("I've been sacked from the dole!") and still hasn't realised how lucky he is to have a lady like Del's hot young mum. As before, Phil Daniels is brilliantly cast as a younger Granddad and Robert Daws is a treat in his fleeting reprisal of the sleazy self-pleasuring cinema boss, but we are also introduced to a couple of new characters, among them the much talked of Grandma Trotter. Yet despite some stiff competition, it is Nicholas Lyndhurst who steals the show - and Joan Trotter's heart - as the patrician but besotted super-criminal and father of Rodney. Just keep your fingers crossed that Freddie 'The Frog' Robdal doesn't end up back to the Scrubs. Reg Trotter is a tit.

Sean Marland, On The Box, 29th December 2010

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