Bob Martin

Laugh Lines: from Bob Martin to Extras

If Extras reminded me of the mostly forgotten Michael Barrymore sitcom, it may be because they were inspired by the same source...

After six weeks, Bob Martin has turned out to be both an amusing, sharp series, and also a massive flop for ITV. It's ironic that a series that has been one of the most truthful looks into the world of television should also be subjected to some subtle rescheduling by ITV, with seemingly every episode ending with an apologetic "Next week's programme will be at the slightly later time ..."

The format is, of course, a straight lift from The Larry Sanders Show, but while that brilliant US series was multi-layered, Bob Martin's only indication of depth is that it fails on so many different levels.

Michael Barrymore as Bob seemed unusually subdued but Terry Wogan as, well, Wogan, made a meal of a media monster, shrouded in shadow and cigar smoke. It was as though Barrymore was determined not to be mistaken for himself. And so was Wogan.