Friday Night Dinner. Image shows from L to R: Jackie (Tamsin Greig), Adam (Simon Bird), Martin (Paul Ritter), Jonny (Tom Rosenthal)
Friday Night Dinner

Friday Night Dinner

  • TV sitcom
  • Channel 4
  • 2011 - 2020
  • 37 episodes (6 series)

Channel 4 sitcom observing as twenty-something brothers Adam and Jonny go round to their parents' house for Friday night dinner. Stars Paul Ritter, Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird, Tom Rosenthal, Mark Heap and Tracy-Ann Oberman

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 259

Episode menu

Series 6, Episode 1 - The Caravan

Friday Night Dinner. Image shows from L to R: Martin (Paul Ritter), Jackie (Tamsin Greig)
The boys have news: they've both got girlfriends. But it's probably best not to tell mum. Meanwhile, dad has a disgusting, old, battered caravan, propped up on bricks, parked in the driveway.

Preview clips

Further details

The boys arrive home discussing their latest news - they've both got girlfriends. Should they tell mum? On the one hand she will be so excited - on the other, it will be hell. Best not tell her then...

In the driveway is dad's brand-new purchase - a disgusting, old, battered caravan, propped up on bricks. 'It's a dustbin on wheels,' declares Adam. 'Dustbin on bricks,' adds Jonny.

Inside is even worse. Dad tells the boys that mum has refused to step foot in the caravan all week, and begs them to convince her to join him inside, so they can all have dinner in the caravan. The boys naturally refuse. Mum appears and tells them all to get out of the 'shithole'...

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 27th March 2020
Time
10pm
Channel
Channel 4
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Tuesday 31st March 2020 11:50pm C4
Wednesday 20th May 2020 12:10am E4
Friday 7th May 2021 11:05pm C4

Cast & crew

Cast
Paul Ritter Martin
Tamsin Greig Jackie
Simon Bird Adam
Tom Rosenthal Jonny
Mark Heap Jim
Guest cast
Adam Pearce Workman
Writing team
Robert Popper Writer
Production team
Martin Dennis Director
Robert Popper Producer
Kenton Allen Executive Producer
Caroline Leddy Executive Producer
Matthew Justice Executive Producer
Lucy Jack Line Producer
Pete Drinkwater Editor
Kyz Kistell Production Designer
Robert Sterne Casting Director
Leah Archer Costume Designer
Sarah Bartles-Smith Director of Photography
Vicky Voller Make-up Designer
Paul Mindel 1st Assistant Director

Video

Jim empties the caravan loo

Martin's bought a grotty caravan, but he may regret letting Jim use it...

Featuring: Paul Ritter (Martin), Tamsin Greig (Jackie), Simon Bird (Adam), Tom Rosenthal (Jonny) & Mark Heap (Jim).

Press

Friday Night Dinner: Am I turning into Jackie?

Friday Night Dinner is back for a sixth series - and it's the perfect lockdown binge-watch, says Keren David.

Keren David, The Jewish Chronicle, 2nd April 2020

With perfect timing for these glum times the consummate sitcom Friday Night Dinner (Channel 4, Friday) returned. The set up of Robert Popper's comedy is simplicity itself. Every week, two Jewish sons return to their parents' London home for Shabbat dinner. The evening is frequently interrupted by next door neighbour Jim and his dog. Otherwise, the boys (Simon Bird, Tom Rosenthal) bicker, mum (Tamsin Greig) fusses, and dad (Paul Ritter), prone to overheating, takes his shirt off. This time there was something new on the scene: an old caravan, bought by dad because, "I went in one when I was a boy". Oh, and Jim has a new dog. Suburban comedy at its best.

Alison Rowat, The Herald, 28th March 2020

TV review: Friday Night Dinner, C4

Is there a sitcom at the moment with a stronger cast than Friday Night Dinner?

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 27th March 2020

Robert Popper: 'Comedy cannot survive bad decisions'

Friday Night Dinner creator on longevity in comedy and the state of the genre.

Joanna Tilley, Broadcast, 27th March 2020

Friday Night Dinner review

This series, where the central joke is that the whole family is forced to spend time together in a confined space, is strangely triggering during the coronavirus crisis.

Ed Cumming, The Independent, 27th March 2020

Friday Night Dinner, review

The menu hasn't changed - and nor would we want it to.

Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 27th March 2020

Friday Night Dinner criticism is missing the point

Robert Popper's brilliant Channel 4 sitcom has been criticised over its run for the fact that every episode plays out the same, with Adam and Jonny arriving for a dinner they'll never eat due to a series of increasingly chaotic events. But that criticism is missing the point as it's exactly what makes Friday Night Dinner such a hit. The best sitcoms often work because fans know what to expect and the show gives it to them. While Friday Night Dinner might take this literally with its familiar beats, that's what gives Popper's sitcom its extra seasoning.

Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy, 27th March 2020

Why food fights and mayhem have become a TV treat

At a time when many of us are having to stay away from our family, it's business as usual round at the Goodmans - in other words, collective chaos.

Rebecca Thomas, BBC, 26th March 2020

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