As we suspected, this is a big improvement on last week's set-up. The whole pace seems to have picked up so you don't really notice so much that the core remains sticky sweet. Oh, and there's a great scene with a loud car stereo too.

Tonight's second episode of this new observational comedy hinges on Martin (Paul Ritter) peering down his underpants with a magnifying glass when he thinks no one's looking. His grown-up sons, who've witnessed the spectacle, spend the episode wondering why. This promising comedy about embarrassing parents is quite fresh and funny, and if it lacks the bite of The Inbetweeners (whose star, Simon Bird, plays son Adam here), it's more family-friendly.

Tamsin Greig: 'I always think I'll never work again'

A second Olivier awards nomination, a starring role in Episodes and now Friday Night Dinner. Tamsin Greig has never been busier.

James Cary reviews Friday Night Dinner

Let us begin with a few caveats. The first is that Sitcom Geek is in awe of Robert Popper, the writer of Friday Night Dinner.

Friday Night Dinner, Review

It's a shame that the first episode was slightly underwhelming.

Friday Night Dinner: Sitcom Review

Friday Night Dinner is the first significant solo writing piece from the much travelled Robert Popper who is one of the men behind such hits as The Inbetweners, Spaced and Peep Show. The show which consists of the strong cast including Simon Bird and Tamsin Greig is set in the family home with the Jewish family meeting up for Friday Night Dinner which is very similar to a traditional English Sunday roast in terms of the occasion.

'Friday Night' exec pleased with ratings

Friday Night Dinner creator Robert Popper has revealed that he is pleased with the show's ratings.

Friday Night Dinner - Review

Friday Night Dinner is worth a watch.

Friday Night Dinner squandered the talents of The Inbetweeners' excellent Simon Bird, seemed like a throwback to an earlier generation of sitcoms that needed laughter tracks to inform the audience, in the absence of any discernible humour, when a funny bit had happened.

Seldom could the absence of canned laughter have been more keenly felt than in the laboured joke of a next door neighbour repeatedly using the sitcom family's lavatory. The awkward silence can be put to profitable comic use, but ideally it should be the cause, not the result, of the comedy.

Friday Night Dinner's debut disappoints viewers

Friday Night Dinner made its eagerly-anticipated debut on Channel 4 on Friday night, but Twitter users branded the sitcom a disappointment.