Trying Again. Image shows from L to R: Meg (Jo Joyner), Matt (Chris Addison). Copyright: Avalon Television
Trying Again

Trying Again

  • TV comedy drama
  • Sky Living
  • 2014
  • 8 episodes (1 series)

Sky Living comedy drama about a man whose fiancée has had an affair with her boss. Stars Chris Addison and Jo Joyner. Stars Chris Addison, Jo Joyner, Charles Edwards, Alun Cochrane, Elizabeth Berrington and more.

Press clippings Page 2

Sky Living is carving out a niche for likable if low-stakes British comedy. Following on from Doll & Em, which wistfully captured the decay of a friendship, comes this Lake District-set effort about a couple trying to keep their faltering relationship afloat. Jo Joyner plays Meg, still trying to repair things with her partner Matt (Chris Addison) after having an affair with her boss. In the first of a double bill, Meg goes job-hunting, while the second has the pair adopting scare tactics in their attempt to sabotage the sale of their rented flat.

Gwilym Mumford, The Guardian, 24th April 2014

Radio Times review

Chris Addison and Jo Joyner leave behind The Thick of It and EastEnders respectively and make a left turn. They come together to star in a romcom about a young-ish couple in Kendal, who are bearing up after her recent affair and attempting to rebuild their relationship.

The premise is meant to make Trying Again edgier and more emotional than comedy dramas like Stella and Mount Pleasant, which it resembles on the surface. This doesn't come through much in these first two episodes, since they're too busy being funny: writer Simon Blackwell fills them with strong gags and neat plotting (the callback pay off at the end of episode one is a killer), while Alun Cochrane, Elizabeth Berrington and Alex MacQueen are all on form as cartoonish, traditional-sitcom supporting characters.

The show's identity problem scarcely matters. In particular, Joyner is a revelation as the funny, energetic foil to Addison's nervous, cowardly weed. A new comedy star is born.

Jack Seale, Radio Times, 24th April 2014

Interview: Simon Blackwell

Screenwriter reveals what it was like to tackle more personal and emotive subject matter in Sky Living's Trying Again - and how the process became even more intense when he was doubly bereaved.

Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 24th April 2014

Trying Again: 'warm, witty and winningly old-fashioned'

The excellent cast, including Jo Joyner and Chris Addison, and the fizzing script of Sky's new cosy sitcom made it a winner, says Michael Hogan.

Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 24th April 2014

Trying Again, TV review

Jo Joyner impresses, but countryside romcom is no breath of fresh air.

Ellen E. Jones, The Independent, 24th April 2014

Chris Addison interview

Chris Addison on US politics, romcoms and working with Gandolfini...

ShortList, 24th April 2014

Chris Addison on swapping politics for pillow talk

The Thick of It favourite thinks the romcom is an 'awful genre'. So why is he happy with a starring role in Sky Living's new Lake District-set series Trying Again? Alice Jones finds out.

Alice Jones, The Independent, 23rd April 2014

TV review: Chris Addison's Trying Again

Despite their best everyman turns, the central characters are just plain dull, with a one-dimensional supporting cast.

Nic Wright, Giggle Beats, 22nd April 2014

Trying Again preview

I wouldn't describe Trying Again as a laugh out loud comedy like Miranda or Mrs Brown's Boys, but there are some funny moments and is much more about the characters and character development.

Elliot Gonzalez, I Talk Telly, 20th April 2014

Chris Addison on Veep, Doctor Who & changing direction

The "busybody know-it-all" star of The Thick of It tells Jack Seale about Trying Again, his radically different new comedy for Sky Living.

Jack Seale, Radio Times, 17th April 2014

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