Review Semi-Detached, episode 1, review: Lee Mack's suburban sadsack makes for solid sitcom fare 3/5 Lee Mack moves on from Not Going Out to … Netflix Stuart’s gay dad (Clive Russell, taking what could have been a cringeworthy role and making it the best thing here) is still an unwanted house guest, luxuriating in a life of drugs, spray tans and sex with the Amazon delivery man. You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Disney+ The Life and Times of Captain Sir Tom, review: a salute to the walking embodiment of British values Subscribe to our drama newsletter to keep up to date with all things dramatic – from crime dramas to comedy dramas, plus television and entertainment newsletters Our best wishes for a productive day. Meanwhile the ensemble also includes Game of Thrones star Clive Russell as Stuart’s gay, drug-obsessed father Willy, Sam Spiro (Sex Education) as his more straight-laced ex wife Kate and Geoff McGivern as the seemingly unstable neighbour Barry.A neat concept and an exciting cast seem like cause for celebration, and if you throw in the fact that the series comes off the back of a successful pilot it seems like a sure fire recipe for comedy gold.
Soaps Unfortunately, though, I found that the series never quite managed to come together – there are some enjoyable performances and occasionally amusing gags scattered throughout, but not nearly enough laughs to warrant calling the project a real success.It’s a classic sitcom set-up and there’ll always be a certain joy in watching chaos unfold around an unsuspecting protagonist, and this programme’s adherence to that formula – at a remarkably fast pace no less – will no doubt see it win some fans, while Mack’s typically charismatic performance in the lead tole may also charm viewers.But the problem here is that the situations seem far too contrived and overwritten, while there is all too often a reliance on toilet humour and tired jokes in place of anything more witty or original (one particularly excruciating scene in the first episode sees Mack’s character make fart noises using his under-arm for an agonisingly long time). The latest offers and discount codes from popular brands on Telegraph Voucher Codes Find out more Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences Dirty John 2: the rotten history behind Netflix’s human tragedy What’s on TV tonight: Unreported World, Diana: A Mother’s Love, Dirty John and more Our best wishes for a productive day. As for the supporting characters, while some have their moments, they seem too obviously sketched as stock sitcom characters – meaning that even the impressive cast are unable to elevate them beyond the generic.All in all, it’s a decent enough try – but the promising concept and cast are ultimately let down by scripts which just aren’t funny enough, meaning that Semi-Detached unfortunately falls well short.Six bottles of bestselling wine for just £38.94, plus free delivery!Sign up to be the first to know when we launch the new website!For coffee delivered tomorrow, or next week. Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences On Demand Film TV Lee Mack moves on from Not Going Out to another unlucky everyman in a sitcom that ticks the right boxes if you want some undemanding comedy Find the newsletter for you

Mack plays Stuart, a classic down-on-his-luck everyman, in his new comedy Semi-Detached Thanks! Semi-Detached review: Promising concept and cast let down by shortage of laughs The new sitcom starring Lee Mack too often relies on toilet humour and tired jokes, says Patrick Cremona.



Cosmic revenge: how a black cast is getting their own back on horror’s racist ‘hero’ HP Lovecraft The new sitcom starring Lee Mack too often relies on toilet humour and tired jokes, says Patrick Cremona.Lee Mack is comfortably one of the UK’s most popular comedians – equally at home doing stand-up, in a sitcom or appearing as a panel show guest – and so news of a brand new series featuring the Would I Lie To You?