Binged the first series over the last two nights and really enjoyed it. Anyone else got any views on it? I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the black humour.

This is an absolute stab in the dark as I’ve been trying to find the name of this tv show for years and I’ve not had any luck.

It will have been on tv around 2005/2006 and was a family based sitcom/drama. The one episode that stuck in my memory, one of the parents found either a condom or a joint in one of the children’s pockets. I cant remember much else so as I said an absolute stab in the dark! It was definitely on after the watershed though as I remember being allowed to stay up specially for it!

Does anyone know any information about the theme song for the British TV show The Cleaner with Greg Davies?

i know this will probably be downvoted to hell so i want to clarify, im not a hater! i genuinely want to enjoy and appreciate the show. i love comedy & have a lot of respect for rik and ade so it would be nice to enjoy such a famous show.

anyway, i’ve always heard that the young ones is a comedy classic and i know that rik was an outstanding comic. i watched three episodes (bomb, cash, demolition) and i just feel a bit…confused?

i understand that there’s a definite generation gap (im 20 - born in 2004) and it probably plays a part in why i don’t enjoy it as much. but even still, i enjoy shows like only fools and horses, last of the summer wine, royle family etc.

so i don’t understand why i don’t enjoy this? i didn’t laugh or smile once, and it wasn’t out of disdain for the show, just confusion. i don’t really get the humour - it feels like they are either beating a dead horse or the joke just goes over my head because i don’t get what the funny part is. i get the characters of neil, rick and even mike - but vyvyan is just lost on me. i don’t get why he hates rick so much? yes rick is utterly detestable but why does vyvyan care so much? and i don’t get why he is so violent to neil and spg despite liking them? why does he respect mike?

it’s hard to explain but i just don’t get the funny part. it just to me feels very shouty and like there’s too many cooks in the kitchen, too many ideas. but i want to give the show another chance because it’s seen as a turning point for comedy - so, genuinely asking, is anyone able to explain the humour to me? i want to understand and be in on the joke but im completely lost in all honesty.

i hope this doesn’t come across as patronising, rage baity or ignorant because i truly want to like the show, but i feel i’ve missed a lot of things to actually enjoy it

Just finished it and absolutely loved it. 3 generations sat and watched it together and then a long discussion started regarding all the little asides, nods and references to books, TV, films etc, as well as very British in-jokes.

What did you notice?! Would be fun to share!

A few we've noticed so far:

The Italian Job (teetering canal boat at the end)

Mission Impossible I (the tunnel)

A Room Of One's Own - Virginia Woof

Possibly Die Hard 2? (when Gromit is falling from the viaduct into the flames)

Edit1: lots of references to Hunt For Red October/Bond too, as well as 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea with the organ!

As this was so funny as a child alongside Russell Howard good news and the lee Nelson show

I've just finished the Christmas episode and this programme just hits the spot everytime. It is prefect Christmastime-what-day-of-the-week-even-is-it? TV.

Thoughts?

Not finished it but rubbish so far. Was looking forward to it aswell

I’m a Black American who recently discovered Desmond’s on Tubi and I love it. It reminds me of the Cosby Show(ironically Norman Beaton guest starred on one episode).

That said, I’m interested in more British TV. Are there some that you all can recommend that I watch?

EDIT: thanks for all the recommendations. I’ll be sure to check them out.

I was pleasantly suprised but then again my expectations were low.

It was more or less the same quality as the previous specials imo

It's one of my Christmas traditions that I stick to religiously every year and it has been a pleasant surprise to watch it uninterrupted.