Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Of the sitcom IAN HYLAND
schedules. No, I don’t believe it either. Meanwhile, over at the BBC the ratings for Mrs Brown’s Boys are falling faster than Del Boy fell through that bar.
Looking at what the Beeb has coming up, I’d also say the chances of finding another Car Share or Miranda, the UK’S most recent big hitters, are pretty slim.
Indeed, when BBC comedy bosses recommissioned John Cleese’s poorly received Hold The Sunset late last year it felt like they were doing so because: a) they felt they ought to and b) the cupboard was otherwise bare.
The TV networks will claim they are simply responding to consumer demand – but have the 20 million-plus audiences that once enjoyed Only Fools And Horses really disappeared that quickly?
It could be argued that the networks have grown risk averse. Why pump money into a sitcom that might not work when panel shows and quiz shows are cheaper and reality shows and talent shows attract the lucrative advertisers?
Jack Dee’s gentle rural comedy Bad Move was performing fairly well as the meat in Corrie’s Wednesday night sandwich – then Bradley Walsh and his son came along with their American road Whether you’re a fan of James Corden or not, you cannot deny this is a classic British sitcom. I’d argue that in addition to Corden’s Smithy it boasted at least four other characters who could have carried their own spin-off.
The 2008 Christmas special, where we almost find out what happened on Bryn’s fishing trip. trip Breaking Dad and got twice as many viewers in the same slot.
The way Jack has been treated is hardly likely to persuade other comedy stars – and their agents – to abandon lucrative arena tours and panel show appearances to slog their guts out instead on a sitcom no one wants.
The fact that Breaking Dad had loads of funny moments only served to strengthen the view that perhaps we just don’t need sitcoms to get our laughs any more.
The truth is most of the classic sitcom character types are still on our screens every week – only in reality shows. I’m thinking of double acts like Gogglebox’s Giles and Mary – and Leon and June before them. Thanks to cheap-to-make shows such as TOWIE and Love Island, we are also well-served when it comes to lovable likely lads and lasses.
That’s not to say there are no new sitcoms coming through. Channel 4’s Derry Girls was a critical success last year and BBC3 can point to awardwinners This Country and Fleabag.
Sadly, none of those had ratings to shout about. In fact, they were probably lucky to match the figures that reruns of shows such as The Royle Family regularly command on Gold.
Still, you never know. This time next year, Rodders, we could be watching sitcoms in our millions again.
Just not on ITV. Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney’s biting modern love story finishes for good on Tuesday night on C4. Luckily for you, all four series are available on All4.