The dream team
PICK OF THE DAY THE FIRST TEAM BBC2, 9.30pm
REMEMBER hit comedy The Inbetweeners? – the story of Will, who arrived at a new school and struck up a friendship with Jay (who fancied himself as a bit of a ladies’ man) and shy Simon. Oh, and there was also crazy Neil.
Well the creators of that school comedy have produced a new sitcom, set in the world of Premier League football.
It’s the story of new signing Mattie (Jake Short), who arrives at a new club and strikes up a
friendship with fellow team member Benji Achebe (Shaquille Ali-Yebuah), who fancies himself as a bit of a ladies’ man despite the fact that he still lives at home with his mum, and shy number 16 Jack (Jack McMullen).
Oh, and there’s also crazy team hardman Petey (played by Theo Barklem-Biggs, who himself appeared in the Inbetweeners movie).
But are such comparisons fair? Probably not. This is a much more ambitious project with a larger cast of characters – including many real-life football stars and pundits playing themselves.
It’s also the first project that award-winning duo Iain Morris and Damon
Beesley have tackled since their massive success with their aforementioned school comedy.
This week sees new arrival Mattie befriend star midfielder Carlos Velez, only to find himself in a predicament when he hanging out with the experienced player turns out to be not quite what he imagined. Meanwhile, Benji is approached by a mysterious Malaysian businessman and Jack tries online dating.