Rating:
Until today s comics grow out of the puerile urge to swear for laughs, there can never be another truly funny sitcom.
Foul language kills good comedy. It ditches the need for wit or clever characters, and replaces them with an easy spatter of obscenity.
Meet The Richardsons (Dave) is a prime example. Husband-and-wife comedians Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont have poured their hearts into this mock documentary about their domestic life.
But they grew up in the school of comedy that believes all you have to do to get a laugh is reel off a stream of profanities for a punchline. Every laugh is undermined, because the couple can always take the easy route by saying something dirty.
8 April 2021 • 10:35pm
Johnny Vegas starred in the comedy with Lucy Beaumont and husband Jon Richardson
Credit: UKTV
When it comes to TV comedy, I love a repeat. In theory, jokes should be less funny when you’ve heard them 20 times before, and sitcoms should provide fewer laughs when you can see the punchline from a mile away. And yet, while I relish a new drama or documentary, for comedy I crave the familiarity of Peep Show and I’m Alan Partridge and The Inbetweeners.
I adore re-watching The Office and The Royle Family and Blackadder. Nothing is as perfect as Del Boy falling through the bar. And, unfashionable as it may be, I could happily watch re-runs of Friends until the end of my days.
Meet the Richardsons review â sofa, so good for this comedy couple
Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumontâs domestic mockumentary returns for a second series, with fewer meta jokes but just as much fun
Lucy Beaumont with guest star Johnny Vegas in Meet the Richardsons. Photograph: UKTV
Lucy Beaumont with guest star Johnny Vegas in Meet the Richardsons. Photograph: UKTV
Thu 8 Apr 2021 17.40 EDT
Meet the Richardsons (Dave) is back for a second series, with the amiable mockumentary once again offering an insight into the marriage of the comedians Lucy Beaumont and Jon Richardson, who live in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, with their three-year-old daughter, Elsie. Mostly, they talk to camera about what annoys them about each other, but there is a spot of storyline, too. It is all very charming. âWeâve got to start this series remembering where we left off,â says Lucy, to camera. âHeâs a nobhead.â
WORLD SCREEN
Video: UKTV’s Marcus Arthur Talks Strategy & Ambitions
Marcus Arthur, CEO of UKTV and president of BBC Studios UK & Ireland, spoke to World Screen Newsflash about the ambition and strategic direction of the business, opportunities to work with international partners and new funding models, leveraging the combined strengths of the UKTV and BBC Studios acquisitions teams and more.
The content you are trying to access is only available to members.
Close and Continue
Sign Up Now for Daily News Updates
World Screen Newsflash is the leading source of daily news for the international media industry, covering all segments of the business, including new show announcements, sales deals, co-productions, research reports and personnel appointments.