Forget the same old sitcoms that have been on our screens lately. The dragged out ones which should of stopped being made years ago when they were still funny. After You've Gone brings a breath of fresh air to the much needed comedy slot and unlike the others it can actually make you laugh out loud rather than a simpering smile at what you recognise must be a joke.
The somewhat well known actors and actresses are an odd mix. Not exactly people who you'd immediately put together when making a TV programme. None the less it works well and you can more or less guarantee that you'll like each one in their own individual way.
Nicholas Lyndhurst (Only Fools and Horses) plays the role of Jimmy Venible, a painter and decorator, has had to move back into the family home after his former wife extends her stay in Africa, leaving their children behind. He has a dejected sort of personality where he tries so hard to do the parenting side correctly and yet somehow manages to not quite pull it off.
Much to the delight of Diana (Celia Imrie - Calendar Girls), the over bearing ex mother-in-law who undermines him to no end. She has a unique ability to 'help' him
Alex Venibles (Ryan Sampson - Doctor Who) brings a good deal of the laughs. With an imaginative mind and his knack of coming up with strange ideas it is impossible to not like the goofy son. Especially when seeing him walking around in a fake leg cast so as to get girls to be interested in him. Despite the fact that in real life he is 22, he plays the role of an overactive schoolboy very well
His sister Molly (Dani Harmer - Tracey Beaker) is dedicated to fashion, whether it's by wearing a t-shirt with the logo 'slut queen' branded on it or being happy when her trainers get pinched because it clearly means they were cool. She is also great at manipulating Jimmy into giving her money, stooping to the level of saying that she needs it for feminim hygiene
Kev and Siobhan ( Lee Oakes - Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of crisps, Amanda Abbington - Teachers) play Jimmys friend/ co decorator and his girlfriend. Siobhan comes across as being very hard done by with one hand on her hip and a raised eyebrow whilst Kev is lovable but slightly dopey.
Following on from the last series Jimmys ex wife decides to stay in Africa to marry her fiance Howard (guest starring Alexandar Armstrong). We see Jimmy catching Diana unawares in the shower, Alex becoming head prefect and Jimmy getting high on prescription drugs. Molly getting tattoos, an unhealthy crush from Siobhans Dad on Diana and a fake rave.
All that and more is what makes this programme so hilariously funny. Sometimes you just have to laugh due to the pure sillyness of it all and not be too concerned about it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
very helpful by (100%):
