- Radio Times
- Review by:
- David Butcher
Channel 4 describes Ricky Gervais’s story of a London nursing home as a comedy drama and it makes a uniquely strange mush out of the two genres. One minute it feels very much a sitcom, the next it turns into a soppy parable. The plot – too strong a word, really – involves a celebrity-obsessed teen who arrives at Broad Hill to do community service and is instantly repulsed by the elderly residents. But they win her over via manicures and gloopy music sequences. The dramatic message is so pat it’s embarrassing.
About this programme
2/6. The retirement-home worker celebrates his 50th birthday with a party at Broadhill and knows exactly what he wants - JLS, Susan Boyle and Stacey Solomon for music, and vol-au-vents, sausage rolls and chicken kiev for food. The staff also welcome a new addition to their ranks - community-service worker Vicky - who is convinced she resembles a rather more famous Vicky. Comedy drama, written by and starring Ricky Gervais, with Kerry Godliman, Karl Pilkington, David Earl and Holli Dempsey.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Derek
- Ricky Gervais
- Hannah
- Kerry Godliman
- Dougie
- Karl Pilkington
- Kev
- David Earl
- Vicky
- Holli Dempsey
- Tom
- Brett Goldstein
- Mary
- Ruth Bratt
- Lizzie
- Kaye Noone
- Jack
- Tim Barlow
- Arthur
- Arthur Nightingale
- Sheila
- Sheila Collings
- Edna
- Margaret Towner
- Prem
- Prem Modgil
- Joe
- Barry Martin
- Precious
- Blanche Williams
- Annie
- Ninette Finch
Crew
- Director
- Ricky Gervais
- Executive Producer
- Ricky Gervais
- Series Producer
- Charlie Hanson
- Writer
- Ricky Gervais
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