Plus One

Pros and Cons of Plus One

The ever-impressive Daniel Mays was brilliant in the main role of this unoriginal comedy that feeds on the lifeblood of The Worst Week of My Life, and similar urban catastrophe sitcoms, and because of this and a strong supporting cast, we found it very funny.

Episode 1.1 Review

It all boils down to a cross between The Worst Week Of My Life and a small-screen Farrelly Brothers movie, with Rob's efforts to find his ideal 'plus one' hitting snags every step of the way. Overall, this was a confident and entertaining start, despite a few slips.

An irreverent new sitcom that's beautiful in its simplicity. Hapless nonentity Rob suddenly finds his girlfriend has rather ludicrously run off with Duncan from Blue - so he spends every moment plotting vengeance, which he plans to exact, as is every wronged lover's wont, at the happy couple's impending wedding.

Persuading some Olympic-standard totty to be his first date for the big day is deemed to be the answer, though pop prince charming Duncan - the real-life Duncan James getting a hearty cheer from us for sending himself up so splendidly - seems to get the upper hand.

After a successful pilot on Channel 4's comedy showcase strand last year, Plus One now has a series of its own - and deservedly so. The premise is simple: a sour gnome (Daniel Mays) is dumped by his girlfriend (Miranda Raison) in favour of Duncan from the boy band Blue (Duncan James). Eaten up with jealousy, the Mays character concocts increasingly desperate schemes to get even, which start badly and end in catastrophe. Although aimed at the under-40s, it incorporates such ancient virtues as character and narrative to go with the fantasy sequences and farcical mishaps. Give it a whirl.

Don't worry if you missed the 2007 pilot for this series. There's a brief explanation at the start of the first episode. Basically, Rob (Daniel Mays) was dumped by Laura (Spooks' Miranda Raison), and later gleaned from a celeb mag that she was dating Duncan From Blue (played by the man himself). Not only that, they were going to marry. And Rob's been invited to the wedding.

Hacked off that he's been replaced by 'that skating b*****d', Rob is convinced Duncan From Blue (that's his full name in this, not Duncan James) is out to get him. So he decides to prove he's better than DFB and have revenge on his ex by turning up at her wedding with the sexiest woman he can con into being his girlfriend.

It's a simple yet effective idea - for now anyway - and Rob is an entertaining central character - a younger, less grouchy version of Jack Dee's Rick Spleen.

The comedy isn't perfect, and with coarse language it won't be everybody's cup of tea. But if you still miss Teachers, the young, ballsy characters in this should raise a smile.

And there's always the eye candy to enjoy - as well as Duncan James, the show stars former EastEnders heartthrob Nigel Harman. And for the fellas, for this week only, is guest star Susie Amy, who will fulfil many a redblooded man's fantasy by donning a school uniform.

Duncan from Blue stars in this comedy about a woman who leaves her husband for, er, Duncan from Blue. After nicking Christopher Timothy's wife in The Bill a few weeks ago, it's clear Duncan from Blue has no intention of turning over a new leaf in 2009, because here he's nicked some poor chap's lady and is all set to marry her. Which narks Rob, her ex, no end - as does the invitation to their wedding, after which Rob concocts a plan to strike back at the boyband singer's heart. Wicked, twisted comedy.