Who remembers this sitcom? It had that guy whose surname is Bathhurst or something. I think it ran in the early 1990s but I'm not sure. What are your views?
Joking Apart
That would be Robert Bathurst, I only have the vaguest recollection of it, can’t say I’m a fan of any of Steven Moffats work.
Apparently he also wrote The Office. (no not that one but the one that was on ITV in 1996)
I started watching the first episode a while back (probably a year and a half, at least), but it just didn't 'grab' me. Perhaps that's because it was pretty low-quality though.
I thought Joking Apart was the best-written sitcom ever to grace our screens. It's absolutely phenomenal and what we (us writers especially) should aspire to.
Last episode of the first series is the best farce ever written. Absolutely superb.
Some bloke liked it so much he produced the DVD himself, learning everything that needs to go into it (acquiring rights, editing, producing, even subtitling in other languages!) Read about it here: http://www.jokingapart.co.uk
Unfortunately no news on the second series as yet, so my stuffy old VHS copy needs to be spun a few more times yet.
Dan
i did thihnk it was very well written, the acting wasn't always brilliant but it was well written, most of the time well acted and it's characheters were very well set up, thanks for that link Dan.
Steven Mofat can be a deeply annoying writer (see entire series of Coupling for further details) but he can also be brilliant. Joking Apart was excellent, and his Doctor Who shows are easily the best.
Not sure I agree about Coupling, but certainly Doctor Who. I think Mark did an interview with that DVD guy too. Possibly. I know we 'pushed' it quite a bit in the newsletter a while back.
I've seen the first 4 episodes recently. I think it's a very good show. The 3rd episode was pretty slow, but the others have been really funny. I like the set-up and the characters.
For me, the only issue is the casting of Robert Bathurst. I think he's drab. He's made for pompous, secondary role and isn't a leading comedy actor. If the show didn't take of, he's probably the reason why. He's funny, but I think it could be funnier if it had a warmer actor who was a bit less wooden.
Joking Apart was very well received at the time. I don't think its for everyone but does deserve another airing on TV. It's one of those series you wonder why the BBC dont repeat.
Craig, the guy who released it on DVD has done an amazing job - its actually more proffesionaly done than some DVDs from the more well known labels! Then again it was put togther by a genuine fan of the show (rather than a bored production team) who was also a technical wizard so I guess you would expect it to be a bit better.
swerytd - I think the second series DVD will be released when a certain sales target has been hit. Craig is probably having a rest first though - I know he spent almost a year of his life sorting out the first series! (I spoke to him on the phone and won't quote how many hundreds of hours he spent touching up the master tapes!)
p.s. there's an article on the story behind the release here: http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/comedy/jokingapart.htm
p.p.s. DVD can be bought here: http://www.replaydvd.co.uk
Thanks, Mark, for your kind words!
Some info which people might find useful: the series won a prize at Montreux and was very well received by the majority of those who saw it. Unfortunately, it was appalling scheduled and was always up against ITV's prime time ratings winners (Minder, Peak Practice, Kavanagh QC) so never got the audience share it deserved. If it had gone out at 8.30pm on BBC1 on Friday night as was proposed, it would probably now be regarded as a classic. I still get emails from people saying it's their all-time favourite comedy.
Episode one is a bit different in style to all the others. It was originally a pilot and it was only after the series was commissioned that Steven Moffat decided to turn the rest of the series into full-on farce in the style of Fawlty Towers, only blacker (it was inspired by Moffat's own divorce, after all!) So don't give up half way through episode one, Aaron, and you'll be suitably rewarded.
Finally, I'm hoping that series two will be available sometime this year.
Woohoo! Excellent news! Thanks Craig -- I thought the first series had taken its toll 
Dan
Just started watching the first series, there are some good lines but thin Tim Vine would have been excellent in the lead role.
I can already see the similarities with Coupling (the funeral scene). Look forward to episode 6!
Except Coupling was far, far funnier.
Oh I'm a huge Coupling fan, probably in my top 5 sitcoms but I have high hopes for this!
I used to really enjoy this show, and I wish they'd repeat it.
And I met Tracie Bennett at our work's Christmas party a few years ago.
I sang Elvis in a kind of Pop Idol competition and she was friends with the band.
What a lovely lady she was, really encouraging.