Brian Cox (I)

Four episodes in and this comedy about a deluded wannabe politician in the Scottish town of Broughty Ferry is still failing to live up to expectations. The books (and subsequent radio show) by Neil Forsyth have gained quite a following but this series is just not funny, despite the best efforts of Brian Cox in the title role. Tonight Servant, ahead of the by-election, messes up a television interview when answering a question about his political ambitions by saying he wants to be seen as Annie Lennox. His mother (Sheila Reid) doesn't help his cause by telling a journalist that her son has "a head full of mince".

Brian Cox has given life to a great new comic monster here, a man who blazes through life offending everyone in his path without ever losing his enormous self-belief. Neil Forsyth's comedy features the prize idiot previously known for his letter-writing in books and on Radio 4, who's now running chaotically for Parliament: Dundee cheeseburger magnate Bob Servant. Cox brilliant makes the most of an already very funny, bewilderingly silly script. "Phone the internet" and catch up with it...

This would-be politician is what you might call "in your face". His alphabet omits the letters P and C, and his self-opinion is so inflated he should be reported to Air Traffic Control. The sudden death of Broughty Ferry's sitting MP has sparked him into action; he's waited his whole life to be in the spotlight and he'll do and say anything to keep it shining on him.

This week Bob (Brian Cox) and his heroically inept campaign manager Frank meet slick opponent Nick Edwards, whose wife promises humiliation for Bob. It feels as though we should be rooting for the little guy - would that we had a vestige of sympathy for him.

On BBC Four, there's a new series based on a comedy character who's already had success on radio...

If you've not seen Bob Servant, Independent, it's about a businessman from the Tayside coastal town of Broughty Ferry, who made his name after coming out victorious in the town's "Cheeseburger Wars". The story follows Bob's plans to stand in the local by-election as an independent candidate...

The opening episode started off well, but like Bob's campaign, it seemed to peter out towards the end. The best part of this episode saw Bob (Brian Cox) launch his campaign on local radio. During the interview and phone-in with the resident DJ (played by Greg McHugh), Bob manages to please one or two people with some on-the-spot ideas, but offends hundreds more in the process. His biggest 'controversy' comes with his plan to stop dog fouling in the local park by banning all dogs from it. If a dog does enter the park, he plans to shoot it. Bang.

There were some a few other highlights - like Bob's attempts to appeal to young voters at a primary school, but near the end - when he tries to sort out the mess he's caused - the show just seemed to fade.

Bob Servant Independent, BBC Four, review

You can't fault Brian Cox's performance as Servant. It's the script and supporting cast that are excruciatingly slow to the punch. What a horrible irony that after all those emails Bob's sitcom also turned out to be a dispiriting waste of time.

This crafty political comedy stars Brian Cox - the veteran actor, not the rock'n'roll physicist - who takes on the guise of Dundonian burger king Bob Servant. A bluff, opinionated entrepreneur, Servant is Victor Meldrew meets Malcolm Tucker and, following the sudden death of the MP for Broughty Ferry, he spots the chance to mould the world to suit his own ends by standing as a candidate in the by-election. But alienating Dundee's dog lovers is not the smartest electoral move.

Before you express disbelief at yet another TV vehicle for Brian Cox, this is Brian Cox the one-time Hannibal Lecktor. His character here is almost as antisocial: a burger baron and aspiring MP whose talent for self-promotion is matched only by his foot-in-mouth capabilities.

The first of a three-part series isn't troubled by subtlety, and Cox gives a full-blooded performance as "man of the people" Bob Servant.

Brian Cox plays 'Del Boy's Scottish cousin'

Veteran Hollywood actor Brian Cox has returned to work in his native Dundee for the first time in 50 years. He is playing the lead role in new BBC Four comedy Bob Servant, Independent.

It's always good to see BBC Four beginning one of their occasional forays into comedy: for our money, it doesn't happen often enough. Bob Servant has his origins in a Radio 4 show - this six-parter sees Brian Cox animating the abrasive Scottish cheeseburger magnate as he runs in the Broughty Ferry by-election. Bob's a rich and successful Alan Partridge, a Daily Mail blog commenter let loose in the real world, a man whose only real asset is his sheer shamelessness. In this opener, he launches his campaign with an appearance on a local radio phone-in. It's not an unequivocal success: Bob makes a series of rash promises and manages to alienate the dog owners of Broughty Ferry by appearing to threaten to shoot their pooches. A minor pleasure for now, but something tells us this will be worth persevering with.

Review: Bob Servant Independent, BBC Four

Brian Cox excels as Tayside's dodgy burger king in whimsical comedy.