Charlotte Ritchie

Charlotte Ritchie on the return of Fresh Meat

"We thought last time would be the last time so this is just a bonus round!" says the Call the Midwife star of Fresh Meat's fourth and final series.

Charlotte Ritchie on the "maze of a plot" in Good Omens

Good Omens has "a huge maze of a plot" so I'm going to let her explain...

Charlotte Ritchie talks Siblings Series 2

Charlotte Ritchie is "like, really excited" about her BBC3 sitcom Siblings being recommissioned.

Jack Whitehall wants to be in Call the Midwife

Asked whether he's keen to follow in the footsteps of his Fresh Meat co-star Charlotte Ritchie and try his hand at a little serious drama, Whitehall revealed that he'd like to literally follow in Ritchie's footsteps and bag a part alongside her in Call the Midwife.

Radio Times review

How's this for a sitcom exchange? Mum: "The doctor said I had to drink lots of fluids." Daughter: "I don't think he meant vodka and soda." That's the path of least resistance Siblings takes a bit too often. Which is a shame because you sense the seeds of something good stirring under the topsoil here.

Luckily, Charlotte Ritchie is watchably, winningly good, even when she's playing a heartless, selfish cow. In this episode Hannah's mother recuperates from surgery, making Hannah her slave, while brother Dan falls in love with his STI doctor.

Charlotte Ritchie's favourite TV

The Fresh Meat and Siblings actor on her TV prime beef and scrag end.

Immediately following Cuckoo, BBC Three debuted a new sitcom from Keith Akushie (who co-wrote an episode of Fresh Meat) called Siblings, that stars one of that Channel 4 comedy's actresses, Charlotte Ritchie. She plays lazy office girl Hannah, who co-habits with her dumb, unemployed brother Dan (Tom Stourton). They're the "worst brother and sister in the world", merrily ruining other people's lives thanks to their stupidity, selfishness, and indolence.

It's a very stripped-down premise, so a lot relies on the capabilities of Ritchie and Stourton to make these potentially horrid characters sympathetic and fun. They mostly succeed, as it's easy to identify with their aim to live a carefree life as infantile adults. They also seem to have a moderately healthy relationship as siblings; as this first episode revolved around Dan agreeing to help his sister impress her new boss (Tracy Ann-Oberman), by pretending he's a wheelchair-user like her own son, Charlie (David Proud). Naturally, the lie runs away with itself and lonely Dan quickly bonds with Charlie (over a mutual appreciation of Keanu Reeves), and struggles to keep up the pretence that he can't walk.

While the set-up doesn't feel very special or interesting, this does mean the weight of the show rests on the performances and material. And, for the most part, I found Siblings gently amusing with occasional big laughs--even when you knew where the storyline was heading. Fortunately, while it was ridiculously obvious Dan would be exposed as a fraud during a game of wheelchair basketball, it was less obvious Hannah's attempt to befriend her strict boss (so she can take advantage of her) would result in an unwanted threesome with a hotel barman!

It certainly feels like there's potential with Siblings, which has a strange tone that suggests something quite light-hearted and twee (mainly thanks to the music), and yet finds the dysfunctional characters doing terrible things and digging themselves into big holes. Provided they don't become detestable idiots (which feels unlikely given the inherent niceness Ritchie and Stourtone kept exuding), I think Siblings could grow into something very good.

Charlotte Ritchie: I love playing unlikeable characters

The 24-year-old sits down with RadioTimes.com to talk Siblings, Fresh Meat and why women are seen as less funny than men.

Charlotte Ritchie & Tom Stourton interview

We caught up with the duo recently to find out nine things about the show...