Jason Cook

Why you should watch Jason Cook's BBC2 sitcom

With honest reactions and appealing TV characters, you shouldn't miss out on Jason Cook's fabulous BBC Two comedy Hebburn.

Jason Cook's Geordie sitcom has warmth and personality in spades, but also a certain inconsequentiality to ensure that, while it's never a chore to watch, you couldn't call it essential either.

Tonight's episode is a case in point, as Dot moves into the family home and attracts an admirer (hardy smallscreen perennial John Woodvine), Jack (Chris Ramsey) hires an unlikely genius to paint the nursery and Pauline (Gina McKee) struggles to reconcile her ethics with the business of selling houses. The chuckles are gentle and the peril very minor indeed: nothing much happens, but it happens very pleasantly.

Though it's occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, the main appeal that Hebburn has is its characters most of whom are likeable and realistic. Jason Cook, who also stars as Ramsey, has written a great script which obviously draws on experiences of his own family life and I feel that the series is incredibly well-observed. In addition, this second series sees the cast become much more comfortable with their characters which just adds to the charm of the piece. Ramsay and Nixon share great chemistry as the lead couple while McKee is brilliant as the warm yet slightly patronising matriarch. Stealing the show though is Dunn, who plays the greedy mother-in-law from hell roll with great aplomb and therefore generates the majority of the show's big laughs. In fact it comes to something when Vic Reeves is the straight man of the series but here, using his real name Jim Moir, is just happy to be a supporting player as his Joe attempts to recuperate. Overall, Hebburn is a charming and well-observed sitcom that feels very old-fashioned but at the same time has plenty of modern sensibilities.

Not all the inhabitants of South Tyneside were that thrilled when the sitcom Hebburn (BBC Two) was broadcast last year, so I doubt they are pleased to see it return for a second series. I can't say that I was initially, either, as I hadn't found it particularly funny. It's still not exactly subtle comedy, but the first episode of the new run turned out to have more gags than the whole of the first series combined. If scriptwriter Jason Cook can belatedly find his sense of humour, then so can the people of Hebburn.

The BBC currently seems unwilling to countenance comedy with any sharp edges - this returning domestic sitcom is fine as far as it goes, but remains very much in the tradition of gentle family shows like Gavin & Stacey. The series opens at Betty's funeral - it's a convenient way of bringing the wider family together in one place so that scenes can be set and minor beefs amplified.

Kimberley Nixon's Sarah is pregnant and stressed, Pauline (Gina McKee) is somewhat put-upon and Joe (Jim 'Vic Reeves' Moir) is still recovering slowly from his stroke. The performances are very likeable and Jason Cook's writing occasionally hints at some turbulence beneath the surface. But generally, this is affirmative and big-hearted, but also predictable and passive to a fault.

Missing Hebburn Xmas script found & returned unspoiled

Christmas has came early for Hebburn creator Jason Cook recently when 11-year-old twins Serena and Lauren Short and their pal Katie Luke, 13, found a top secret stack of papers lying on the ground near Hebburn Cricket Club this past week. The top secret script included storylines for the eagerly-awaited Hebburn holiday special.

Jason Cook and Friends: Star curates Christmas show

Hebburn creator Jason Cook will come to the North East bearing gifts this winter - as the sitcom star curates a special Christmas show in Barnard Castle.

Writer of TV comedy Hebburn finishes Series 2

Hebburn writer Jason Cook has just finished penning the second series.

Darlington Comedy Festival 2013 - the line-up revealed

Performers include Sarah Millican, Jason Cook and Lost Voice Guy Lee Ridley.

Sunderland Comedy Festival: full programme revealed

Hebburn duo Jason Cook and Steffen Peddie, Paul Foot, Patrick Monahan, Sara Pascoe and Carl Donnelly are some of the names touching down on Wearside next month, with 33 shows scheduled over ten venues.