Jo Joyner

Sky Living is carving out a niche for likable if low-stakes British comedy. Following on from Doll & Em, which wistfully captured the decay of a friendship, comes this Lake District-set effort about a couple trying to keep their faltering relationship afloat. Jo Joyner plays Meg, still trying to repair things with her partner Matt (Chris Addison) after having an affair with her boss. In the first of a double bill, Meg goes job-hunting, while the second has the pair adopting scare tactics in their attempt to sabotage the sale of their rented flat.

Radio Times review

Chris Addison and Jo Joyner leave behind The Thick of It and EastEnders respectively and make a left turn. They come together to star in a romcom about a young-ish couple in Kendal, who are bearing up after her recent affair and attempting to rebuild their relationship.

The premise is meant to make Trying Again edgier and more emotional than comedy dramas like Stella and Mount Pleasant, which it resembles on the surface. This doesn't come through much in these first two episodes, since they're too busy being funny: writer Simon Blackwell fills them with strong gags and neat plotting (the callback pay off at the end of episode one is a killer), while Alun Cochrane, Elizabeth Berrington and Alex MacQueen are all on form as cartoonish, traditional-sitcom supporting characters.

The show's identity problem scarcely matters. In particular, Joyner is a revelation as the funny, energetic foil to Addison's nervous, cowardly weed. A new comedy star is born.

Trying Again: 'warm, witty and winningly old-fashioned'

The excellent cast, including Jo Joyner and Chris Addison, and the fizzing script of Sky's new cosy sitcom made it a winner, says Michael Hogan.

Jo Joyner says new comedy is a breath of fresh air

Joyner has left behind the misery of her Walford alter ego, Tanya Branning, to play the lead in Sky Living's new sitcom Trying Again.

Jo Joyner interview

Jo Joyner stars alongside The Thick of It's Chris Addison in new comedy drama Trying Again, about a couple trying to reunite after one has an affair.

Jo Joyner & Chris Addison interview

Jo Joyner and Chris Addison talk about playing Meg and Matt.

The televisual equivalent of hormone replacement therapy ends this week with one last, daffy spin around the block for the women-only taxi firm.

No actual medical research has been carried out, but having your eyeballs assaulted by this unrelenting, sea of pink for 60 minutes leaves you with the weird compulsion to crack open a bottle of sparkling rose and the feeling that youve gone up at least one cup size. And that goes for any men watching too. (Are there any men watching?)

In the final instalment, Jackie and Elaine (Jo Joyner and Lisa Millett) are fighting off claims that Candy Cabs is sexist. (Thats the firm, not the entire series, in case you were wondering). Surely not! How can an office where the women strip off to their undies every week for their weekly Fat Club weigh-ins and the men are either totty or Neanderthals possibly be considered sexist?

The firms future depends on a tense court hearing although they really missed a trick in not getting Elle from Legally Blonde to represent them.

Fans will be pleased to know that it ends with the passenger door left wide open for a possible follow-up.

Candy Cabs Q&A: Jo and Lisa

It's the last episode of Candy Cabs tonight (21.00, BBC One). If you can't wait, here's Candy Cabs Q&A. We put your questions to the stars of Candy Cabs. First up? Jo Joyner and Lisa Millet...

Candy Cabs, sexist drivel in which the ­feckless men are always fools and the stereotyped ­women are never dressed. Memo to Claire Sweeney... put your clothes on!

Playing the ­magnificently named Jackie O'Sullivan, ­EastEnders star Jo Joyner's northern accent doesn't get past North London. 'Appen it's Tanya.
Just horrible. Is this what BBC drama has come to?