Matt Lucas

Pompidou, BBC Two - review

Few laughs in Matt Lucas's almost silent sitcom.

Radio Times review

There's no comedy on TV at the moment like this, a remarkable comeback effort by Matt Lucas. There have, however, been plenty like it in years gone by: the quickest way to describe it would be The Fast Show's Rowley Birkin QC starring in a remake of Mr Bean, with other influences stretching further back to European mime and even Hanna-Barbera cartoons.

Lucas is a crass toff who, judging by the fact that he lives in a caravan and spends this entire episode foraging for food, has fallen on hard times. He and his butler Hove (Alex MacQueen) try fishing and hunting but end up in hospital, a caper that at no stage involves intelligible dialogue.

Everyone gibbers expressively instead, in a family goof-fest where a good half of the gags are gems.

A largely dialogue-free sitcom in the vein of Mr Bean, and with a similar gibberish-spouting manchild at its heart, Pompidou represents Matt Lucas's welcome return to unapologetic silliness. The eponymous star (Lucas) is an eccentric aristocrat fallen on hard times and living in a caravan with his loyal retainer Hove (The Inbetweeners's Alex MacQueen) and Afghan hound Marion. Tonight's opening episode sees a starving Pompidou go fishing with a rockpooling net before a bizarre accident forces him to turn surgeon and extract a live bird from Hove's stomach - all in the pursuit of a square meal.

What Pompidou lacks in narrative coherence it more than makes up for in its fully realised sense of humour and attention to detail. The slapstick comedy makes full use of Lucas's abundant physical gifts and avoids the easy route of scatology, while a plethora of in-jokes and running gags ensure it's as appealing for adults as children. Arsenal fans, for example, will appreciate Pompidou's choice of undershirt, and there's even a brief return for George Dawes's unofficial theme tune, Peanuts. Above all, it's a genuine relief to see such a naturally funny man back on top form after a series of dismal misfires including David Walliams reunion Come Fly with Me and panel show The Matt Lucas Awards. In recent years, perhaps only the Horrible Histories team have mastered the art of family comedy with such instant aplomb.

Pompidou and Britain's grand tradition of silent comedy

Despite the title, there's something very British about Pompidou, Matt Lucas's new silent comedy series. Because, while we tend to associate silent comedy with either early American cinema or French mime artists of any era, the UK has a noble tradition of non-verbal comedy. Which is hardly surprising, given that two of its greatest innovators - Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel - were both English (the French are welcome to claim all the credit for mime).

Review: a few surprises, but Matt Lucas is no Mr Bean

I'm not sure that this show (appropriately in a 6.30pm timeslot) will appeal to anyone over 10.

Pompidou, episode 1, review: 'painful'

Matt Lucas's silent comedy is not a patch on Mr Bean or Little Britain.

Matt Lucas - maybe I need a gastric band

In his first newspaper interview for five years, the Little Britain funnyman discusses shyness, diets, gastric bands and his TV return in new comedy Pompidou.

Matt Lucas admits he is looking for love on Tinder

Matt Lucas admits he is considering a gastric band to shift the pounds... and he's looking for love on Tinder.

Radio Times review

The first series of David Walliams's classroom sitcom launched to high hopes and high ratings. That might be because so many of us still have our fingers crossed that either Walliams or Matt Lucas will at some point recall, in a small way, the comic heights they reached in Little Britain.

Ratings slipped as people realised Big School wasn't the moment we could uncross our fingers, but is instead an old-fashioned, likeable enough, broadish sort of comedy full of familiar joke-teacher figures (the macho gym master, the intimidating head) and the odd good gag.

As a new term starts, Mr Church (Walliams) still holds a candle for Miss Postern (Catherine Tate) and at assembly, Frances de la Tour delivers a welcome speech: "As your headmistress, I offer you one word of friendly advice: cross me and I will destroy you."

Pictures: Matt Lucas steps out in Pompidou

Matt Lucas steps out in high-waisted checked trousers and braces as he continues to film silent comedy Pompidou.