Neil Morrissey

Radio Times review

If you don't know what the title means, "gert lush" is the highest form of praise a Bristolian can bestow on anything. So clearly expectations are high for Russell Howard's debut comedy drama (co-written with Steve Williams) that also features Neil Morrissey (dressed like "a pervert elf" as his fitness-obsessed dad), Greg Davies (as his party loving uncle), Steve Williams, Sophie Thomson (his inappropriately enthusiastic mum) and Howard's sister Kerry of Him and Her fame.

The premise is simple: Dan (Howard) introduces his girlfriend to his crazy West Country family over Christmas. Kerry has said the script is "just a massive love letter to our mum and dad". Which is a bit worrying.

Martin Clunes rules out Men Behaving Badly return

Neil Morrissey would love to bring the show back but an unconvinced Clunes quips: "He's doing it on his own!"

Neil Morrissey on MBB: 'We would bring it back'

Neil Morrissey has said that he would like to make a new series of Men Behaving Badly.

Men Behaving Badly reunite after 15 years

It was television's first introduction to a 'bromance.' And now, the loveable rogues of the nineties Gary and Tony have rekindled their flame as Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey reprise their roles for a one-off comedy sketch.

Neville's Island play makes a splash in West End

Neil Morrissey has described the set of his new West End comedy Neville's Island as the most uncomfortable he has ever worked on.

Martin Clunes & Neil Morrissey reunite for sketch

If you're a child of the nineties your little heart is about to do somersaults - Men Behaving Badly is back in a one off special for this year's Stand Up To Cancer.

Cast rehearse Neville's Island

Rehearsal photos have been released for the upcoming West End transfer of Tim Firth's comedy. Leading the cast of Angus Jackson's production are Adrian Edmondson, who is reprising his performance as Gordon from the original run in Chichester, Miles Jupp, Neil Morrissey and Robert Webb.

Based on its initial airing this week, I hope to God that Over to Bill doesn't return as it was completely flawed from start to finish. The premise sounded promising enough as weatherman Bill Onion (Hugh Dennis) was fired from his job at the BBC and had to look for work elsewhere. His mate Jez (Neil Morrissey) promised to arrange a meeting with a powerful acquaintance but this meant that Bill had to keep his friend's horrible fiancée Selina (Helen George) on side. This wasn't easy as Selina was portrayed as a high-maintenance gold-digger who was only marrying Jez for the money he made selling his dog chewing gum idea.

I was surprised that Over to Bill was written and directed by such an experienced comedy hand as Red Dwarf's Doug Naylor because to me it felt like the work of a first-time writer. Every cliché was trotted out here from Bill accidentally drinking breast milk to him forgetting to bring a wedding gift to Jez's nuptials and having to stop at a petrol station to purchase a replacement.

In addition to the old-fashioned script, the characters were on the whole fairly unlikeable. The only exception to this rule was Bill's wife, played by the lovely Tracy-Ann Oberman, who I felt was far too good for this fool of a man. The fact that the final gag involved Bill and his wife donating bone marrow tells you all you need to know about a programme that more than suited the slot that was recently occupied by such duds as Father Figure and The Wright Way.

Neil Morrissey & Caroline Quentin reunite for play

Men Behaving Badly duo Neil Morrissey and Caroline Quentin reunite for Noel Coward play.

Radio Times review

Hugh Dennis is Bill, a hangdog weatherman who is sacked from the BBC and replaced by a stunning young woman. Infuriated, bitter Bill sets out to find another job, this time with C4. It's not much of a premise for a comedy, but then Over to Bill isn't much of a comedy.

It's supposed to be a comedy (written by Red Dwarf's Doug Naylor) because it's part of a brief revival of the much-loved Comedy Playhouse strand, which produced abiding hits Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part and The Liver Birds.

But Over to Bill won't trouble the comedy stratosphere like those classics. There are jokes about the accidental drinking of breast-milk, emergency present-buying from a garage and a particularly tasteless routine about bone marrow transplants. Neil Morrissey and Call the Midwife's Helen George co-star as Bill's shallow friends.