Rafe Spall

Trying is Apple TV+'s first dedicated comedy, apparently, and rather good for what it is. What it is is something about a north London couple trying to adopt, and a refreshingly non-Richard Curtis London couple, for what's sure to be a global viewership, or as much as Apple TV+ can depend on a global viewership, which is frankly not yet much.

It's funny, genuinely, with some very good lines. Rafe Spall as Jason excels as one half of the trying couple, lugubrious and staunchly anti-intellectual, yet half-wise. Where it falls down, and certainly not with the actor, Esther Smith (Nikki), is in the tweeness of characterisation. In 2005 film critic Nathan Rabin coined, not entirely unkindly, the phrase "manic pixie dream girl" for a certain type of heroine, and Nikki's certainly that - dungarees, breezy kookiness, squirrels and rainbows.

Unfortunately, this all spills over into the adoption process, with Nikki constantly trying to better herself (reading Dostoevsky, attending lectures with three highlighter pens) rather than Just Being Herself. Which will win in the long run. I'm sorry, it's rather good, but it irritated, with its cliched (bad) books versus (good) carefree-beach vibe, when there's no quandary. It's not a zero-sum game.

Rafe Spall on Trying

Spall stars alongside Esther Smith in the tender, funny and compassionate comedy about a 30-something couple who try for adoption after realising they're unable to have children themselves.

Trying, review

Apple TV's first British comedy isn't as funny or as quirky as it's trying to be.

Review: Trying, Apple TV+

Apple TV+'s first British original comedy is an interesting one. It both plays it very safe, with its cosy thirtysomething Camden Town environment and also goes into some unusual territory as it deals with a young couple going through the difficult process of adopting.

Trying review

Rafe Spall and Esther Smith are brilliant as the couple considering adoption - and rising above the absurdities of their painful plight.

Trying review

Super charming adoption comedy is an instant Apple TV+ delight.

Trying review

Trying works because of its tremendous cast and its sweet but never cloying approach to maturity, relationships, and, of course, parenthood.

Rafe Spall interview

The lead of new comedy series Trying talks about acting with his father, Timothy, and why he misses coverage of Brexit.

Rafe Spall and Esther Smith interview

We're spending so much time together as well, it's such a relief to know that you're going to be going into work every day and you like the person that you're spending all your time with.