Steve Bennett (I)
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 101
Young Hyacinth preview
Routledge herself has been scathing about the project, saying: 'Why are they doing this sort of thing? They must be desperate.' Though with Keeping Up Appearances being the BBC's top export, you can understand the 'why' very easily, even if there's unlikely to be little clamour for this prequel.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd September 2016Goodnight Sweetheart preview
Goodnight Sweetheart is often a better concept than its jokes, and is strong on its dramatic elements.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd September 2016Our Ex-Wife preview
For a while there was the concept that sitcom characters had to be sympathetic and relatable. Well, that idea's gone out of the window with Our Ex-Wife, a bitterly antagonistic new comedy being piloted as part of the BBC's Landmark Sitcom series.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 1st September 2016Till Death Us Do Part preview
Tightened budgets are cutting deep at the BBC. They can't even afford sets with walls for their season of Lost Sitcoms...
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 1st September 2016Home From Home preview
The latest pilot in the BBC's Landmark Sitcom series, Home From Home is a warm, gentle affair, much down to the likeability of Johnny Vegas as a hapless beta-male, trying his best for his family.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 30th August 2016TV preview: The Coopers vs The Rest
Overall, the confident, funny writing and likeable performances all round make it a pleasure to meet the Coopers. After the travesty of remaking Are You Being Served?, the BBC could have a hit on their hands with this, the first of three pilots getting an airing in its Landmark Sitcom season.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 29th August 2016TV preview: Borderline
Much is made of how Borderline is part-improvised, though it's the result, not the process, that matters, and the subdued tone does mean it's relatively short on laugh-out-loud moments, though there are plenty of droll smiles. And while the characters are engaging, they don't have the strong personalities that would make Borderline an appointment-to-view, though that's always a hard call to make from just one episode before we know them properly.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 2nd August 2016Review: Great Yorkshire Fringe Comedian Of The Year
It's Yorkshire Day, so it's apt that the Great Yorkshire Fringe has crowned - presumably with a flat cap - a new comedian of the year.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 1st August 2016Nina Is Not OK, by Shappi Khorsandi - book review
Shappi Khorsandi has previously spoken of how her own problems with addiction informed her debut novel, which is perhaps why central character Nina feels so awfully real.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 27th July 2016The Rebel review
The key difference with The Rebel and One Foot In The Grave: Meldrew was battered by external forces driving him to distraction, but Palmer is the architect of his own fury. Plus you could never see Meldrew pogoing to The Jam in his living room.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 20th July 2016