Zoë Wanamaker

The 11th and final series of the long-running sitcom starring Zoë Wanamaker and Robert Lindsay reaches its third episode. It's been around longer than cholera, and some might say it's about as funny, but that would be excessively harsh: it's a no-nonsense old-fashioned situation comedy, live studio audience and all, and Wanamaker and Lindsay bring a certain class to the script even when the lines themselves are a little hackneyed. It's certainly a cut above Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. Plus, it doesn't have that unbearable buffoon from the BT adverts any more, which is a definite bonus. This week Ben gets all Bob Crow and forms a union at work, while Susan auditions to become a children's TV presenter.

They've outstayed their welcome and now, after 11 years, the BBC is finally killing off the Harper family. Before we sound their death knell, though, we have this final series to get through. In tonight's episode Janey (Daniela Denby-Ashe) and Susan (Zoë Wanamaker) get caught up in cousin Kirsty's hen night woes.

Back for an extraordinary (in terms of longevity if nothing else) 11th series, and love is in the air at the Harper household as single mother Janey (Daniela Denby-Ashe) receives not one but two unexpected marriage proposals. Needless to say parents Ben (Robert Lindsay) and Susan (Zoë Wanamaker) have opposing views as to which offer she should accept.

The BBC should have killed off My Family at the end of series five before it went into terminal decline.

Now, 11 years on, the end is finally near as the last series begins.

Tonight Ben and Susan are at war with each other yet again as daughter Janey (Daniela Denby-Ashe) finds herself on the receiving end of three marriage proposals in one night.

Her parents are both very certain which man they'd like as a son-in-law - but will it be ­laid back Australian Craig, or wealthy Mark, who is Kenzo's father?

The acting is as subtle as the Harpers' taste in interior decoration (purple and orange, anyone?) and as uneven as Craig's wobbly Australian accent.

Although there are some surprisingly funny lines buried in here, you might find it hard to spot them after they've been bludgeoned to death by mum and dad Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker's sledgehammer delivery.

It's the final series of My Family, which is being retired by the BBC after 11 years. So perhaps now is not the time to marvel at how this strange, pantomime sitcom has managed to last for so long. The deeply resistible Harper household squirm, mug and double-take their way through an opening episode that sees brat-daughter Janey the subject of three marriage proposals from comedy half-wit men. As the gags fall like dead birds in a nuclear winter, stridently stupid paterfamilias Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay) and his wife, Susan (Zoë Wanamaker), each choose their perfect suitor for Janey. It is a very long half hour.

I'm not a huge fan of TV sitcoms, but I do find the BBC show My Family, starring Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker, stupidly funny.

But despite drawing in nearly five million loyal viewers, the BBC has decided to swing the axe.

As My Family contains no swearing, no violence, no rampant sex and a couple of stars in their sixties, it clearly has no place on the new BBC.

Why the writing was already on the wall for My Family

The BBC's decision to can the Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker sitcom after a decade has not come before time.

Audio: Miranda Hart on news of My Family being axed

Long-running BBC One sitcom My Family, starring Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker, has been axed. Comedy actress Miranda Hart gave her reaction.

Zoe Wanamaker: Arts world is run by men for men

Zoe Wanamaker, the star of BBC sitcom My Family, says she laments the lack of opportunities for women in the arts.