Count Arthur Strong

A strong premise for this sitcom by Steve Delaney and Graham Linehan: Michael Baker, an author of rather dry books is commissioned to write a biography of his dead father, a famous comedian of the 1970s. Research duly leads Michael to his father's double act partner, Arthur Strong. Rory Kinnear is great as Michael Baker, but Arthur himself (Delaney) seems to be not so much a character as some cliches about elderly people, wearing a hat. What follows is mainly a procession of Last Of The Summer Wine-style "funny business".

Previously a minor cult on Radio 4, Count Arthur Strong makes the leap to the small screen courtesy of Graham Linehan (Father Ted). He has co-written the TV version with Steve Delaney, who plays the title role.

It's a bit of a self-consciously bonkers affair, Strong being the kind of over-the-top character who is the very definition of Marmite. Strong's speciality is mangling the English language until it screams for mercy - and you might be doing the same.

As far as I'm aware, just me, my friend Tim and RT's radio editor Jane Anderson are fans of Count Arthur Strong, comedian Steve Delaney's malapropism-prone creation, who's been comfortably berthed on Radio 4 for years. So it's good of Father Ted creator Graham Linehan to bring the Count to TV (as co-writer, with Delaney, and director) just for us.

Strong is an acquired taste, an exquisitely dreadful old fool, a hopeless former self-aggrandising variety show turn with delusions of greatness. He was always a divisive figure on Radio 4, so doubtless he'll split TV audiences, too. But give him a chance, parts of this are really funny. Who can resist nonsense like "She's choking, give her the Heineken manoeuvre!"

Lovely Rory Kinnear provides some sanity as the son of an old friend of the Count's, who's writing his dad's biography.

The challenge for much-loved radio institutions transferring to TV is introducing themselves to a new audience while keeping the loyal fanbase onside. On the basis of this series opener, Count Arthur Strong could go either way. As always, Steve Delaney's doddery, malapropistic and memory-challenged 'showbiz legend' manages some funny moments, but this still feels almost aggressively old school in its format and furthermore, very much like a show that might as well still be on the wireless.

The story arc involves Rory Kinnear's author Michael Baker attempting to write his father's biography. His father Max, was Count Arthur's comedy partner. And so it begins. Oddly, this show may be redeemed by its promising minor characters: Kinnear is amusingly prissy and pedantic, and we like the look of Chris Ryman as café owner Bulent too. Still, the jury's out for now.

Count Arthur Strong comes to the telly

Long a cult favourite on the comedy circuit and Radio 4, the sublimely dotty old thesp is getting his own sitcom. His creator Steve Delaney talks to Dominic Cavendish.

Count Arthur Strong, BBC Two, review

I laughed helplessly along. Delaney's script and delivery were a constant and quintessentially Countish joy, and it was smart to have furnished Arthur with a local caff to hang out in.

Count's transfer confirms Radio 4 as comedy pioneer

Steve Delaney's creation about ageing variety performer is latest of many BBC radio comedy shows to migrate to television.

How we brought Count Arthur Strong to TV

The television version of the Radio 4 cult favourite looks set to be a mainstream smash - its creators tell RadioTimes.com how they did it.

TV preview: Count Arthur Strong, BBC2

I saw a Tweet recently that asked if Count Arthur Strong was the new Mrs Brown. Having seen the first episode of the new sitcom starring Steve Delaney as befuddled old showbiz never-was Strong I think I can safely say that the answer is "no." It is not as smutty, not as low-brow, not as cliched as Mrs Brown. The only way it might be similar is that it might prove to be as popular as Mrs Brown. Though this time with good reason.