Him & Her

Him & Her review

It's ironic, but only when a BBC3 comedy/drama aims above the core teen demographic the channel was created for, only then does it produce quality shows like Being Human and the sorely missed Pulling. Brand new sitcom Him & Her is capable of joining those hits in viewer's estimations, provided it can build on the promise of this first episode.

Speaking of romance brings us to Him & Her, a comedy which opened with slacker Steve complimenting girlfriend Becky on her advanced oral skills before a bit of banter on the toilet. So it was safe to say we were not going down the sharp and sophisticated witty banter route.

Instead Him & Her was like snuggling under the duvet for a weekend with toast crumbs rocking up in each and every crevice. It's sleazy fun and, as played by Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani, not without a certain soiled charm. But you'll need a splash of cleansing cold water straight after.

Him and Her was originally given the frankly awful title of Young, Unemployed & Lazy. It's great that they changed it, as it could have fatally altered perceptions of this witty, touching show. Written by Stefan Golaszewski, it's is the story of a twentysomething couple, Steve and Becky (Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani) loafing around a one-bed flat hoping the rest of the world leaves them alone. Set in real time, it has the feel of a series of short plays and, like Golaszewski's other work, balances pathos and dry wit beautifully. There's great support from Ricky Champ, Kerry Howard and Joe Wilkinson, too.

New series If you find the gentle relationship comedy of Roger and Val Have Just Got In a bit staid, Stefan Golaszewski's lewd and crude comedy should be more up your street. Russell Tovey stars as unemployed Jack-the-lad Steve, whose main preoccupation is having sex with his girlfriend, Becky (Sarah Solemani), in his grotty bedsit. When it's not plumbing the depths, there are some good moments of bickering that will be recognisable to anyone who's ever been in a relationship. And just as natural that Steve - like most men - always manages to say the wrong thing. The chemistry between the two leads and its naturalistic tone gives Him & Her's filthy comedy a warm-hearted edge, though sometimes it pushes the naturalism too far - I really don't need to see Sarah Solemani going to the toilet, thanks.

This new comedy for BBC3 is actually pretty good. Centered around the squalid bedsit of an unemployed couple it's unashamedly gritty, and plumbs the comedic depths that few shows are brave enough to exploit. But despite the filthy tone the show's leads (Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani) lend Him & Her a warm-hearted edge that makes the whole package come together somehow.

Fresh from making a right mess in Being Human, Russell Tovey returns to BBC3 and, well, makes a right mess in this new comedy. But it's not because he's a werewolf, it's because he and his girlfriend like to doss about their bedsit.

BBC3 is a queer beast - it seems to churn out endless episodes of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, but then also makes the likes of Being Human. Inconsistent is what we'd write on the channel's school report, which is why you're not quite sure whether to be excited by this new comedy, or resigned to disappointment.

However, we're happy to say that this number is far sharper than some of the other alleged comedies (the totally hapless Coming of Age inevitably springs to mind) broadcast on BBC3, thanks to a well-observed script and spot-on performances from Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani as a young, lazy couple.

They're totally in love, and totally can't be bothered to do anything other than slouch around their bedsit, eat takeaways and neck booze. Quite a bit of booze. This is far from the romantic ideal of young, heart-busting, all-consuming love, because that would just be too much effort for these two.

So don't be afraid of BBC3's newest comedy - but if you do invite it in to your home, make sure it takes its shoes off first, because their flat is a right old state.

There's a sheen of rudeness slathered over this sitcom which is almost a shame, because at its heart is a rather lovely relationship between Him (Russell Tovey) and Her (Sarah Sulemani). Their performances are absolutely brilliant and will ensure that people tune in for next week too. The script doesn't quite live up to them yet, being pleasant enough to make you smile but never sharp enough to make you laugh. It really should have She & Him doing the theme tune too.

Him & Her: Who makes the best flatmate?

Last week, I spoke to Russell 'Being Human' Tovey and Sarah Solemani, who play Becky and Steve, in the new comedy Him & Her which starts tonight at 10.30pm on BBC Three. You can read the first part of the interview on the blog and today in part two I thought it would be good to introduce you to some of the other characters in the show. There's Becky's sister Laura and her cheating fiance Paul and needy neighbour Dan (who's my personal favourite). But what do Russell and Sarah think?

Him And Her review: SexCom

Viewers may have a bit of a problem accepting that these two obviously unstupid people have decided upon a life of such sloth that it makes most university students look like bricklayers in Baghdad, but this remains a fresh and funny take on a modern genre.

Russell Tovey & Sarah Solemani interview

On arrival for my chat with Him & Her stars Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani, I couldn't help but notice the fitting nature of the setting.