My Family

In which Ben is inconveniently promoted to head of human resources during an industrial dispute which he organised in the first place. Never mind whimsical, middle England comedy: the sight of the former Wolfie Smith suddenly crossing the floor and threatening to hire scabs is actually quite disturbing. Meanwhile, Susan and Janey discover they're both competing to front a new Jackanory-style kids' show. "Of course," as the producer says, "being family means there won't be any hard feelings, will there?"

Robert Lindsay had a point when he said the BBC was wrong to put on My Family after the watershed.

The BBC has said that now all the kids have left home it's time to make room for new comedy.

But in an earlier child-friendly tea-time slot, this could have limped on quite happily for another couple of decades with Ben and Susan fostering a new selection of amusing stage-school kids every year to fill their empty nest.

Alternatively, you could have shoved it into the schedule at 11 and it could have been the next Roger and Val Have Just Got In.

A married couple who loathe each other marooned together - neither of them wanting to leave their big house in Chiswick - and hoping the other one will die first. It would have been a bit like The Shining.

This week Ben is offered a fabulous promotion and Susan gets a sniff at a new career as a children's television presenter co-­starring alongside a chimp. But she's got competition.

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.

Second episode in the 11th and final series of the ever-popular sitcom. Janey and her mum are going on a hen night and leaving Kenzo with Ben. But grandson outwits grandparent and Ben is left out in the cold. Meanwhile, Roger goes on an internet date. "Is anyone looking for a Roger?" he shouts generally around the restaurant. It's idiotic gags like that which got My Family its hordes of snotty nay-sayers. But also, plainly, what got it millions of loyal viewers. Sometimes, fire-hosing the masses with inoffensive but lukewarm tea is what people want.

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.

My Family: will you miss it?

The final series of the flawed but popular mainstream sitcom begins tonight. Are you a fan?

My Family, BBC One, review

Ed Cumming finds little to laugh at in the first episode of the final series of BBC One's long-running sitcom.