SunTrap

SunTrap review

SunTrap deserves a chance. It's a clever idea: Kayvan Novak is an undercover reporter, on the run from his editor after a botched investigation at Buckingham Palace, and hiding out in a Mediterranean beach shack owned by a washed-up former journo (Bradley Walsh).

After unscrupulous tabloid hack Woody digs a little too far into the antics of the Establishment, he's sent scurrying to sunnier climes to avoid attention. Seeking refuge on a Spanish island, he visits former editor, Brutus, where Woody's undercover abilities and Brutus's elastic moral code provide an opportunity to earn money. With former Fonejacker Kayvan Novak an inspired choice as Woody, this new comedy-drama is a cut above recent BBC One offerings, despite pinching a premise from Gregory Mcdonald's Fletch novels.

A dastardly duo investigate crimes on a sunny Spanish island in this hilarious series of comedy capers.

Bradley Walsh and Kayvan Novak (Fonejacker), head up the cast as expat journalists trying to play detective and stay out of trouble at the same time.

The series also boasts a stellar line-up of cameo appearances, including Paul Kaye, Tracy Ann Oberman, Jack Dee and Kara Tointon.

Law & Order: UK actor Bradley said he thought the sitcom would appeal to families, so it's a shame schedulers have put it on so late. But it's worth recording.

The action starts when undercover reporter - and master of disguise - Woody (Novak) is forced to flee Britain after being framed by his corrupt boss.

He goes on the run to find Brutus (Walsh), his former mentor at the newspaper and the one man he can trust. Brutus, now living a quiet life running a bar (called El Baro) in sunny Spain, is less than thrilled to see Woody.

But in the end they join forces to investigate local crimes.

It's a bit like Magnum, P.I. meeting the cast of Benidorm.

"I wanted the Magnum look, but without the enormous moustache," said Kayvan, about the show.

"But it's nice to be in something without wearing a balaclava or prosthetic mask."

And Bradley said: "I'd spent so many years being a downtrodden detective, standing on Hammersmith Bridge at six o'clock in the morning, getting rained on.

"So I thought, why not go and do that in the sun!"

In this opener, Melody (Emma Pierson) asks Brutus to help her find her husband's millions. But there's a catch. The only living thing who knows where the money is hidden is Teflon, his talking parrot - and the parrot has been kidnapped.

Can they track down the bird-napper before it's too late?

Radio Times review

Kayvan Novak has swapped the edgy, late-night world of his E4 prank show Fonejacker for the sunny uplands of a mainstream BBC One comedy - with pretty good results. He's Woody, a former tabloid hack who, for various preposterous reasons, finds himself calling on the help of his old expat mucker Brutus (Bradley Walsh) in sunny Spain.

Novak is not the world's greatest actor but his mimicry skills are ably and exhaustively showcased in an assortment of silly capers that seem consciously to channel 80s favourites Magnum and Moonlighting. After a slow and clunky start, things do pick up and you'd need a heart of crushed cocktail ice not to eventually warm to this oddball comedy.

Kayvan Novak on returning to the spotlight

Prank calls almost killed me, says Novak. So why is he returning to comedy with new series SunTrap?

SunTrap, BBC One, review: 'tragic'

As you went about your business this morning, did you notice the people shuffling around looking bereft and hollow-cheeked? They may have been muttering "why?" or perhaps "how?", quite possibly slamming their heads into doorposts or stamping on their own feet. These people will come to be known as "The people who watched SunTrap last night", and I am one of them.

SunTrap, BBC One review

Austin Powers meets Tim Vine meets a script of breathtaking flimsiness.

Kayvan Novak on limited opportunities for ethnic actors

Facejacker star Kayvan Novak has spoken about the television industry, saying that there are limited opportunities for actors from ethnic backgrounds.

Bradley Walsh on swapping Law & Order for SunTrap

"It's something different - and that's the whole basis of what I wanted my career to be."

Kayvan Novak on swapping E4 for BBC One

"This was an intense way of making comedy and I thought I was the only man for the job and nobody else could have done what I did"