The Wrong Mans

Radio Times review

How would any of us, the ordinary goofs of the world, cope with finding ourselves toe-to-toe with international gangsters and rogue spies? The Wrong Mans never fails to work good-hearted comedy from the scenes between macho lunks and our two council workers from Bracknell, forever way out of their depth and making it up as they go along.

In this episode there's a scene where they have to detail their experience in bomb-making to some glowering chaps in black. Phil (James Corden) improvises desperately about having once put Mentos in a bottle of Coke, which "really did go absolutely everywhere." Will this sort of endearing bluster get them home for Christmas?

'The Wrong Mans' - Q&A with Mathew Bayton

Tellyspotting recently sat down with series co-creator/writer/star, Mathew Baynton, to talk about what's in store for Sam and Phil in S2 and, basically, all-things comedy.

Radio Times review

For some of us The Wrong Mans was the unexpected TV treat of last year. The comedy thriller about two hapless nobodies caught in an international espionage plot could have wobbled in so many ways (not funny, not thrilling, not making sense) but it never put a foot wrong.

For that, all credit to writers/stars James Corden and Mathew Baynton, whose council postboy Phil and planning officer Sam were forever searching for the heroes inside themselves, facing up to rock-hard criminals and above all "rolling deep".

We might have guessed it wouldn't turn out smoothly for them. As this two-parter starts, they're holed up with new identities at a trucking firm in Texas, and pining for home. Well, Sam is - Phil has managed to convince a local girl he's a former pro-wrestler who did brain surgery on the side. But fate has more trouble in store, involving Mexican drug lords, Russian assassins and a terrific dig at Top Gear.

The Wrong Mans preview

A slow start before James Corden and Mat Baynton get back to their best.

Mat Baynton: Wrong Mans had its own "Sherlock problem"

It may not have a falling Benedict Cumberbatch, but The Wrong Mans series 2 had its own cliffhanger problems to solve, explains its co-creator.

James Corden's Hollywood success could end show

Mathew Baynton has admitted The Wrong Mans could come to an end if James Corden's US career goes well.

The Wrong Mans returns with a Bang!

The Wrong Mans has once again proven that comedy can be dramatic, tense and thrilling. If anything, the first part to the Christmas special was more of what made the first series so brilliant.

The Wrong Mans: James Corden & Matthew Baynton shine

I'm just hoping that we get a satisfying conclusion tomorrow night that offers more laughs and thrills than tonight's story provided.

The Wrong Mans, TV review: boys hit the ground running

It's a common sitcom mis-step: relocate the action to a more glamorous setting and lose the "com" inherent in the "sit" along the way. The Wrong Mans (BBC Two), which has moved stateside for a second series split over two hour-long episodes, makes a rare exception to that rule. This action-comedy caper was always based on the juxtaposition of ordinary characters and extraordinary circumstance.

The Wrong Mans, review, series 2: a gleeful comedy romp

James Corden's action movie-comedy crossover is a combustible mix of hi-octane thrills and wry humour but it barely put a foot wrong.