FlindersRanger As a parent, I see bits of the raising of my own children - and now my grandchildren! - in this terrific show. The fact it's partly improvised, lend heaps of cred to this great comedy. As an Aussie, I've always loved British comedy; they're the best at it, and this one is right up there with the cream of the crop!

geordiesdad This DREADFUL mish-mash of poor acting and ridiculous situations could ONLY be useful as an instructional video on how to be a terrible parent. Are there REALLY parents out there that permit their 5 year old to play soccer in the house or contemplate whether or not to allow their 6 year old to take a cordless drill equipped with a 10 inch wood bit to school? BTW...They finally veto the idea not based on the reality that he might injure someone else or himself.....destroy property or that it might actually be illegal BUT because it isn't show and tell day.....that's on a Friday not a Tuesday. But by Friday he might have changed his mind and wants to bring a running chain saw.....stay tuned for the answer! How ANYONE with a functioning brain could find this even remotely amusing is completely beyond me but the high ratings absolutely astound me....perhaps it's not so much a generation gap issue as a cultural one.....in Canada this would not have made the cut for a late night documentary on poor child rearing. God help us if this is what Brits think is entertainment

andytools ... the answer from me too is "No", especially if it ever clashes with "Outnumbered".Every now and again the stars line up. This week we have had "Outnumbered" and "Gavin and Stacey". Two sitcoms that are the best since "The Office". In my view they both jump straight into the Top 10 BBC comedies.I've never been the biggest fan of Hugh Dennis. Always thought he was part of the safer, slightly unfunny half of the Mary Whitehouse Experience with mate Steve Punt. How things turn around. David Baddiel seems to be in a vacuum, Rob Newman is now a single issue eco mega bore. With "Outnumbered" and his witty contributions to "Mock The Week" Dennis has come through with this fantastic funny performance.Claire Skinner is also brilliant and the children .... well words cannot describe how good they are.So it may seem odd when I say that I hope they never make another series of "Outnumbered". This series has been so perfect, such an accurate natural snapshot of a few weeks of one family's life that I want us to leave them and wonder how they turn out. A second series often has elements of the contrived.Well done Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin and all the cast. A gem !

greatdonno This is simply the best written sitcom of the year so far, certainly for the BBC, it plays like The Royle Family for the middle class each line is perfectly written and timed to perfection. Hugh Dennis is always good when he looks a little flustered and Claire Skinner is great as harassed mother while Samantha Bond proves their is life after well.. Bond as the ditzy aunt. But its the kids who really should be praised for the most realistic portrayals of children on T.V. ever. Mostly improvising their lines to avoid falling into the clichés - the elder boy is the antithesis of the eleven year old in his first weeks at secondary school keeping his head down, monosyllabic and trying to keep the fact he is being bullied under wraps. The younger boy plays for laughs as the constantly lying middle child he is full of energy and manages to be annoying and likable at the same time. While the little girl is really cute and asking any question that pops into her brain stumping the parents every five minutes. The show is also great with dealing with issues such political correctness, bullying, the class system and the elderly in such a breezy and non-preachy manner. After several years in the wilderness following the success of Drop the Dead Donkey, Guy Jenkins and Andy Hamilton have created another great sitcom which has been buried in the schedules by the BBC and therefore probably won't be noticed by most people who turn the TV off after the 10 o'clock news, this may find cult status on repeat viewing and come back for a second series in a new and improved time slot.