eddiez61 The Character that Steve Coogan has created, or rather perfected, for Saxondale is deeply, profoundly demented. But it's Coogan's mastery of the nuances of bitter, disillusioned, middle aged neurosis that makes his character so appealing, so universal. It's impossible not to identify with the short tempered, self centered, frustratingly inflexible, outrageously arrogant exterminator. It's hilarious, the ease with which his chatty, oddly attractive dispatcher presses his buttons - perhaps lovingly teasing him - and undermines his ruggedly assembled self-image. It's like watching a Medieval fortress collapse under the weight of a butterfly.Saxondale's life is all behind him. He lives in the past where all his great heroes and great ideals were born and died, along with his philosophy & references & hair style & car. Actually, the yellow fast back Mustang is quite cool. He is now nearly alone in a shallow & tedious world of semi-intelligent optimists; his once fiery passions doused by the forces of mediocrity, or so he would tell it. His wife owns an alternative lifestyle shop where she conceives tee shirt slogans to shock and disgust the straight world. She does this with the casual innocence of a florist. She tests his patience but somehow avoids his wrath because, well, he loves her. His rage unleashes at the most absurd inappropriate moments, usually after someone has failed to grasp the stunning genius of one of his savagely witty quips. It's a hostile hybrid of The Office's David Brent and any other show in the history of broadcast TV that featured a misunderstood dreamer. An undervalued, little recognized, criminally ignored treasure of a programme that saved me from many a laugh-less evening. Series 2 actually surpasses the first. One of my all time favorites, that grows more wonderful each time I climb aboard for another action packed adventure in the fast paced world of pest control.

Thorsten-Krings Steve coogan is mainly known for being Allan Partridge- a character he and his brilliant team Armando Ianucci, Patrick Marber, Rebbecca Front and Doon McKickan developed over a period of ten years to perfection. This growth of the character plus the genius of mainly Marber as an actor were one key to the Partridge success. Saxondale is his first stand alone character to go through two complete series. Saxondale works surprisingly well. The ex roadie turned pest controller with an anger management problem is unlike Allan not a character you laugh at but you laugh with- in other words he is "funny but with dignity". A lot of the ideas are very original and Coogan is a master in creating expectations of what will happen next and then not doing it not unlike the late John Hughes. The first series is entertaining but not great. Hardly ever do you laugh out loudly but some of the gags stay with you and make you chuckle for quite a while. One of the reasons why series 1 doesn't quite deliver is that Coogan over acts Saxondale. The second series however is superior in essence. The timing of the gags and jokes is perfect, again the standard of writing is very high and Coogan is more restrained than in the first series which makes it much funnier, like the conversations with his nighbour when Saxondale deadpans every attempt at humour. Each show begins with a very funny anger management therapy session and also has an exchange between Saxondale and dimwit secretary Vicky played very well by Morwena Banks.

Tony Pendrey Maybe you have to be a similar age to Tommy Saxondale to really appreciate a lot of the humour. Well, I am and Steve Coogan has created one of the most unique comic creations ever seen on TV.Look out for the subtle use of tics and mannerisms that make Saxodale such a watchable character. And fantastic support from all.Rasmus H. is just right as Tommy's assistant, basically playing the same character he portrays in "Lead Balloon". Ruth Jones is dead sexy and Morwenna Banks is a treasure.This is a multi-dimensional comedy. Always varied and not just playing on the idea of an ageing "hippy" out of place in the modern world. Poor old Tommys' encounters with some squatters was pure comic brilliance. I love it.

catgordon1 We all know him. The mildly intellectual ex-hippy who twists himself into knots with cliché upon tongue-in-cheek rock reference upon flipped round adage...Yes it is set pieces. Eery episode has the secretary scene, the neighbour scene. and so forth.but its really funny. steve coogan is an actor as well as a comedian, inhabiting the role with tics and grimaces.Morenna Banks (rarely on screen at mo) has her chance to shine every week and Rasmus Hardikeris a brilliant newt-faced straight man.worth a watch, especially mid-week when there's sod all else on TV!