Outnumbered (BBC1, also tonight and tomorrow, 10.35pm, and Mon/Tues/Wed next week) is a low-key comedy looking at middle-class parenting. We know it’s low-key because there’s no theme tune (classy, you see). There are many clues when it comes to the middle-class thing: much of the action takes place in a spacious kitchen/diner, they talk about missing the walking bus, and the phone not being in its cradle becomes a major issue.
Unlike, say My Family, though, this show’s middle-class-ness is integral; Outnumbered wants to explore the anxieties -and often absurdities – of middle-class parenting. Are they under-parenting, or over-parenting? Is it really Bring Your Granny To Work Day? Should I bribe my kid to get into the car?
Sue (Claire Skinner) and Pete (Hugh Dennis) play the parents who over-think every single decision, and as such, get a lot of them wrong. But then, two of their three kids aren’t exactly the easiest to parent.
Jake is the oldest and very much the wisest (probably of the whole family, mum and dad included). He’s the ultimate 21st century early teen: tech savvy, smart, lazy, perceptive and cheeky. In a well-appointed town-house devoid of order, he is an ocean of calm… well, slightly grumpy calm. If only his younger siblings got those genes. Middle child Ben is an absolute nightmare who lies at every possible opportunity, and decides that a cordless drill is a suitable subject for Show And Tell, which, he lies, has been changed to today.
And then there’s the youngest, little Karen, who is just a little too good at picking up on other people’s conversations, and who likes to ask questions about absolutely everything. Karen is played by Ramona Marquez and you just have to see her. Marquez provided pretty much every single laugh last night – I don’t know whether she was closely following a script, or improvising along with the rest of the cast but either way she is still a tiny genius.
As her mum combed the nits out of her hair, she asked whether she could keep one as a pet. Then whether she could keep it in her hair so it could start a Nit Town. When that was shot down, she moved onto other animals. “Could I have a giraffe? (No, a giraffe’s a bit big) Could I have… a lion? (No, that might be a bit dangerous) Could I have………….. a puffin?” The reaction on Skinner’s face suggests that Marquez came up with this on her own. See what I mean? Genius.
Overall, this might not be a masterpiece, but there were some great lines along the way, as we would expect from the writers of Drop The Dead Donkey, and the performances are all pleasingly natural and believable – possibly Skinner aside, who I found rather annoying. But please, you have to watch Outnumbered just to see this kid Ramona Marquez. She’s a star.
My review of the series as a whole can now be found here.
[annawaits]
This is without doubt the best television program I have sene in years. For the love of God make a second series!
Fantastic show those kids are unbelievably good. Please let me know if there is going to be some more episodes and could they put it on earlier
What a fantastic, natural show. Please, please ,please let there be another series. We all looked forward to the weekely instalments so much. I don’t know how the directors got the children to act like children. We’ve all met them at one time or another, especially if ,like myself, you have taught primary age kids.
We all loved “Outnumbered” what a pleasant surprise to have such a brilliant programme, and it was funny as well, a rareity these days.
Lets hope there is another series, and that the first series is out on dvd very soon.
Thank you, Pam Hulme
I think all the adjectives have been used. What an absolutely fantastic comedy. I too, stumbled across it when I was channel hopping and was about to switch off to retire to bed when I started watching it. FABULOUS. Those kids are natural, it was like it was unscripted. I have spoken to lots of people who knew nothing about it, no doubt as it was on so late at night. BBC please repeat it soon and hope you are working on a second series. But this time can it be on at a more reasonable time. I couldn’t see why it was on so late, it certainly didn’t need to be after the water shed. Lovely innocent true to life series.
Is there going to be a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh series? I love it. pleeeeeeeeease!
I thought Outnumbered was one of the best British comedies i have ever seen. I’ve never posted anything online about anything before but feel compelled to do this to add to the pressure on the BBC to produce more and more series and a DVD for Christmas! Please please please! Karen was the one who stole the show for me but all the cast, including the adults were just brilliant. Very very good stuff! Nice one!
Like so many of the comments before, I too just happened to stumble across this – and it is absolutely brilliant!!!. Some of the sketches in it are so true to life – and so funny. Like when the dad is finding a story to read to Karen – and he’s trying to find the shortest one Also when she is going to leave home – laugh out loud funny. I’ve missed a few though, anyone know when it will be repeated?
i think this is great only saw some of them but wen is it on again?
This must be on DVD immedietly!!who’s in charge at the BBC???
Just want to add to clamour for a repeat/new series/DVD. My oldest child missed it but my teenagers loved it almost as much as I did. The children, scripted or unscripted, made this series although I thought the adults interacted brilliantly with them. MORE – before they (the kids) get any older – or spoilt!!
I was gutted that I couldn’t buy this DVD for people for Christmas! I have never wanted to share a TV experience as much as I have this one. I wish someone from the BBC would explain the scheduling but, more than that, I wish they would respond to people’s wishes for the DVD release…soon! I missed the episode where the middle son (a young Alan Davies?)shouts “Stranger! Stranger!” in the supermarket and just the thought of it makes me laugh.