Tag Archives: Geoffrey Whitehead

Not Going Out. Christmas Special 2023. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Lee Mack, Sally Breton, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Deborah Grant, Geoffrey Whitehead, Richard Syms, Francesca Newman, Max Pattison, Finlay Southby, David Hargreaves, Delroy Atkinson, Angela McHale, Ketorah Williams.

To get a British comedy series to a hundred episodes is no mean feat, it is rare, it takes perseverance, and a following that almost pleads with the makers to continue the story line of a much-loved character and those who are family, friends, and the recipients of the farce that often ensues.

Not Going Out. Series 13. Television Comedy Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Lee Mack, Sally Breton, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Deborah Grant, Geoffrey Whitehead, Francesca Newman, Max Pattison, Finlay Southby, Selina Griffiths, Chris McCausland, Melvyn Hayes, Kiana Wu, Melanie Gray, Rich Keeble, Bryan Hands, Mukamajule Michelo, Sanchia McCormack, Viss Elliot Safavi, Tanvi Virmani, Jonny Dixon, Adam Boardman, Dan Linney, David Ajao, James Benson, Naveed Khan, Sabrina Sandhu, Matt Weyland.

Despite the loss of Bobby Ball as Lee’s Father, series 13 of the acclaimed comedy Not Going Out stands out as one that is unafraid to tackle certain sensitivities that come as life’s journey winds on.

Not Going Out. Series 12. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Lee Mack, Sally Breton, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Deborah Grant, Geoffrey Whitehead, Tony Gardner, Colin McFarlane, Samantha Spiro, Joselyn Jee Esien, Katie Redford, Jolyon Coy, Gwyneth Powell, Joe Wilkinson, Stephanie Langton, Anil Desai, Max Pattison, Francesca Newman, Finley Southby, Max Willis, Rich Keeble.

It may be a huge claim, but few have scaled such a height in British television comedy that they can be compared so favourably to the legendary, and beloved Tony Hancock.

Not Going Out (Christmas Special 2021).

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Lee Mack, Sally Breton, Deborah Grant, Geoffrey Whitehead, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Jason Donovan, Rick Astley.

The trick is to so all you can to stay fresh whilst never betraying the core values of what made you popular in the first place; if you can master that then the world of entertainment and art is at your beckoned call.

Still Open All Hours, Series Six. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: David Jason, James Baxter, Stephanie Cole, Maggie Ollerenshaw, Brigit Forsyth, Johnny Vegas, Sally Lindsay, Tim Healy, Kulvinder Ghir, Geoffrey Whitehead, Sue Holderness, Katie Redford, Sophie Willan, Dean Smith, Archie Panjabi, Clive Mantle.

There is a place for consistency in this world, that not everything requires the phantasm of excess to thrill and delight an audience, that it is worth remembering that the so called gentle comedy can be just as subversive as the supposed anarchic; and across time it is to actors such as David Jason that provides the link between the two.

Still Open All Hours, (Christmas 2018). Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: David Jason, James Baxter, Stephanie Cole, Brigit Forsyth, Maggie Ollerenshaw, Kulvindar Ghir, Sally Lindsay, Johnny Vegas, Tim Healy, Katie Radford, Rita Tushingham, Roger Sloman, Geoffrey Whitehead, Sophie Willan.

At any time of year it is important to remember to shop local, the CEOs of large corporations don’t need that extra few bucks in which to keep to themselves, so called high flyers who profit off the debt in which we have become accustomed too, can by the collective will of the people, find themselves a little poorer, a little less sanctimonious, a might less smug.

Not Going Out -Live. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Lee Mack, Sally Breton, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Deborah Grant, Geoffrey Whitehead, Mark Kempner,

There is always a concern when it comes to attempt to pull off the live show, especially when it a comedy, particularly when it is one comfortable in its own skin of being one that can be rehearsed to the point of exhaustion to make it seem sharp and on the ball. The trouble is with recording weeks or even months in advance is that relies far too eagerly on the set-up and not enough on the natural skill of the performer in which to bring the element of surprise, the ability to rise above the fluffed line with the spur of the moment quip or ad-lib in which to keep the momentum moving.

Still Open All Hours, Series Four. Television Review. (2018).

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: David Jason, James Baxter, Stephanie Cole, Tim Healy, Maggie Ollerenshaw, Johnny Vegas, Brigit Forsyth, Kulvinder Ghir, Sally Lindsay, Nina Wadia, Geoffrey Whitehead.

Natural progression in comedy is essential, especially on television where the day to day unravelling is far more illuminating than quick fire and often mistimed, it is perhaps the modern label though of gentle, or worse, wholesome, comedy that makes people avoid programmes such as Still Open All Hours; and by doing so the television viewer is missing out on the established acting range that is the product of honing dedicated skills in theatre and on television which has not been written by committee.

Not Going Out (Christmas Special).2017. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Lee Mack, Sally Breton, Bobby Ball, Geoffrey Whitehead, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Deborah Grant, Keith Barron.

A Christmas special, especially one in which comedy writers are expected to create, can go either way, either it is one that defies the convention of the season and goes all out to produce anarchy and chaos or it submits and goes down the road of the pre-fabricated Christmas tree, complete with decorations and a rather sickly angel dressed in colours of Battenberg Cake rather than the off white purity. Either way, it has to be endured and if that is the case then chaos, anarchy and slight resentment are always the finer treat to laugh alongside.

Still Open All Hours, Series Two. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: David Jason, James Baxter, Lynda Baron, Stephanie Cole, Maggie Ollerenshaw, Brigit Forsyth, Kulvinder Ghir, Tim Healy, Johnny Vegas, Nina Wadia, Sally Lindsay, Emily Fleeshman, Misha Timmins, Geoffrey Whitehead, Gareth Hale, Duggie Brown, Des Yankson, Jo Martin, Jemma Churchill.

There is always room for the gentle comedy, it is a peculiar but loving trait that suits the British viewer well and seems to never cross borders or international timelines unless packaged just right and then it becomes an export boom, and yet for whatever reason and thankfully it has to be said, the programme never gets replicated. For there really can only be one Granville at the helm of only one Arkwright’s and there is only one place in which Still Open All Hours can be so loved.