SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

Sharkflei Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

SnoosReviews Set solely in a Northern Boozer in Manchester, Early Doors is a sitcom with a small selection of witty characters. It is a fly on the wall type show which is packed full with realism, witty dialogue and lovable, complete characters who all add something special to the show. It is one of the most relaxing shows I have ever seen and at 3 hours per season, time will fly by without you noticing whatsoever.The assemble of characters is what makes this show so memorable as they are all perfectly created and the actors/actresses are selected with faultless precision. You have the barman Ken with his adopted daughter Mel and his Mother, his Mothers cleaner and friend, the old miserable man who doesn't like conversation or to be involved in anything and who is angry at the world. The best friend men in dead end jobs who have marriage problems, the table of gossiping women, out for free drinks, looking to cop off and the oddball couple who have a heart of gold but are ultimately social outcasts, although they are still loved by everybody! There are also a couple of on- duty bent coppers who regularly appear for free drinks in return for 'law enforcement'. Other characters come and go but that is your main group and it works perfectly!Early Doors taps in to the concept that the average person who is working class, visits the boozer night after night to drink the cheapest beer they can find and smoke their nights away, is more than happy to see the same people every night and talk about unimportant things, often repeated daily. Runnings jokes are common in this show and they make it all the funnier, it doesn't get boring or repetitive, it's simply realistic and hilarious. The temporary traffic light joke is a prime example of this!Craig Cash writes and stars in this and he does it in complete comedy gold. Not much happens in each episode, nothing needs to happen really. All you need is good dialogue, witty sarcastic banter and a sense of working class realism to make it feel authentic and special. Craig Cash masters this perfectly. You could say it's the Royle Family in a pub, or Phoenix Nights without Peter Kay. I would say it's neither as it has its own style and is strong enough to stand on its own as a British Classic, an overlooked gem which sadly doesn't get the recognition that it truly deserves.10/10

Dodger-9 This is easily one of the best sitcoms of the 21st century. Penned by Craig Cash and Phil Mealey, the ensemble cast do wonders with the script, and even though Eddie (Mark Benton) hammers a gag home to the point of annoyance, the effect doesn't detract from the series. The first run was beautifully handled by director Adrian Shergold, and while the second didn't boast the same gorgeous photography, Craig Cash ensured it was as rib tickling and as poignant. The rest of the cast are wonderful. Christine Bottomley is a ray of sunshine, while John Henshaw gives a sublime performance as her adoptive dad. Although there was no Christmas special or a third series, at least fans were left wanting more instead of wishing cast and crew hadn't milked the format dry. To the regiment! You'll wish you were there.

Paul Evans This has to be the most underrated and forgotten about 'MASTERPIECE' that has ever come out of the BBC, writers Craig Cash and Phil Mealey crerated something absolutely wonderful here with this one. Why on Earth did this not get more coverage and no further series, Criminal, the characters were all thoroughly believable and lovable!!! Jean and Winnie's dailogues are just the most funny thing I have ever seen, incredible. But the line of Eddie and Tommy speaking about Joan's driving test, wot sign would you expect to see on a narrow country lane answer 'fresh farm eggs for sale' absolute genius. I can see the same fate happening to the current series 'The Visit' very similar and again wonderfully fantastic, why aren't these on bbc on prime spots instead of rubbish like 'after you've gone and green green grass!!! Please someone read this and take note. To the regiment!!! I wish i was there, a real gem of comedy, with a hint of heart warming drama running through it as well

Sulla-2 For some reason which is not really explained the Licencee Ken, who is an excellent character, shouts this in every episode and anyone withing hearing replies, " I wish I was there " Unfortunately this class comedy has only been shown on BBC 2, a minor terrestrial channel. It deserves showing on the main BBC 1 channel so that the British public can fully appreciate it. It will then get the credit it so richly deserves. Others have accurately described the programme so I think i should comment on the two Policemen who scive in the back room of the pub. I don't know what the Police Force is like these days but a few years ago these two officers, although a little OTT, would be more representative of normal Policemen than in all specialist Police programmes.