Comedy in crisis!

Lee Mack on playing a middle-aged ‘perennial loser’, moustache and all, in his new sitcom…

- Victoria Wilson

SEMI-DETACHED NEW THURSDAY / BBC2 / 10PM / EP 1 of 6 / COMEDY

Even in these strange times, we know we can still rely on Lee Mack to make us smile.

The Not Going Out star is back on our screens this week in a new, star-spangled sitcom, Semi-Detached, which returns to BBC2 for a six-part series following a pilot last year.

Each episode plays out in real time as we follow Lee as wedding DJ Stuart, a ‘perennial loser’ who lives in a suburban cul-de-sac.

As well as barely coping with a much younger partner, April (played by The Other One’s Ellie White), Stuart’s also looking out for his jailbird brother Charlie (Benidorm star Neil Fitzmaurice) and promiscuous dad Willie (Game of Thrones’ Clive Russell).

Adding to his woes is ex-wife Kate (Game of Thrones star Samantha Spiro), who lives opposite with their teenage daughter, Madonna, and Kate’s competitive new husband Ted (Marcella’s Patrick Baladi).

Pre-lockdown, TV Times was invited to London’s Ealing Hospital to watch Lee, who turns 52 on 4 August, filming. During a break, he joined us for a chat…

Are you thrilled Semi-Detached is now a series?