Why is it that every comedy now has to either have some "incredibly original" gimmick, or be extremely vulgar, or both, to hit it big? This consigns near-masterpieces like Early Doors to the slops bucket of TV history. Yes, as many observe, little happens in the course of the half hour, but you certainly don't even think about that when you're watching it. Cash and Mealey's genius is to realise that everybody's lives are generally repetitive, and so they are likely to have the same discussion in the same refuge every day. This is never treated with a hint of irony, but genuine warmth for the old school pubs that Ken and his lost bretheren run. Lacklustre shows like The Smoking Room and Little Britain, so pleased with themselves and determined to run down the losers, halfwits and layabouts of this world, would do well to learn from this and find that happiness is in whatever routine you, not society, carves out for you.

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.

This show is just about as good as TV gets. To watch it and suddenly realize 30 minutes have elapsed invariably surprises me. It is just about the most relaxing TV I have ever seen.The Grapes is typical of the back street pub close to extinction in the north west of England. Especially one that serves cask conditioned beer. It's a celebration of it's gentle goings on and a sad obituary to their passing.The latest series has just started and Ken realises the men in suits from the PubCo are round the corner, waiting to do what men in suits are consistently good at. Close the pub.In the second episode, Ken soldiers on stoically, he has a cold, his bone idle fat arsed mother asks how the kettle works, the degenerate bobby's Phil and Nige are passing the dutchie in the back room and in the front room, the sparse customers expose their lives unashamedly because that's what you do in The Grapes.After an episode packed with one liners, Ken finds himself propositioned by his barmaid. I only hope we don't have a storyline coming on. God forbid it. Early Doors is The Grapes not The Rovers Return.

I really wanted to like this. Much of it is good and the cast are all very able and convincing as the characters that they play.John Henshaw who plays Ken the landlord was fantastic as Roy in The Cops and here he seizes the part with both hands and shines throughout.However, much of this series was boring and repetitive. From Episode 1 we know Tommy is mean and miserable,the lazy cops always call, Eddie is obsessed with temporary traffic lights,Ken's mother is insane and a total gossip and so on.There was a kind of sub plot running through the series about Ken's daughter meeting her natural father but this threatened to get all emotional and out of step with the humour.The last episode where the pub regulars have a lad's day out was hilarious.Not in the same league as the Royle Family which Craig Cash also co-wrote but despite its failings it is still streets ahead of much of the guff that claim to be sitcoms on UK TV.