I want my wife back is one of those shows I feel with a little more time could develop into a well loved show. If you'd have watched 'the worst week of my life' a few years ago, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was an extension of it, identical humour, production values and jokes, even the same leading gentleman, who for my money does comedy brilliantly, as did his wife Caroline Catz, nice to see her in comedy. The brand of humour was enjoyable, quite light I guess, the feeling of a nineties sitcom that the whole family could enjoy, some would argue skittle dated, but it has a place. Some nice performances, Jan Francis and Stewart Weight were fine, but Priyanga Burford who played Nereesha was really funny. I hope it returns for a second run, I'm sure given longer it could improve.

I saw the advert for this British sitcom, I was obviously interested because of the leading actor, who I first remember seeing in Johnny English, and it sounded like a good simple format, so I gave it a go, and stuck with it until the end. Basically Murray (Ben Miller) is a nice guy, many people say so, he has good relationships with his friends, office work colleagues and staff, but his wife Bex (Doc Martin's Caroline Catz) feels that their marriage is not working anymore. So on the day where Murray plans a surprise party for her 40th birthday, Bex walks out on their marriage with no explanation, so Murray starts a quest to find out what went wrong and he can change. During the "temporary" separation Murray is trying anything he can to save his marriage with Bex, but he also has to manage the demands of his needy team members, and navigate through well-meaning but counter-productive advice from friends and family, but will he ever get his wife back. Also starring Kenneth Collard as Grant, Susannah Fielding as Emma, Abigail Thaw as Abbie, Ali G Indahouse's Stewart Wright as Curtis, Kate Miles as Tamzin, Priyanga Burford as Nereesha, Jan Francis as Paula, Peep Show's Cariad Lloyd as Keeley, The Mimic's Peter Wight as Don, James Lance as Julian Wolverton, Javone Prince as Zak and Gabby Best as Alice. Miller gives a terrific performance as the guy trying to help everyone out whilst trying to solve his own situation, Catz is also good as his unsatisfied but longing wife, many of the supporting cast members have great characters also, including the incompetent friend, the boss having an affair whilst his wife may also be canoodling and the highly boring office colleague. The story of a marriage in trouble and a possible mid-life crisis is done well, I was mostly laughing at the all the leading male character's awkward situations and terribly funny mistakes, the female leading character had her moments too, all in all it was a funny comedy show. Very good!

Everybody frantically overacts,speaks very loudly and generally gives "Look mum,it's me" type performances presumably to cover up the fact that "I want my wife back" is hack writing and "let's move hurriedly on to our next project" acting. The lovely Miss C.Catz,unlucky enough to have been lumbered with one underdeveloped 9 year old in "Doc Martin" has the double misfortune of finding herself partnering another one here. At least Doc Martin could help you out if you got a nasty rash. Mr B.Miller,chewing scenery as if he'd been on a 5 and 2 diet for six months is totally unbelievable as the idiot whose eternal dedication to his employers has finally driven his wife to call time on their marriage.He discovers this via a third party and spends the first episode in complete denial whilst their respective unknowing families prepare for a celebration for the happy couple. Mr S.Wright,another refugee from the beast of Port Wenn plays his boss in an echo of the Jack Lemmon Fred MacMurray relationship in "The Apartment". All concerned looked very uncomfortable and I only hope the remuneration compensated for the embarrassment. Farce isn't easy to pull off.I doubt if Sir Brian Rix would have been impressed. The producers should sit and watch "Dry Rot"and have another go if they dare.