I first got hooked to Life of Riley in the second series and really enjoyed it but when it came to the third (and might I add we are only half the way in) it lacked in the various comedy that I had come to love in the previous series. With very few laugh out loud moments and irritating story lines. I get to end of watching an episode and feel so disappointed at how little I enjoyed it. Maddy (Caroline Quentin) can at times though really lift up the show with her natural acting skills that brings life and character to the show.I really hope Life of Riley can pick its self back up off the floor and regain some dignity for the rest of the series and if the BBC take the bold step of making another series stop with the bad writing and humour.Review by Liam de Gruchy.

The BBC have the far superior My Family filling the "family sitcom" role - why keep dragging this terrible sitcom back into schedules kicking and screaming. The public don't like it and neither do the press. That comment will make people mad but if you don't believe me check the ratings. Caroline Quentin is a sitcom legend but does herself no favours with this new project and the guy who plays her husband will probably just be happy to start his new job on Midsummer Murders.All the ingredients of My Family are there - strict mother, weird son, attractive daughter only very very watered down. Put this on CBBC and it wouldn't look out of place.The BBC used to have quality sitcoms but their current comedy line up is very very weak. That's why they keep going back to Fools and Horses. I'm not saying My Family is perfect but it's better than this.

This is one of the most miscast comedies on television. Apart from the baby, Patrick Nolan gives the most natural performance as youngest son Ted Riley. At times he seems to feel sorry for his older co-stars who struggle to deliver their lines with any degree of conviction. However, when you look beyond the awful acting you find a delightfully funny and quite intelligent script, and you have to wonder what it could be like with a more capable cast. It is not that any of the actors are bad actors; it is just that they do not suit this particular project. It does not flow natural for them. So, the best way to approach Life Of Riley is with few expectations and a belief that the pen can sometimes be mightier than the thespian.

You see, "The Good Life" also had a terrible title, but at least it was funny (cf. "Brittas Empire", "Fawlty Towers"). But I digress.It seems to me that the writer (whose previous credits, lest we forget, include "My Family") is somewhat of a disadvantage, in that they've neither been exposed to an actual family, nor I suspect, have they ever heard a real human conversation.Rather than creating humorous situations, solid story arcs and good dialogue, the (two dimensional) characters merely bounce less-than-witty one-liners at each other, showing scant regard for good timing and natural pace. Still, at least they are well en-un-ci-at-ed in order that the elderly weekday afternoon audience can hear the jokes.So we just get subjected to poor-quality wit and embarrassing pauses in places where any decently funny sitcom would be riding the laugher.With this in mind, one might think that we'd get a break with some visual gags, but even they are poorly executed and physically awkward. Even the audience sound bored. Normally I'd be optimistic and hope that it picks up towards the end of the series, but this time I'd advise you not to bother.