This should be awesome. The talent on display both in the cast and writing are impressive, reliable performers - David Mitchell, supported by ever-reliable Paula Wilcox, Liza Tarbuck and Harry Enfield. The setup is prime for exploitation - we are familiar with the Elizabethan period and everyone knows a tiny amount about Shakespeare.But it never really fully ignites - the feuds, snipes, clever asides etc do their job but it just seems to stroll along in 4th gear. Much has been said about the 'canned laughter' - all I'll say is that it does sound like it's fake- if it is genuine then the audience must be the dribbling mekons that usually sit in ITV audiences, certainly not BBC 2!

... though everything - I mean, everything - is too derivative of the 198Os sitcom. The soundtrack, the set up, the elaborate figures of speech, pick anything. Mitchell's acting and manner of speaking, and even tone of voice, is obviously a copy of Rowan Atkinson's Edmund Blackadder. Bottom would be Baldrick. Marlowe would be Lord Falsheart, Lord Southampton will remind you of Lord Melchett, and on and on. I think Elton tried to revive Blackadder, but there are some successes that simply cannot be repeated.Those who are not acquainted with Blackadder might like this (it has some funny moments, and they do make some clever ... well, play upon Shakespeare plays). But those of us who are fans of that incomparable comedy (I have the whole series and watch it at least once a year) cannot help making comparisons. And Upstart Crow is certainly the one that loses by the comparison.Watch it and make up your own mind, by all means. I find it funny at times, but ... I'd much rather watch returns of Blackadder.

Those who see this as an intelligent form of comedy will, no doubt, vote this review down but this is not intelligent humour just because it is masked by 'an Olde English' script and is written about the life of the most lauded playwright of all time. I have tried to like this sitcom which is based on the life of Shakespeare and his family but rarely find myself laughing with any gusto. Most of the wit in this show comes from the use of English as used in the 16th century coupled with a modern crude terminology or a reference to an incident in today's timeline (such as stagecoaches used in place of current public transport) but it just doesn't give me a feeling of comedy. Instead this gives me the feeling that this is trying so hard to witch the formula and successes of Ben Elton's classic historical comedy, Blackadder.Harry Enfield's portrayal of Shakespeare's father is the highlight of the show for me which he delivers in a light slapstick style which meets with the simplistic nature of the character. Other members of the cast pass off their roles well for the most but it is the script that lacks rather than any performance. The inclusion of poetry and excerpts from the works of the great bard are a nice touch which people will likely enjoy whether they know the writing or not.Sorry Ben Elton, this is your least enjoyable sitcom to date for me.

Why hath it took so long for a sitcomedy about our beloved bard to be born? Watch this and wonder why, as there are opportunities galore exploited for comedy gold and silver. Elton's forte is plundering easy mines like history or the police for sitcoms or modern world maladies like traffic congestion and slavish consumerism for his novels. And here it's the same jamboree for the former motormouth. And he doth fill his booties, verily.Well enough researched as always for a broad statement making punchline grabbing comedy, hinting at a depth of understanding beneath that won't fool true authorities on the subject. Though he's learned the key points well enough as ever and been fairly true to history, or the disputed history and chronology of Shakespeare's works and the bits within passed off as his. The result is a pretty successful comic rendering of the lofty man of literature and his works.Watchable, cleverish and funny especially for English lit and lang lovers. It suffers from Elton's usual excesses and limitations but lack of dialogue and plot and comedy targets have never been Eltonian flaws. If you like your sitcoms verbally busy, punchline heavy and narratively waspish then you will doubtless find 'infinite riches in a small room' watching this most excellent comedy.