The Cockfields: Trailer, certificate and where to watch
Hilarious Isle of Wight comedy with a great British cast
Year: 2019-2021
Certificate: 15
Originally shown on pay channel GOLD, Joe Wilkinson and David Earl's Isle of Wight comedy is a gem. Wilkinson stars as Simon, a man turning 40 who visits his mum and stepdad (Sue Johnston and Bobby Ball) on the Isle of Wight to celebrate. He takes his girlfriend, Donna (Diane Morgan), along to meet them and, while she's been prepared by Simon for their eccentricities, she still finds it rather hard to cope. Why is a bread knife kept in the loo? Can Ray (Ball) ask a question without being passive aggressive? Will Sue (Johnston) ever allow Donna to make her own food? And will Simon's biological dad (Nigel Havers) remember his birthday, or is he more interested in his glamorous girlfriend, Melissa (Sarah Parish)?
It's worth watching if you like grounded, well-observed comedy that doesn't outstay its welcome - all of the characters' weird behavioral tics are explained by revealing what's bothering them by the end of the first series. They aren't just weird for the sake of a punchline, and it's that balance of heart and wit that makes this show satisfying. In series two Donna (Morgan) is replaced by Joe's fiancée, Esther (Susannah Fielding) who does her best to fit in. Gregor Fisher takes over the role of stepdad Ray in series two, following the sad death of Bobby Ball. (Two series)
