Newark, Newark (2022) User Reviews

So bland they named it twice.

[southdavid · 5/10 · 6 May 2022]

The UK TV channel "Gold" has, in the last decade, been shifting a little bit from repeating classic shows, to producing some of their own. "Newark, Newark" is perhaps their biggest attempt at a hit series yet. Admittedly three episodes isn't much to get stuck into, but the securing of Morgana Robinson and Mathew Horne as two of the stars shows a certain commitment. The result is . . . Not awful, but I can't say I'm overly enthused at the prospect of anymore.

Recently divorced, Maxine (Morgana Robinson) balances her job running a chip shop, whilst taking care of her dramatic teenage son Leslie (Jai Hollis). Her ex-husband Terry (Mathew Horne) is desperate for the relationship to rekindle and is conspiring with Maxine's mum Pauline (Beverley Callard) to get back with her.

I like Morgana Robinson a lot, she's contributed enormously to "House of Fools" and is a great guest star in "Inside Number 9" and "Toast of Hollywood". I don't think she's particularly suited to this character though, as dowdy, middle aged mother isn't necessarily what I think of, when I think of her. The accent is, to my ear - living in the Midlands but not specifically Newark - sometimes a bit much, but it's not entirely false.

I found the first episode, revolving around Maxine's birthday to be the best of the three and laughed a few times in that one, unfortunately it wasn't maintained into the second and third episodes and by the end I was reasonably relieved to discover that there were only three episodes of the series.

Honestly, I can't imagine I'll have any recollection of this at all in three months as it's neither good, nor awful enough to have made much of an impression.

Not bad

[gazbainbridge · 7/10 · 29 March 2022]

I quite liked it after episode 1. People are going to say do doubt it's not funny but make your own mind up. Not as good as Gavin and Stacey for example but good in its own right. Blimey though £3.99 for salad cream!!

Comedies are supposed to be funny

[damsmith-68404 · 1/10 · 28 March 2022]

There are some good actors in this, so maybe nobody told the writers. There seems to be a lot of effort put in to trying to reproduce a Newark accent when the focus really should have been on humour. Sadly, there wasn't any. Three episodes will be more than enough.

Nothing. The show has nothing.

[steveevans-35154 · 1/10 · 30 March 2022]

So disappointed. I love morgana. She is a funny lady and has previously been in good shows so I can only put this down to the pathetic script. Horne is just stupid and the less said about callard the better. If in an hour you get a few laughs, fair enough, but there's none.

Its only three episodes but it's three too many.

Fabulous

[catherine-newton-853-47288 · 10/10 · 3 April 2022]

I don't think we all watched the same program, it cracked me up! Loved it duck lol. I hope they do make more, very reminiscent of people that I met during my childhood in Lincoln.

A show with no redeeming features

[bosporan · 1/10 · 29 March 2022]

Utter garbage! No story, no characterisation and not funny. This has to be a candidate for worst UK TV show of 2022 in a year already blighted by Holding and The Witchfinder.

A Newarker Myself.

[markrybaczok · 8/10 · 1 April 2022]

OK.. it's exaggerated but that's TV for you. And although the slang exists I think it was way over used.

The people who are complaining about how the show portrays newark obviously are not the same people who would have watched shows like shameless for example.

I actually quite enjoyed it and I thought the acting was good.

But Obviously there is plenty of room for improvement.

Awful

[martynwilliams-52616 · 1/10 · 6 April 2022]

How people can invest money into shows like this is beyond me. How people can call this comedy is amazing. Just the sort of drivel Sky and Dave channels are serving up today. Maybe I am getting old but i never once even cracked a smile during the first episode. Worries me that Gold are looking to add a second series.

Absolutely shocking.

Deserves zero stars.

Avoid at all costs

[petdavies · 3/10 · 4 April 2022]

I'm from Nottinghamshire which is the only reason I gave this a go. Utterly dreadful and supposed to be a comedy? Do not waste your time on this. Beverly callard should've stuck with playing Lizzy Mc.

Absolute Garbage

[nickjordan-05874 · 1/10 · 30 March 2022]

Have no words.. Absolute tripe..load of has beens Ridiculous script ridiculous cast If that's the best ". NEW" programme Uk Gold can come up with I'll cancel my sky subscription., Dunno what else I can add.

Hilarious!

[leekelly-91029 · 8/10 · 10 April 2022]

I'm not sure where the poor reviews are coming from, because this is fantastic viewing. Hilarious, and at times painfully cringey - in the best possible way.

Hebburn meets Young Offenders in tone, with more than a whiff of Shameless.

Great cast but some what lost

[will-71417 · 4/10 · 12 April 2022]

Good cast, they never introduce the characters and rush to some forces and some what too extreme story line, I sense the pilot had two added and then pulled. Story line is about single mum with a funny non supportive mother, who still wants her to get back with the ex, I didn't love it to be fair and a shame it was not funnier. That said is I think the one star rating is harsh and would possible try it ..... you may disagree.

Brilliant

[dezb-07076 · 10/10 · 15 April 2022]

Hilarious, weird and different. Why are there only 3 episodes? So many great characters and a flawless performance from Morgana Robinson. We need more insane comedies like this.

No pints of lager, no packets of crisps

[frukuk · 1/10 · 5 March 2024]

Being funny isn't easy. Writing a successful comedy series isn't easy. Writing one without a writing partner is particularly difficult. Many try but very few succeed. Susan Nickson, creator and writer of many episodes of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001-2011) is one of the few who succeeded. Nathan Foad, who wrote this series, is one of the many who failed.

This has some experienced actors -- not least Mathew Horne and Beverley Callard -- but the script is simply not funny. Compare Beverley Callard in this with Beverley Callard in the wonderful Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001-2011). Same actor, but massively different results.

People commissioning comedy series really do need to be much more ruthless. If the scripts aren't funny, simply call things off before it gets into production. The "sunk cost fallacy" is responsible for many unfunny comedies, such as this.

Waste of time

[eeennn-46898 · 2/10 · 29 March 2022]

Total drivel, not funny and no redeeming features. I find it difficult to pad this review out to the required 150 characters .Bad is bad and that's it .Paint drying is more amusing.

Dreadful

[nfox-41416 · 1/10 · 19 April 2022]

Downloaded episode 1 thought I would give it a chance after reading other reviews. Stopped after halfway through could not watch any more. There is nothing wrong with the actors, they are just given the script.

Absolutely Adored it!

[articuno-66376 · 10/10 · 27 April 2022]

I found out about this show through Twitter after I finished Our Flag Means Death. Always good to see a light-hearted show that handles queerness well, and I feel like Nathan Foad absolutely nailed the writing. It's genuinely funny, touching, and charming.

Terrible

[Gembob13-632-359841 · 2/10 · 14 March 2024]

I usually love Morgana and this had a couple of other biggish names in it but it was just dreadful.

Not funny and dull. Cheap & nasty, and rather depressing to watch, right down to the bad music between scenes.

It's hard to explain why it's so bad but it's just miserable.

Repeating the text here to fill out word count......... I usually love Morgana and this had a couple of other biggish names in it but it was just dreadful.

Not funny and dull. Cheap & nasty, and rather depressing to watch, right down to the bad music between scenes.

It's hard to explain why it's so bad but it's just miserable.

Great.

[warrenbvalentine · 10/10 · 15 May 2022]

Newark Newark is great. However, if you're from Newark or Gavin and Stacey fans or love standard BBC/ITV sitcoms, your probably not going to like it. If you like comedy that's pushes humour a step further like People Just Do Nothing, Pulling or Alma's Not Normal you'll probably love Newark Newark.

Instantly forgettable.

[dilkie · 1/10 · 8 April 2022]

A one star rating is extremely generous for this utter embarrassment of a tv "comedy". The acting is horrendous. The characters utterly unbelievable, relatable or likeable. The cast are either veteran actors on their way down or new actors who will never work again if their performances in this are any measuring stick. Totally devoid of a storyline or laughs. I struggled through the first episode only, I cannot face watching two more instalments of this. I live in Newark and can honestly say that in no way does it represent the people I have met in my 5 years here. Avoid this at all costs, go back and watch OFAH, Fawlty Towers or Porridge if you want real comedy.

Was hoping for it to be good :(

[beccanatsci · 4/10 · 5 May 2024]

Was routing for this to be good (I know Nathan) but I didn't actually laugh once :'(

The characters were good and definitely fit in with the setting of Newark. I enjoyed seeing Newark on the screen - it definitely captured the heart of the area. An incredible feat to get Newark onto the BBC so well done!

However the script and plot... it just wasn't funny. Nathan used to have me in stitches laughing so I don't think it's that it's 'not my sense of humour'.

During the episodes, I smiled at something relatable but never laughed. I'll still watch the second series and hope it improves. Part of me wonders if the casting was the problem. The jokes weren't strong so it becomes more about the delivery/acting. Or perhaps the script was truncated to fit 3 episodes. Who knows!

Absolute treat

[itsjustrowan · 8/10 · 21 April 2022]

For what it is I absolutely enjoyed it for three episodes a laugh every other minute and Morgana Robinson is class as usual and Beverly callard back in comedy since two pints of lager and a packet of crisps.

Looking forward to a second series!

[milathomas-41750 · 9/10 · 28 September 2022]

I really liked this show, it was a real struggle to stop myself bingeing the whole thing in one go. The characters are funny and compelling, the story is engaging and most of all it's funny!

I don't understand the reviews on here that say it isn't, I suspect their issue is not with the quality of the show itself and more that it's just not their type of thing. I can see how, to audiences that prefer Gold's repeats from the 70s, it wouldn't appeal but I have to say I think it's a very promising sign of what Gold is hoping to put out in the future.

Only three episodes though, hopefully there will be more in the future? I think I remember the creator Nathan Foad hinting there would be (maybe on his Instagram) but I don't know if I'm remembering that correctly. Either way, it would be a real shame if we didn't get another series of this.

Overall, I strongly recommend!

Brilliantly Written, Cast, Directed, and Acted

[dorian-they · 9/10 · 14 November 2023]

Newark Newark brilliantly balances humour and heart while keeping snappy dialogue, unpolished characters, and authenticity at its core.

Each actor is so perfectly cast and directed that it's hard to remember you're watching actors playing roles and not locals being filmed while going about their daily lives (sticklers may harp on accents, but pay them no mind). Nathan Foad's pitch-perfect dialogue captures each character's unique voice as he populates this fictional version of his hometown with a host of recognisable yet hyperbolic personalities.

Also of note is the the unique original score and selection of 90s/early 2000s pop hits, both of which help ground this farcical romp in reality.

All in all, if you enjoy absurdist characters, uncurbed authenticity, and unpretentious comedy, "Newark Newark" is a must-watch!

Just hilarious

[fisherrrr · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

This show is cringe and hilarious and heartfelt all at once. The storyline is a bit rushed but I also liked that it just drops viewers straight into these characters' lives. Cannot recommend enough!