Just watched the entire series...
...in one sitting!
I had read SO many negative comments about Jam and Jerusalem - and indeed, it was generally derided by critics - that I was not looking forward to it. My only reason for having a look was to remain loyal to Jennifer Saunders, who has written a substantial part of the best British comedy has to offer (and, unfortunately, some of the worst).
I LOVED IT. Even the pilot, which people seem to pan the most, was a wonderful surprise. People expecting a certain comic style will obviously be sorely disappointed. It's extremely subtle, Victoria-Wood-calibre real-world observation, punctuated by extraordinary moments of hilarious frivolity, and occasionally by rather sad and poignant flashes of pathos. These latter, of course, are what British comedy has always tended to excel at, and the mixture in this instance is just right.
I have eclectic tastes when it comes to comedy. I love everything: Will and Grace, One Foot in the Grave, Wonder Showzen, Curb Your Enthusiasm -- this selection highlights how open I am to different comedic styles. And now I have to add Jam and Jerusalem to that list. It's just so different from an awful lot of the crap the BBC has put out in the last few years (My Hero is where funny goes to die).
Can't wait for the second series to begin on New Year's Day! It's a shame that Joanna Lumley won't be reprising her role, but as long as Dawn French is still on top form, it shouldn't matter.