Mr. Humphries and other cast!

Mr Humphries, being the show's most iconic character, was always going to be the most difficult role to fill. I thought Jason Watkins did a fair job. At times he threw too much at us, making me miss the sheer effortlessness that John Inman had, but I thought he got a lot of the mannerisms that make the character sparkle. Given more episodes, he might learn when to tone it down a notch. Then I think he'll fare better.

I liked Sherrie Hewson here, though her facial expressions were a bit limited, compared to the expressiveness that Mollie Sugden had. I loved the way she exited the store, though---I think she did it just as Mollie would have done it. I was surprised that she was absent for such a large amount of time, though! I don't think that would have happened in the original series.

Of the rest, I thought Niky Wardley was a wonderful Miss Brahms. A reviewer complained she was not "pretty or slutty enough," but I thought she looked just fine---after all, Wendy Richard would have been the same age had the original carried on into 1988. And thank Heavens the writer didn't revert to the dumb blonde stereotypes that plagued the character at the end of the original series. I'm glad Litten wrote her with some of the self-awareness that Miss Brahms had in the early years. And that Miss Brahms was not slutty by any sense of the word.

I also thought Roy Barraclough did Arthur Brough's legacy proud as Mr Grainger. My only complaint is that he wasn't written crankier and came across as too benevolent at times. And Justin Edwards surprised me with the way he nailed the tics of Nicholas Smith's Mr Rumbold. The gormless smiles, the sycophantic air---superbly played. Had he been given prosthetic ears to match Smith's, it would have been even better! I also liked the superciliousness of John Challis' Captain Peacock. An inspired bit of casting, since he looks and sounds so much like Frank Thornton did. And he nailed that bit of physical comedy. I don't have much of an opinion of Arthur Smith's Mr Harmon, other than the fact that he looked and acted more like Mr Mash. I think it would have made more sense to have simply introduced a new maintenance man, because Arthur English's Mr Harmon was too distinctive to ever replicate properly.

Kayode Ewumi was promising as Mr Conway. Eyes on the ladies as Mr Lucas had, but more charming. I'd like a full series of this if only for his sake, since it would help kickstart his career. I think my least favourite addition was Mathew Horne, whose character was simply too unlikeable to be funny. He reminded me of the dreadful Old Mr Grace, actually. I don't think there will ever be anyone quite like Harold Bennett. Having his portrait in Rumbold's office was a lovely touch.

If a full series is commissioned, it will be interesting to see how the cast develops the characters over time. Who knows, maybe Horne's Mr Grace will have some redeeming qualities to him. Maybe Watkins and Hewson will settle down and keep the mugging to a minimum. All quite possible.

Can't see why they didn't use Graham Norton. He could have camped it up as Mr. Humphries... They should have asked him if he was free...

I totally agree. 'Mr Humphries' was pretty much the star of the original show, just my opinion. So it would take a strong actor with the talents of Inman to fill that role. Sadly there aren't many out there. I've watched some videos and have come to realise that there was a lot more to Inman than Mr Humphries...

The reaction to this one off (so far) has been interesting, I agree with some of the negative comments about the writing I've heard, Derren Litten while a capable enough writer didn't quite grasp the sometimes surprisingly subtle writing that made Croft and Perry's original so clever. Croft and Perry's innuendos were often sharp an perfectly timed Litten's by contrast were blunt and churned out a such a rate they lost some of the sparkle they would have had were they used more subtly (why did he feel he had to cram 12 years of Mrs Slocombe's Pussy jokes into a single 30 minute episode when a single one perfectly placed would have been so much better?)
As for the cast Sheri Hewson was far better that I thought she would be and while Mollie Sugden will forever be the ultimate Mrs Slocombe Sheri captured her imperious ways rather well.
Nicky Wardly was an admirable Miss Brahms and filled Wendy Richard shoes with aplomb capturing her common as muck but kind hearted character very well.
Jason Watkins was always going to struggle to capture John Inman's unique portrayal of the camp as a row of tents Mr Humphreys and indeed he did however there were glimmers of hope, if only the writing had been a bit more subtle he might have fared better.
Justin Edwards in my opinion was a real stand out capturing almost every single nuance of Nicholas Smith's version.
John Challis while maybe not quite as haughty and pompous as Frank Thornton made an adequate Captain Peacock.
Roy Barraclough while not as irascible as Arthur Brough had some genuinely funny and charming moments as Mr Grainger.
Kayode Ewumi aquitted himself well as the new boy Mr Conway and would do well in a full series if one was produced.
Jorgie Porter was woefully under used as Miss Croft, and I think political correctness got the upper hand here, in the original secretaries were always there to bend over at an opportune moment and be ogled by a man old enough to be their grandfather or to make suggestive conversation with the likes of Mr Lucas but all poor Jorgie got to do was help Mr Rumbold with his "Hardware".
Matthew Horne's Mr Grace was sadly as I see it a big let down, with Harold Bennett you had a brilliant Ancient, doddering, slightly lecherous, somewhat forgetful, tight with his money Mr Grace, with Matthew Horne you got a cut price Del boy, with no leching on female staff members no shouts of "you've all done very well" while waving a walking stick and nearly toppling over. The only way I could see his character working is by effectively reversing the old situation and having him leched upon by female members of staff, I can just see this little conversation.

Miss Brahams: "eere Mrs Slocombe that new young Mr Grace is a bit of alright isn't he."

Mrs Slocomb: "MISS BRAHMS we do not describe the owner of Grace Brothers Department store as "A bit of Alright", anyway a man of Mr Grace's standing would be looking for someone much more mature and sophisticated, with supervisory experience"

Miss Brahms: (slightly sarcastically) "What someone like you you mean"

Mrs Slocombe: (rather peeved) "Miss Brahms these display counters are filthy get the Mr Sheen out an give them a damn good polish."

Miss Brahms: Sighing "Yes Mrs Slocombe"



All in all I found this one off a bit hit and miss but certainly not as bad as it could conceivably have been.

It was atrocious.