Rock on, Tommy

In praise of Saxondale
This has just crept up on me, but Saxondale is my favourite comedy on television currently. As a writer who’s spent much of this year tackling Difficult Second Series Syndrome, I have to take my hat off to Steve Coogan and his mystery co-writer Neil MacClennan for not only matching the first series, but topping it, bringing new depth to Saxondale himself, and his relationship with surrogate son Raymond (the excellently lagubrious Rasmus Hardiker). Though the set-up is the same – ex-roadie pest controller living with saucy hippy girlfriend in suburbs – the writers seem to have taken the foot off the pedal a bit (sorry about the motoring metaphor). Coogan has really relaxed into the character now, as if perhaps in response to the decision to perm and highlight Tommy’s hair, which gives him a much softer look. (I know – sounds woolly, but might not be.) Equally, Raymond’s position in the house, and by Tommy’s side on the job, is just accepted. It’s not an issue; they are a team, and it’s a much more interesting one for a sitcom than two blokes of the same age in a pub. It’s rare that a “father” and “son” (or indeed, a father and son) are the lead two characters in a comedy. You’d have to go back to Steptoe, or, less classically, Home To Roost for that. Fathers and sons are ten a penny in sitcom, but usually in group casts. Darren Boyd’s neighbour character is a plus, too. Certainly a bit of a grotesque (square pretends he’s “down” with Tommy when really he’s a reactionary stiff), but entertaining, and he puts Tommy in a good light. I think that’s the nub, actually: here is a lead character who’s not a total loser. Yes, his glory days are behind him, but he’s in a solid, loving relationship, and seems to be running a reasonably successful small business. This is rare in British sitcom. The joke’s often on him, but not because he’s an idiot, simply because he’s complex. He wants to be on the side of some squatters, but discovers that they are useless bastards and switches allegiance. He thinks he hates the public school system when he and Raymond are sent to fumigate a posh school, but the teacher turns out not to be a Victorian throwback, but a decent sort, with a decent car – thus, Tommy must reallign his prejudices. This is not all laugh out loud stuff, but I find myself smiling all the way through it, and Coogan gives himself enough smart lines to raise a couple of chuckles from me a week. Is it getting good ratings? I’ll have to go and check.