Reception
The show has been seen as Edmondson's return to TV comedy (following his straight role in Holby City), with the character of Vernon being compared to that of Vyvyan, a similar punk character he played in the BBC TV sitcom The Young Ones. The first episode's preview in The Guardian TV listings was scathing, describing the programme as a "graceless gumbo of mainstream sentimentality and Bottom-esque cruelty... roaring awfulness." Concluding: "Tonight's episode ... Chinese flatmate mocked for having a Chinese accent. Unbelievable."
Ade Edmondson looking back on the show, said he enjoyed writing it but had a hard time getting it made. It was pushed back many times by the BBC while "they were playing musical chairs" until Radio 2 picked up on it, then ITV did later for its TV adaption. Before the broadcast run, the cast including Edmondson were told that if the series averaged 4 million a second series would be commissioned, but fell short with 3.4 which Edmondson explained as being "fair". Only the first two episodes ranked in ITV 1's top 30 weekly BARB ratings at positions 25 and 26.
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