The show received positive reviews and became a widespread British classic. The show received two BAFTA nominations in 2012. The first series was nominated for Best Situation Comedy, while Greig was nominated for Best Female Comedy Performance.[5] In 2021, for his performance in the final series of the show, Ritter received a posthumous BAFTA nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance.[6][7]
The family consists of mother Jackie, father Martin, elder son Adam, and younger son Jonny. The episodes follow the family as the sons arrive at the family home and proceed to their dinner, which is often interrupted by numerous things. Although some episodes are centred around Jackie's eccentricities, she is usually the straight character who tries to run a normal household but is disrupted by the rest of the family. Dinner is usually disrupted by Adam and Jonny pranking each other (for example, putting salt in each other's drinking glasses) or Martin's strange habits, such as walking around the house shirtless or eating out-of-date food.[11] When something goes wrong, Martin is often heard shouting his catchphrase "shit on it".[12] They are frequently interrupted by their strange but good-hearted neighbour Jim Bell, who is attracted to Jackie and visits them due to his loneliness; he is usually accompanied by his dog, Wilson, of whom he is afraid. After Wilson's death in series 5, Jim adopts a new dog, whom he names Milson in the first episode of series 6.
Jackie's neurotic best friend Valerie Lewis, known as "Auntie Val" to Adam and Jonny, is a frequent visitor; Jackie's mother Nellie "Grandma" Buller also visits. Occasional guest appearances were made by Martin's mother Cynthia Goodman, nicknamed "Horrible Grandma" by the boys due to her cruel and condescending treatment of the family. Other guest appearances featured Nellie's suitor Mr. Morris, who appeared in three episodes while Val's husband Larry briefly appears in two episodes.
Friday Night Dinner received a range of responses from television critics. On the review aggregate Metacritic, the first season is rated with a score of 72%, which is labeled as "Generally Favorable".[13]
The show was praised for its unique blend of familial chaos and comedic timing, though some critics pointed out its over reliance on repetitive slapstick humor.[14] Micheal Hogan of The Telegraph commended the series for its consistent delivery of "warm, daft escapism".[15] Throughout its time on air, Friday Night Dinner maintained a dedicated fan base and became a staple of British comedy television, with its portrayal of family dynamics resonating with many viewers.[16]
Ratings
The first season premiered on February 25, 2011 in which it received 2.31 million views in its debut week.[17] According to the Digital Spy the third episode of the first season received 1.06 million views.[18] The fourth episode saw a rise in viewership, pulling in 1.5 million viewers.[19]
While exact numbers of viewership through seasons 2-5 are not readily available, the program would continue to see a rise in viewership over the course of its run, culminating with substantial viewer growth by the last season. In the sixth and final season, its debut episode pulled in 4.29 million views in its first week.[20]
Nomination for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme, (Paul Ritter), BAFTA Awards 2021
Legacy
For the 10th anniversary of the show, a special 90-minute documentary episode aired on Channel 4 on 28 May 2021, entitled Friday Night Dinner: Ten Years and A Lovely Bit of Squirrel.[22] The documentary was dedicated to Paul Ritter, who had died of a brain tumour seven weeks earlier.[23]
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