Reviewed by Janina Conboye
Stars Richard O'Sullivan, Tessa Wyatt, Tony Britton, David Kelly | Written by Charlotte Bingham & Terence Brady
UK certification 12 | UK RRP £14.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 200 minutes | Directed by Peter Frazer-Jones
After watching Fenn Street, I moved onto this next 70s/80s delight, I can't help but wonder who buys these DVDs? The comedy is naff, but dare I admit it's a bit addictive. It's just soft harmless fun, but it doesn't make a lasting impression.
Robin's Nest is an ITV sitcom - which ran from 1978 to 1981. It follows the ups and downs of married couple Robin and Vicky who have invested in a bistro with Vicky's father. In this fourth series, the story of Robin and his bistro continues with the usual gaffs, crossed wires and confusion. Robin torments Vicky's slimy, philandering father, while Vicky manages to keep everyone in tow and out of trouble, including Riddle the Irish, one armed waiter, who is just thick as two short planks.
It's interesting how the series, among others of the time, reflect how comedy series have changed. Today the boundaries are pushed much further, as viewers demand sharper and more clever comedy sitcoms. Their failure to transcend the generations shows a lack of really good writing, hence the fact they don't run for that long. They just can't compete with the likes of Only Fools and Horses, and even Friends, both of which ran for years. But I suspect the likes of Robin's Nest were never meant to run for that long. At the end of the day, a truly good programme or film is loved by all, no matter what year or decade they were made, and Robin's Nest fails to make the cut.
EXTRAS * Christmas special episode