Netflix quietly adds British comedy legend’s ‘hilarious’ underrated sitcom-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

A British comedy series starring Peep Show’s David Mitchell and Robert Webb is now streaming on Netflix (Picture: Channel 4)

A ‘delightful and witty’ comedy series starring Peep Show’s David Mitchell and Robert Webb Is now streaming on Netflix.

First airing in 2017, Back was created by Simon Blackwell, best known for his work on The Thick of It, Veep, Peep Show, Four Lions and Breeders.

It followed 42-year-old Stephen (Mitchell) as he takes overt the family business, the John Barleycorn pub, in Stroud, Gloucestershire, after the death of his father.

However, his plans are thrown a curveball after Andrew (Webb), a former foster child briefly raised by Stephen’s parents unexpectedly turns up and wants to rekindle his relationship with the family.

Although many embrace his return, Stephen is less than impressed and sees Andrew as a threat to his ‘family, business and life’.

The series, which holds a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes was embraced by both critics and audiences.

It aired for two seasons in 2017 and 2021 (Picture: Channel 4)

‘Anyone missing the biting humour of Peep Show, or anyone who’s simply looking to delve into a quick comedy that deals with an odd power struggle should be pleasantly surprised by Back,’ CinemaBlend wrote in its review of the first season.

‘Ah, what a comfort it is to have David Mitchell and Robert Webb back, in Back, a comedy shaping up to be almost as pin-sharp and cheerfully dark as Peep Show,’ The Sunday Times shared.

‘It’s Blackwell’s intelligent and searing writing — which also has quite a bit of emotional nuance — that makes Back much more than mere joke creation for its own sake. And it’s Mitchell and Webb who make it all come to life,’ The Hollywood Reporter added.

Meanwhile viewers called it ‘binge-worthy’, ‘engaging’ and a ‘must-see’.

Fans called it hysterical (Picture: Channel 4)

Back ran for two seasons, with the second airing in 2021.

At the time the show premiered, Mitchell spoke about his long-running partnership with Webb.

‘We first started doing stuff together when we were students, and we just thought “Well, this seems to click”. I think we just felt like it worked, and it’s difficult enough to make it on comedy, so we’d be fools to throw this away,’ he said.

‘We’ve been working together for over 20 years, and in that time it’s gone through phases when it’s all been tremendous fun, and phases when we’ve felt bleak and hopeless. There have been phases where we’ve been doing stuff that we’re excited to do, but we’re utterly sick of the sight of each other.

The show saw the comedy duo reunited on screens two years after Peep Show ended (Picture: Channel 4)

‘And then it comes back round to be fun and joyful again. But we did some of our best stuff when we couldn’t stand the sight of each other, so the fun is not key – but it’s nice that the fun has returned.’

Last month it was also announced the comedy duo would be returning to screens together again soon too.

The brand-new sketch show Mitchell & Webb will see the pair ‘combine forces with a host of exciting and innovative future stars, marking a bold return to British sketch comedy with an innovative merging of comedy minds across generations’.

The upcoming Channel 4 programme will also feature Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Lara Ricote, Stevie Martin, and Krystal Evans.

Back is streaming on Netflix.

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