Starstruck: What the Must Watch reviewers think
Every week, the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.
This week, Hayley Campbell and Scott Bryan review Starstruck series 2 on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.
Edinburgh award winning comedian Rose Matafeo writes and stars in the rom-com about millennial Jessie and her on/off relationship with movie star Tom.
BBC/Avalon UK
Scott says: "It never really feels like a typical sitcom"
"I adore Starstruck. I mean, I got into it because the dynamic between the two main characters was so interesting. [Jessie] is not really at all bothered about him being famous. [Tom] doesn't really care about being famous and the centre of attention. They just have to deal with the noise that having a public profile brings.
"I'm amazed at how it never really feels like a typical sitcom, all the characters are believable and it’s a great ensemble cast. There’s Emma Sidi who plays her friend Kate. Minnie Driver, who is Tom’s manager, Kath. There’s Lola Rose Maxwell and Stephen Martin as well, who you can actually see on Twitter doing some hilarious online videos:
(The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites)
"All of these feel like real friendships with a real relationship at the core and I cannot emphasise enough how hard that is to do in a sitcom. The casting here is just on point. It’s like you’re intruding on a private relationship."
BBC/Avalon UK
Hayley says: "This is one of the best sitcoms to come out in ages"
"This is one of those shows that did need a second series, which is not true of all shows! We genuinely wanted to know what happened next. It wasn't a neatly tied-up ending at the end of series one, so they didn’t need to panic and scrounge around for another plot line: there was more story to tell.
"The last time we saw them, [Jessie] had deliberately missed her stop to catch her plane. You cannot just leave it at that. Deciding to stay in a country for someone is a huge decision. That, and the fact that flights to New Zealand are wildly expensive.
"So what does she do now? That's the set up for the next series and I love that the entire first episode is basically just her being in shock. I think this is one of the best sitcoms to come out in ages and it does that thing that Fleabag did, which is that it also touches on a kind of sadness and loneliness that I think only the very funniest things are able to do very well."
BBC/Avalon UK/Mark Johnson
Starstruck series 1 and 2 are available now on BBC iPlayer.
Must Watch is released as a podcast every Monday evening from BBC Sounds and all other good podcast providers.
This week, the team speak to Emer Kenny about The Curse on Channel 4. Plus, reviews of Suspicion on Apple TV + and ITV’s new talent show which is also called Starstruck!
