Truly Dreadful Film

Masterful Movie

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

I've forgotten the last time the BBC did an amusing comedy , as has the majority of viewers in Britain , so I'm guessing BIG TOP with its large ensemble cast playing a circus troupe is a throw back to the days of DADS ARMY , HI DE HI and ARE YOU BEING SERVED . It also features Tony Robinson best known for Baldrick one of the truly great comedy characters from the classic BLACKADDER series , and there's John Thomson from THE FAST SHOW fame . That said the cast also features Amanda Holden at the top of the cast list who is so untalented she strikes me as someone who'd have a problem playing herself . If the omens weren't good the reality is far worse than can be imagined As has been pointed out the jokes are lamer than a horse that's had its limbs amputated . This is only be expected from a BBC comedy from the 21st century . That's not the main problem . One episode centres around the immigration bureau investigating one of the circus acts who might be an illegal immigrant . Being a BBC show there's not much call for racist gags - which might have raised a chortle if only for nostalgia's sake - but no the real offence comes with Holden's character thinking about whoring herself to the immigration investigator ! This in a show broadcast at 7.30 pm ! It's amazing the amount of sexual references and innuendos there is in a sit-com that on the surface considers itself a family show . In fact if you can imagine a children's show with sexual references this is what it looks like - a kind of TORCHWOOD with canned laughter

I just caught an episode of this dreadful "sitcom". The writing, acting, sets and costumes can only be described as appalling and dated. You'd think it was a repeat of something made in the early 70s. I agree with the other reviewer who couldn't believe our licence fee was spent on this. I also can't believe that people like John Thompson (of Fast Show fame), Tony Robinson (of Blackadder and Time Team fame) and Sophie Thompson (who was amazing in the film version of Emma) got involved in this tripe!Even Amanda Holden is above this. She should clearly stick to Britain's Got Talent. Even if this is a classic example that it clearly has not.

1st of all, an apology to any overseas viewers.If you tuned in expecting the sardonic writing of The Office, the eloquence of Yes, Minister or the raw genius of Fawlty Towers: Sorry! This can only be blames on current "blue sky" thinkers at the BBC's programming department.Amanda Holden, With minimal talent (ahh, the irony!) to start with, must have pulled in every favour/loan/threat in her portfolio to get this made. Poor comic timing, dire scripts, sets recycled from "Crossroads" & something approaching no appreciable acting talent on display.Oh, & what the hell is Tony Robinson doing in this mess?! what a way to see the 00's out. We saw it in with the aforementioned "Office" in 2001, & this wipes the ass of the decade!! Still, there IS a plus side to this. There cannot be anything worse than this in the 2010 schedule.can there????

I just viewed the first episode of the new British comedy "Big Top" and it will be the last time I will ever watch this show. It features a traveling circus full of misfit clowns and incompetent performers managed by the only competent person on the show, Lizzy, an attractive female ringmaster. Boyco, the acrobat character is almost unbearable to watch with his horrific Eastern European accent. The jokes are second rate retreads, and overused clichés. I had to force any of the few laughs I had while watching it. I've seen some great British comedy series such as "Spaced", "Peep Show", "The It Crowd", and "The Office" and this series just makes me appreciate them more.