Review of The Green Green Grass

Having given evidence against Peckham's crimelords the Driscoll brothers,put - upon used car dealer Boycie relocates to rural Shropshire to start a new life as "Farmer Boyce",a profession he has absolutely no affinity for and very little interest in.This then is a "fish out of water"comedy,a genre all too often plumbed by television companies,particularly if they think they can squeeze a bit more mileage from well - established characters and save on the more brain - taxing (and more expensive)effort required in creating a whole new show. Fortunately Mr J.Challis built up such a reservoir of goodwill as the cuckolded south London car dealer that he carried this pretty weak fare more or less single - handedly until it was allowed to die quietly. Mr Challis himself was last seen on TV once again carrying a poor production when he totally rebuilt Captain Peacock in BBC's ill - judged revival of "Are you being served?",his wry expressions if not his voice bringing to mind Boycie at his most sceptical. He inherits a number of farm workers all of whom will be immediately recognisable to admirers of Miss Stella Gibbons but lack her sense of irony as they settle for slightly unsubtle characterisations. "Greeen green grass" is,I suppose,about as good as it could be and some nice people obviously made a bob or two for taking part in it,but please,don't let's have a revival.Or even worse,a revival of it's source - an event long - threatened by TV companies desperate to cash in on the medium's so - called "Golden Age".