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7 September 2017

TV Pick of the Week: Underrated ITV2 sitcom ‘The Job Lot’

By Attitude Magazine

The Job Lot

couldn’t exist if our country hadn’t gone and got a bit fucked with the whole economy/job situation ‘thing’. So the fact that graduates are miserable and there’s no jobs and people with PHDs are working in Greggs might seem bleak, but the good news is that the cesspool of failed dreams has birthed a loveable new comedy.

And isn’t that what matters? Laughter? Well, admittedly laughter doesn’t pay the bills, or cure malaria for that matter, but it’s still important.

This photograph is © ITV/BIG TALK and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programmeTHE JOB LOT on ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmi

You might have missed The Job Lot when it first aired last year, but here’s the premise. It’s about life in a job centre. It’s about the people who work there, the people who go there to sign on, the people who aspire to be better people but have been let down by the powers that be, and the people who are downright lazy.

The first series was ridiculously good fun, and the new series, which starts tonight, is shaping up to be even better. It’s charming, it’s very goofy, and it’s incredibly British. That’s a good combination.

You’ll know most the cast; Sarah Hadland, off of Miranda, is the anxious, hand-wringing manager, Trish, trying to hold things together. She’s a brilliant mess of a character, constantly fraying at the edges. Speaking of which, Sarah spoke to Attitude’s Nick Levine the other day and the interview is literally very funny, so you should maybe go and read it here.

There’s also plenty of Russell Tovey, playing burnt-out Assistant Manager Karl, a man who aspires to do so much more with his life (and art degree) but can’t escape the tedious clutches of his job at the centre.

You might also recognise Jo Enright, who played a wheelchair-bound chanteuse in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, as Trish’s rival Angela. She’s great value, too.

The first series might have had low ratings, but for series two it’s going over to ITV2, a pretty sensible move that will probably let the show play to its naturally naughty strengths.

This photograph is © ITV/BIG TALK and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programmeTHE JOB LOT on ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmission date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com

Joining the cast this year is Laura Aikman as Deputy Manager Natalie, whose introduction gives Tovey’s Karl a reason to look forward to work again. And there are guest appearances from Meera Syal, unaccomplished ballroom dancer / thespian Mark Benton and noted songbird, melter-of-hearts and Speedo advocate Keith Duffy. Blimey.

So thank you, The Job Lot, because you’re just the kind of feel-good show I need to forget that the economy is still in a bit of a mess.

The Job Lot begins tonight (September 24) at 10pm on ITV2.

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