This sitcom and its main character have one thing in common; no one wants to keep seeing them each week.

Stephen Merchant’s first solo endeavour has just launched on HBO but Hello Ladies seems to miss the execution you expect from the co-producer of The Office and Extras. Merchant’s series is heavily based around his recent stand up tour of the same name, detailing the trials and tribulations he has when trying to seduce women. Hello Ladies follows web designer Stuart’s (Merchant) painstaking attempts to seduce the beautiful women of L.A.

Reminiscent of some of Merchant’s previous work, this cringe comedy is delivered beautifully but after watching more than one episode, ladled with the same jokes, his painful episodes will begin to feel a bit too much like torture. In fact, it becomes difficult not to realise you have no emotional connection to any of the characters. Stuart’s friendship with attractive Jessica seems to try and establish a side of him you won’t dislike, however it does have the feeling of one of the most predictable will-they-won’t-they relationships written into a TV programme.

It’s clear that Merchant has not lost his sense of humour or his perfect delivery, but it just isn’t quite the genius he was when partnered with Ricky Gervais. When considering that Gervais’ new solo sitcom, Derek, was criticised for not being particularly funny but emotionally provocative throughout, it is evident that both men hold half the ingredients to a perfect sitcom.

Catch Hello Ladies on Sky Atlantic, Wednesdays at 10pm. 

You can also read our review of Derek here.

Freddie Gray

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