Having spent a short time doing work experience in a job centre the crazy stuff the staff get upto is almost spot on. I seen a whole lot of weird and funny stuff but something like coworkers disappearing and the whole office knew that they were going to the toilet to have sex, other crazy things like that so this show isn't really that far from the truth but the comedy factor is just my style of humour so that makes it work for me. Russell Tovey has been in some amazing shows and I started watching after "Him & Her" another similar show but about a couple. Laura Aikman coming in for season 2 really takes it up a notch and adds the office romance between her and Russell's character so that's an added bonus to the comedy. Overall not for everybody but it's my style of humour and I really enjoyed watching it.
16 Reviews
light hearted comedy illustrating the drab and dull 9 - 5!
bgsmall20 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
As a sitcom addict, I had to try out 'the Job Lot'. The 'action' takes place somewhere in the West Midlands (I believe Birmingham is hinted at..?). There is the nervous and eager to please manager: Trish and her arch-nemesis, 'working to rule' Angela. Russell Tovey is the mis-employed arts graduate who is the object of Trish's latent affection. The concoction of characters make for a strangely dysfunctional, but familiar (;-) ) workplace environment.
The writing is decent and the script is well executed by the entire cast. For anyone reading this whose never done a 9-5 job, I believe it transmits some of the dismal nature of said (although by no means all - some you may enjoy!?) occupations. The humour is in the horror of spending your dwindling 'three score and ten' doing something you don't like a great deal, but needing to for the money! Still enjoyable series whilst it lasted!
The writing is decent and the script is well executed by the entire cast. For anyone reading this whose never done a 9-5 job, I believe it transmits some of the dismal nature of said (although by no means all - some you may enjoy!?) occupations. The humour is in the horror of spending your dwindling 'three score and ten' doing something you don't like a great deal, but needing to for the money! Still enjoyable series whilst it lasted!
That's Your Lot In Life
nephihaha30 August 2013
It was inevitable that this programme would draw comparisons with "the Office" and "Vicious" (in which it appeared in a double bill.
The first scene has Russell Tovey's character Karl complaining that he has an Art degree, and that he "shouldn't be reduced to this". You think he's a job seeker, but in fact he's "reduced" to working in this sterile ugly job centre.
It's actually quite watchable, and better than the average ITV sitcom.
The most amusing characters are Trish, the neurotic, anxious manager (who has just been through a divorce, and tries to steal her chocolate labs Ferrero and Rocher back from her ex-husband) and the bitchy Angela, who works to rule, generally undermines the others, and throws her weight around. The security guards are laughable - one's a tiny woman, and the other's a nut with military pretensions. Then there are the bizarre job seekers, one of whom is like an English Rab C. Nesbitt, and an undercover agent who attempts to catch benefit cheats. Only trouble being that he's bearded and Asian, and sticks out like a sore thumb in many environments.
Yes, it's another sitcom about tedium, but it's quite fun. I think it suffered from being on too late at night and was overshadowed by its admittedly better sibling "Vicious", but it's worth a look.
The first scene has Russell Tovey's character Karl complaining that he has an Art degree, and that he "shouldn't be reduced to this". You think he's a job seeker, but in fact he's "reduced" to working in this sterile ugly job centre.
It's actually quite watchable, and better than the average ITV sitcom.
The most amusing characters are Trish, the neurotic, anxious manager (who has just been through a divorce, and tries to steal her chocolate labs Ferrero and Rocher back from her ex-husband) and the bitchy Angela, who works to rule, generally undermines the others, and throws her weight around. The security guards are laughable - one's a tiny woman, and the other's a nut with military pretensions. Then there are the bizarre job seekers, one of whom is like an English Rab C. Nesbitt, and an undercover agent who attempts to catch benefit cheats. Only trouble being that he's bearded and Asian, and sticks out like a sore thumb in many environments.
Yes, it's another sitcom about tedium, but it's quite fun. I think it suffered from being on too late at night and was overshadowed by its admittedly better sibling "Vicious", but it's worth a look.
Enjoyable
supermalta10 May 2019
A bit like The Office crossed with The Office with hints of The Office
PurpleProseOfCairo9 October 2020
...but still manages to be funny in its own right. Like every BritCom of the last 25 years, everyone is doing Gervaisisms (see Harry and Paul's YouTube clip for a very amusing crash course) but once you've managed to tune that out there are some good laughs to be had. All the stereotypical office/Office characters are here - the insecure boss one, the uptight one, the roguish laddish one, the macho/probably ex-SAS one, the aggressive little woman who swears profusely, the decorative female one...the writers do some interesting things with them nonetheless. Undemanding.
Why did they cancel it?
wissia18 January 2021
Why would you cancel a hit?
knightrider-ch90-168-838522 November 2020
Lets have this on Netflix season4 the best comedy since Only Fools And Horses. I actually didn't fancy it at first as i hate the job centre. The more i watched it the more i wanted. Itv2 will replace it with some reality tv tripe. We all need laughter in our lives. I suffer with depression i need more of this not the depressing crap they normally put on tv. Only watch old comedies now the new ones mostly suck apart from this one. Proper gutted.
Absolutely spot on!
andrewbellerby7 December 2018
Excellent idea
simon381822 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I love this and its so true to me as i worked in a Job Centre for 3 years. (I actually had an idea and a rough script that i wrote myself).
Set in a Midlands Job Centre its spans a typical day with clients coming in and out all day. Crisis riddled staff with Angela working to rule after winning a tribunal against the manager Trish. Dannielle has just come back from maternity leave (and is one good reason to watch the programme - wish she worked where i did lol), Karl who has lost the will to live who walks out only to return when the placement girl the first episode. Mad security guards where one is running a painting & decorating company on the side. Client are the varied and the excuses for not finding work are flowing thick. Its certainly worth a watch.
Set in a Midlands Job Centre its spans a typical day with clients coming in and out all day. Crisis riddled staff with Angela working to rule after winning a tribunal against the manager Trish. Dannielle has just come back from maternity leave (and is one good reason to watch the programme - wish she worked where i did lol), Karl who has lost the will to live who walks out only to return when the placement girl the first episode. Mad security guards where one is running a painting & decorating company on the side. Client are the varied and the excuses for not finding work are flowing thick. Its certainly worth a watch.
The other new ITV sitcom
studioAT16 May 2013
The Job Lot is ITV's other new sitcom and sadly the one that has been less publicised.
With Russell Tovey from Him and Her and Sarah Hadland from Miranda in the two lead roles this sitcom is quietly funny and one that lets the characters do the talking rather than lots of the so-called witty exchanges that appear in ITV's other new sitcom, Vicious.
The job centre setting allows endless story lines and a nice revolving door for guest characters to be thrown into the mix.
Not every joke is a winner and some of the characters are more two dimensional than others but for solid entertainment and laughs I think The Job Lot deserves to be given more fanfare.
With Russell Tovey from Him and Her and Sarah Hadland from Miranda in the two lead roles this sitcom is quietly funny and one that lets the characters do the talking rather than lots of the so-called witty exchanges that appear in ITV's other new sitcom, Vicious.
The job centre setting allows endless story lines and a nice revolving door for guest characters to be thrown into the mix.
Not every joke is a winner and some of the characters are more two dimensional than others but for solid entertainment and laughs I think The Job Lot deserves to be given more fanfare.
Absolutely loved it. Comedy gem.
karenblade9 March 2021
An overlooked gem
chrischapman-4754530 January 2021
ITV has a patchy history with sitcoms and here is a great one that didn't get the mainstream exposure which it deserved.
A strong well chosen cast playing engaging and believable characters which an audience can easily relate to, no canned laughter and very well written with a high laugh hit rate.
Other reviewers have compared it to The Office - the setting may be similar but I find it more gentle with the characters better developed.
Shame it was cancelled
jamiedicataldo21 February 2021
I don't get why this was cancelled. There are so many bad, unfunny comedies being churned out (dead pixels etc). So it was refreshing to find one that's actually funny with great characters.
Maybe time for Netflix to give us season 4?
Binged the whole lot !
jentheflorist7 February 2021
Treat Yourself!
jamespiland7 January 2022
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