TV Critics: The Call Centre; Mad Dogs; What Do Artists Do All Day?

“As television, it’s not ground-breaking; it does the same kind of thing The Armstrongs did 10 years ago… This does get added relevance from the rise of the UK call centre, and the fact most us are bombarded by calls about bloody PPI claims. It’s certainly interesting to see what these calls look like from the other end of the line. But mainly it works – and it does, it’s very entertaining – because of Nev, whether you think he’s appalling (me), or brilliant (everyone else). He’s like Cardiff’s David Brent (Daffyd Brent?).”
Sam Wollaston , The Guardian

“Rarely for such documentaries these days, The Call Centre didn’t look down on anyone. Sure, many employees had bad hair, even worse eyebrows, orange tans and dodgy clothes, but there was no cruel editing or sneery subtext. If anyone was the butt of the joke, it was the boss – and comedy is more palatable when it’s punching upwards rather than down.”
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph

“Everything about this TV splicing of the buddy-movie with Michael Caine-style gangster shenanigans shouts of contrived, cobbled-togetherness on paper, so it is a wonder that it hangs together so well in the flesh. Perhaps it is the acting: the chemistry between John Simm and Philip Glenister that charmed us all in Life on Mars is still there, while Warren and Max Beesley are also perfectly cast. Or maybe it is the script, with its hint of darkness and depth that is laced with just the right amount of humour and silly plotting.”
Arifa Akbar, The Independent

“Let’s make no bones about it: the blend of blokey comedy with casual violence has been a winning formula ever since Vinnie Jones hung up his football boots. Here we had more of the same… The only real weakness was the female character, Mercedes (Jaime Winstone), a shaven-headed, tattooed soldier who ‘bonded’ with our heroes by attacking them… Generally, however, when Mad Dogs was silly it was silly in a good way, and the perky pace made it easy to enjoy.”
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph

“If only we could have more intelligent and illuminating television like this half hour. It was good viewing for the art fan, but also for the conceptual art-phobe.”
Arifa Akbar, The Independent