Prepare to laugh until your sides ache with “Only Child,” the new sitcom from BBC Scotland that packs a joke into nearly every line. Starring Greg McHugh as Richard, a middling TV actor forced to return to his hometown of Forres to care for his recently-widowed father Ken (a scene-stealing Gregor Fisher), this traditional comedy finds hilarity in their contentious yet loving relationship.
Prodigal Son Meets Eccentric Dad
Richard, accustomed to the luxuries of minor celebrity in London, bristles at being back in sleepy Forres. “Why are we here?” he grumbles at his father’s insistence they attend a neighbor’s funeral. Ken shoots back, “Well it’s a social contract – you go to someone’s funeral, they come to yours.” Richard dryly notes, “Not if they’re dead…”
But as Richard witnesses his dad’s increasingly concerning behavior, like chauffeuring a creepy doll named Percy around town and stockpiling expired food, he realizes Ken has declined sharply since losing his wife a year prior. When Richard learns his middling TV show has been canceled, he resigns himself to an extended stay in Forres to mind his father.
Fisher Steals Every Scene
Rab C. Nesbitt legend Gregor Fisher, a master at wringing laughs from the driest material, is comedy gold as the curmudgeonly yet vulnerable Ken. His quest to prove his mental acuity by belting the alphabet (out of order) and fixation with crooner Jane McDonald are just a few highlights.
Fisher could make reciting the phone book uproarious.
– Critic Rachel Aroesti
Bittersweet Humor Shines
Behind the rapid-fire gags, “Only Child” depicts a bittersweet rite of passage as grown children become caregivers to their own parents. McHugh deftly portrays Richard’s transition from self-involved actor to devoted if exasperated son.
The show’s farcical tone gives way to subtle poignancy when Richard and Ken, both missing the woman who held their family together, share a touching moment of grief and remembrance. It’s a testament to the cast’s talent that they balance big laughs with understated heart.
Hilariously Human Supporting Cast
A quirky cast of locals round out the Forres community, including Paul Rattray as Richard’s sticky-fingered childhood pal and Stuart Bowman as the town’s bin-obsessed busybody. Guest star Samantha Spiro scores laughs as a famous actress slumming in Forres for a TV genealogy show.
Clever, Comforting Comedy
With its small-town hijinks and gently snarky family dynamic, “Only Child” isn’t rewriting the sitcom playbook. But its gag-dense scripts, brisk pacing, and lived-in performances make spending time with the McLeod family a joy.
As Richard and Ken navigate their changing roles and rediscover how much they need each other, this unassuming comedy proves that the most rewarding laughs often spring from life’s poignant twists. Throw in some instantly-quotable one-liners and a few uproarious set pieces, and “Only Child” becomes must-see comfort viewing.
