I only recently found this show, almost a quarter of a century after it first aired.
Whilst the show is vey much a product of its time, a lot of the comedy is still relatable and there are some fantastic characters.
It is a window on how much society has changed... Carol, the spiky slimming club leader, is nasty and spiteful towards her members, behaviour which wouldn't wash nowadays.
The show starts off almost as an anthology series, with each episode focusing on the life of one of the main characters on the show, with the other characters playing supporting roles.
As the show progresses, the format changes into a more regular drama with Betty (Alison Steadman) and Kelly (Ruth Jones) and their respective families becoming the main focus of the show.
Series 1 and 2 are very strong, for the final 2 series, the character development goes a little off course and they resort to stunt plot lines to keep the show going. Some of the character behaviour seems a little off, sacrificing the character for the sake of story.
One of the annoying things is how the show loses characters, in most cases, with no or little explanation, through the run of the series. Many of the new characters that were introduced later on didn't feel as well developed as the originals.
Overall, it's a fun, enjoyable comedy drama set at the beginning of the 2000s with a window to that era.
