Ignore the off-putting title, Colin from Accounts might just be your next favourite TV show.
Released in the UK on BBC2 earlier this month, and now available on BBC iPlayer, the comedy has been quickly picking up fans, with David Baddiel tweeting, “Colin From Accounts is like many quirky girl meets boy sitcoms but funnier than virtually all of them,” and with The Times’ Jonathan Dean, saying, “It is the best romantic comedy I’ve seen for years.”
So what is the Australian comedy all about? And what are people loving about it? Here’s everything to know about the new BBC series.
What’s it about?
Colin from Accounts is actually a love story rather than a new take on The Office. And Colin is the name of a dog, not the leading man.
The eight part series, which is set in Sydney, starts off with a fun meet-cute which sets the tone for the rest of the show. The drama starts when microbrewer Gordon (Patrick Brammall) lets medical student Ashley (Harriet Dyer) cross the road, and she thanks him by flashing her boob.
Distracted Gordon runs over an unaccompanied dog and the two strangers end up having to take it to the vet together, pay the hefty vet fee (which is about £6,400) and then work out what to do with it. They name it Colin the Accountant.
Well, from then on the story is one of romance, but not the Richard Curtis kind. The series includes everything from fart jokes to word plays, and there are themes of motherhood, friendship, recovery (Gordon has recovered from cancer) and getting over someone (Ashley is still suffering from a break up) all seamlessly woven into the story too.
Who has made it?
The show has been created and written by actors Dyer and Brammall, who are married in real life. The show has been directed by Trent O’Donnell (whose credits include Saved by the Bell, Guilty Party and Ghosts) and Matthew Moore (The Great).
Who else does it star?
Colin from Accounts also stars Emma Harvie (Frayed) who plays Ashley’s best friend Megan, Helen Thomson (Bad Mothers, Stupid Stupid Man), Tai Hara (Madam Secretary) and Genevieve Hegney (The Little Death).
How can you watch Colin from Accounts in the UK?
For those who like the sound of the romcom, happily, all eight episodes are currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Reviews: what did the critics say?
The series has been picking up a mountain of praise: The Guardian gave it five stars, saying, “This unfailingly funny, perfectly acted Australian sitcom features a lead that’s neither a hot mess nor a manic pixie dream girl. It’s honest, kind and goes from strength to strength.”
The i called it “charming, compelling, and comedically convincing to boot” and Grazia described it as, “the new romcom show you need in your life”. The Times said the comedy has “Australian earthiness”, that the central pair have an “offbeat nature” and that Dyer’s Ashley is “a bit kooky” – which all point towards the show’s quirky tone.
What has everyone else been saying?
The series has also been pulling in high praise from nearly everyone who has watched it; fans of the show include The Times’ Jonathan Dean and author David Baddiel.
Colin From Accounts is like many quirky girl meets boy sitcoms but funnier than virtually all of them.
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) April 23, 2023
Anybody looking for something wholesome, funny, warm and brilliant to watch, I can highly recommend ‘Colin from Accounts’ on iplayer. Bloody marvellous. #ColinFromAccounts pic.twitter.com/i3EVWuqc4O
— Winnie the Who (@win_confidante) April 19, 2023
Watch COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS. It is the best romantic comedy I’ve seen for years. Ridiculous, realistic, sad, surreal, Australian, a long joke about a vet called Yvette, some dark stuff that I am still laughing about. All on iPlayer. Superb
— Jonathan Dean (@JonathanDean_) April 21, 2023
I’m actually snorting with laughter watching #ColinFromAccounts . A much needed injection of pure comedy.
— jenny mccann (@jennyeye) April 18, 2023
