Wrong Mans proves right vehicle for Corden’s latest ruse

TV Watch with Dave O’Connell

James Corden is one of those TV personalities that inspire polarised views – you either love him or hate him – and while you’d struggle to find someone who didn’t warm to Gavin and Stacey, he certainly hasn’t had the same unanimous acclaim from the critics since.

That should be changing with Wrong Mans, currently running on BBC2, a comedy that’s both clever and funny in equal measure.

Described as a comedy thriller about two well-meaning idiots who become entangled in a hideous world of crime, conspiracy and corruption, it stars Corden as one of them – Phil Bourne, a 31-years-old mail distribution assistant with Berkshire County Council.

The other is Sam Pinkett (played by Mat Baynton), who is a town planning and noise guidance adviser with the same local authority – a man so devoid of ambition that death wouldn’t be any more of an impediment to his career path.

It doesn’t help that his ex-girlfriend, Lizzy, is now his boss, but the real drama begins when he is almost hit by a car that skids on ice, as he is slowly making his way to work one morning.

Sam answers a ringing phone he finds beside the scene of the accident when he is told that his wife – he doesn’t have one – will be killed if he doesn’t hand over the money by five o’clock . . . and thus the deadly duo are embroiled in a kidnap and extortion drama that is several rungs out of their reach.

Phil has clearly seen too many action hero movies and he embraces this drama like it’s a video game – but along the way they encounter what seems like the Triad, the secret service and a web of international conspiracy and intrigue that is far-fetched and hilariously funny in equal measure.

The first episode of this seven part series was the most watched opener since Ricky Gervais’ Extras – so clearly the audience loved it.

The bottom line however is that Corden will continue to evoke the usual response – if you like him, you’ll love this and if he irritates you, then you’d be best flicking the channel.

The last time television featured a series about prison and food, it starred the Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale, and they called it Porridge – now the spotlight is on fine dining behind bars, where the crab claws and coq au vin are served up to the public by convicted criminals.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.