I remember enjoying the first two series of Just Good Friends (1983-4) and the 1984 Christmas Special, when they were first broadcast, but I missed the third series (1986) and had rather forgotten about the show until it recently re-appeared on Britbox. Since then, I've been bingeing on the episodes and have revisited several of the key scenes since they are so well written and acted. Apart from a few scenes of pure genius, John Sullivan's other more famous sitcoms ('Only Fools and Horses' and 'Citizen Smith') have not lasted well into the twenty-first century, but 'Just Good Friends' is just as funny and as engaging today as when it was made.
The trope of two former lovers re-united after five years apart, is not particularly original, except that in this case, the boy had jilted the girl on their planned wedding day. Their subsequent vain attempts at re-kindling a platonic relationship, despite this chequered history and the lingering feelings they have for one another, form the backdrop to the series. These are set against class differences between the privately educated, middle-class, Penny Warrender (Jan Francis) and the 'Jack-the-lad' Vince Pinner (Paul Nicholas), the son of a Walthamstow scrap metal dealer. The chemistry between the two protagonists is exactly right and both have excellent lines, delivered well. For me, though, Penny is best able to display her comedic skills, switching between the sweet to the sour in an instant. "I could never forget you Vincent, you've always been unique - you're the only bastard that ever jilted me." She oozes sensuality, and as the couple's lips are about to meet for the first time since their break-up, she turns on a sixpence, "My god, you've got a nerve, five years ago you jumped on your motorbike and rode out of my life, now you think you can buy your way back with a few cheap jokes and a lump of lasagne!"
There are other fine performances that have not dated from the late Sylvia Kay who played Penny's snobbish overbearing mother, Daphne, who loathed Vince because of his background and the shame he had brought onto her family. Likewise, the late John Ringham, her hen-pecked father (ultimately supportive of his daughter). Vince's brash nouveau-riche parents, Les and Rita, are also good value.
The two weekly series ended on a sad note in 1984 with a tender and heart-wrenching separation, which again displayed Jan Francis' acting skills. The success of the show warranted a ninety-minute prequel 'Christmas Special', showing Vince and Penny's meeting, their courtship, failed attempt at marriage, followed by her disastrous subsequent marriage to a jealous and vindictive vegetarian, chosen for her by her mother. This was equally funny, well-written and acted although at times could be harrowing as we witness Penny's meltdown. Most viewers would have enjoyed the scene where Maggie, the Samaritan sent out to prevent Vince from committing suicide, decides rather to push him off the end of Canvey Island pier after she discovers that he had jilted, as opposed to murdered, Penny.
Public demand warranted a third series and a happy ending two years later. This was pretty good, and well-worth watching, but not quite up to the same high standard as the first two (hence the overall score of 9/10) I am pleased that the BBC have resurrected this still-glittering gem from their archive and hope that it finds a new audience. The only snag is that Britbox has trimmed the final joke from each episode (coming after the credits) and these were often among the funniest.
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