If you like your comedy broad, short and simple then this may be the answer. Mandy runs through her confused life creating surreal chaos in short 22 minute episodes. Loved the poisonous spiders sneaking through on the banana shipments. Worth a watch to see if it your cup of tea
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smoratti16 August 2020
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owen-watts21 September 2020I've been enjoying Morgan's sharp characterful grotesquery since the creation of the curiously stupid (or stupidly curious) Philomena Cunk - intended as another fake "dumb general public view" talking head alongside Al Campbell's Barry Sh**peas on Charlie Brooker's evergreen Wipe cultural commentary shows. In this she creates her own surreal (but strangely believable) British figure - a sloppy ignorant buffoon called Mandy Carter.
Unlike Cunk (and the works of Cunk) this is a pure creation by Morgan who writes the entire thing and it's... a mixed bag really but admirably surreal. In the short episodes the plots are fairly perfunctory but the situations and the wildly inspired cast shines through. Watching Mandy interact with people like David Bradley, Sean Lock or Maxine Peake is a pure joy but to spotlight extremely specific people like Natalie Cassidy or the great Mark Silcox (the latter in multiple roles no less) is almost poetry.
Essentially, Mandy is a willfully strange bit of comedy frippery with a who's who of British oddbods. It's not doing anything particularly revolutionary but like Mandy herself it has a curious charm all of its own. -
midnitepantera28 December 2020I almost turned it off a few minutes into first episode, but then it got CREEPY and reminded me of an I Love Lucy episode. These episodes are only 15 mins long, so it's a quick watch/binge. The 4th episode, Fish, was also hilarious. Mandy reminds me of a Daddy Long Legs as she stomps around town. She is mostly a selfish, lazy child-woman, but she does have a heart after all. Not for everyone, but had some very funny and cringy bits. ;D
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Qwertysheep9878 January 2022Mandy is basically a cartoon for middle class guardian readers, or misogynists. It stinks of the worst snobbery in the UK. The people who made this are extremely out or touch with the atmosphere in the country. It pretty much sums up the BBCs attitude to people from this background. It says a lot, that YouTube cat videos made for pennies, are more watchable than this.
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PaulieTheCelt14 October 2021There's a few decent laughs in this little show. It's not groundbreaking, or the best thing you'll ever watch. But, the episodes are short, and it's definitely worth a try. Perfect for picking off when there's nothing else to do with a spare fifteen minutes in your life.
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The entire show is beautiful in its simplicity, broad comedic strokes delivered with an element of sadness and the result is stunning to watch. From the wacky situations to Diane Morgan's stunning portrayal of Mandy. It was perfect. I also enjoyed the abrupt editing and the perfunctory use of music. The cinematography, while simple in parts, felt like it had purpose. Every shot felt meaningful and impactful, compared to some shows where the camerawork is utilised to fill time.
Overall I want to see more of this, but I don't want the format to change. The reason being that the 15 minute format forces the show to be as concise as possible which I think really benefits the show.
BBC, make more please! -
ObscureNameDigit28 March 2024Seaon 1 and 2 are great, as you probably know the character is basically Philomena Cunk looking for a job. The first two seasons are surreal and funny with a few moments where we are expected to suspend our disbelief.
Whereas with Season 3 it seems like we are being asked to suspend our disbelief for way too many episodes.
I really get the feeling that Diane is getting bored with the character or is just trying to see how much she can get a way with.
Episodes in Season 3 I thought were decent.
Episode 3 was fun and had some snooker jokes in there for the....snooker fans.
Episode 6 for the most part, goes back to the season 1 formula, and it works.
Basically it just feels like for a lot of these episodes someone said "what if we did this..." and no one said "well that makes no sense and is too stupid, there's no parody in that. What are you trying to do? Get the show cancelled? Oh that is what you want?....ok...you CAN walk out on the wing of the flying plane... twas nice while it lasted" -
xmasdaybaby196621 August 2021I am rating this after S1.
I don't watch a lot of female led comedy but this reminds me of Nighty Night from a few years ago with one dimensional characters and OTT or unprepared actors.
A few laughs in each episode and sad to see Sean Lock in his final acting role (if you can call it that) in s1e4.
Enjoyable but not sure I will be watching S2 even if the lead character does look like @scotsdee on her Twitter page in heeled boots and PVC leggings.
Mandy and Lola are the stars. I wonder how many other girls will be named after songs. -
linda-frances15 August 2020Diane Morgan absolutely brilliant as the hapless Mandy. Funniest comedy I've seen for a long time. Poor Mandy always has good intentions and ends up getting it spectacularly wrong. She's like a cross between Frank Spencer and Grumio. I do hope there'll be another series.
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MotormouthOnLegz20 October 2020Mandy is mental. Both the character and the show.
Proper belly laughs from both the dialogue and Mandy's squinty pouty mouth thing.
Great cast, snappy 15 minute episodes that leave you wanting more and the always amazing Diane Morgan.
Diane Morgan is a genius!
Another series would be most welcome. Keep the 15 minute length as it fits surprisingly well and makes sure neither Mandy or the storylines outstay their welcome.
Possibly my 2020 comedy of the year! -
jerknting13 March 2022She is brilliant as a comedy actress, but I just can't get on with Mandy. Too much face pulling gets a bit annoying. 🙄 Her other roles are fantastic, like After Life and Cunkt she's amazing.
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gaijin-7728214 August 2020I only found this show through BBC iPlayer and only the first six episodes are there. Now I want more! Diane Morgan is finally been able to show off her talent and this is screamingly funny. From scenes of tarantulas being hammered flat in a banana factory to our heroine having a large tattoo removed from her back with a small cookery gas burner (and using the scab as an ashtray) you never know what's coming next. Morgan's facial expressions throughout all her misadventures are a joy to behold but make you wonder if she's in any pain. There are one or two 'star' guests but most of the cast seem to have come from Ricky Gervais' After Life (which also starred Morgan) although there is no character crossover. There are also some clever nods to other movies but no spoilers here. Highly recommended and I'm off now to watch it again.
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kezzie-2806122 October 2020What a absolute character Mandy is. I haven't laughed much this year (pandemic) but Mandy has certainly brought out the giggles and laughs! More please!!! Desperate for some more episodes
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aaronreames29 June 2021What a great series this was. I have watched these around a 100 times. Very daft but very funny. The faces she "Mandy" pulls and the way she walks lol. Diane Morgan is fantastic as the main lead and writer. If your having a bad/stressful day then watch Mandy. They are only on for 15 minutes an episode and there are 6 episodes so it's the length of the average film if watched in one go like i did. But do yourself a favour and give them a watch. And Diane based her character on a real life person she knows. I really hope this gets another series.
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studiobrush16 September 2020Came out of know where. Love everything about this show. Writing/music/lip
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I happened to come across Mandy while channel hopping. I watched with open mouthed awe at the most awfully written, unfunny programme I have ever seen. I honestly thought it was a spoof for some charity special like children in need, made to be purposely awful. After looking online at the reviews and realising this is supposed to be cutting edge comedy in 2020, I am absolutely amazed that anyone could think this is worth watching. I watched more episodes in morbid fascination and forced my wife and kids and endure the pain with me, to make sure it wasn't just me. It wasn't. No one smiled, let alone laughed. From the ridiculous lips to constantly dancing around with her gangly pencil legs it is just plain awful. When Sonja from Eastenders started swearing like a sailor, including the C word, I finally tuned out for good. Actually quite angry my licence fee money was wasted on this absolute tripe... Avoid at all costs.
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jonathanburns-ncl20 August 2020Love, love this - very funny and well acted with a load of well known faces. Hope there's going to be some more of these as I'm not ready to say goodbye to Mandy yet!
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semilovatomanchester7 January 2021Found this gem on iPlayer highly recommend!
Fingers crossed for another series -
This is some of the best British humour I have come across in decades I'm addicted to Mandy and Diane Morgan for having invented her
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robertadamson198520 August 2020Great from the very start. Diane Morgan is brilliant.
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louisemarieperry10 November 2020I've known a few people like Mandy and I do think Morgan has got the look and mannerisms spot on. The environment and production reminds me of where I grew up in rural East Midlands, but not in a good way.
The characters have very little depth and I'm sorry to say the writing is not insightful in the way that, 'I'm Alan Partridge' or 'Phoenix Nights' are which have a similar premise.
The series does grow on you if you manage to get past the first few episodes. It may appeal to slight older viewers, as it is slightly nostalgic.
For me, it is both homely and uncomfortable in equal measure, but not amusing at all. -
beverleygower21 August 2020Had to watch all episodes in one evening , absolutely loved it . Very original I highly recommend it for those with a warped Sense of humour
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hjfvyw5 April 2024Mandy definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it certainly is mine. Diane Morgan has let her imagination run wild and the results are hilarious. The humour is absurd and, in my opinion, very northern. The cameos are great and I enjoyed the snappy 15 minute episodes. I've knocked a point off as there's a little bit of inconsistency, and the occasional episode that doesn't quite live up to the others.
I strongly disagree with some of the other reviews that implied Mandy is looking down on the working classes. On the contrary, I was rooting for Mandy throughout. She's a loveable wrong 'un.