In with the Flynns

Did You Know?

• The working title was Meet the Doyles.
• Taping took place at dock10, MediaCityUK for the second series.
• The show was cancelled on 30 October 2012.

Production

The series is set in Manchester but was filmed before a live studio audience at Teddington Studios in London. A team of writers contributed, giving the show an American comedy feel. Flashbacks are used frequently to depict past events. The first series of six episodes aired on BBC One from June to July 2011, and a second series of six episodes aired from 17 August 2012.

Characters

Will Mellor plays Liam Flynn, a doting father and loving husband who married Caroline as a teenager. Niky Wardley portrays Caroline Flynn, who loves her family and tolerates Liam's brother and father living in her house. Warren Clarke is Jim Flynn, the widowed father of Liam, Tommy, and Kevin, who enjoys fishing and often bores his family with stories. Craig Parkinson appears as Tommy Flynn in Series 1, a freeloading brother who sleeps on Liam's sofa; in Series 2, Tommy has run away with Kevin's fiancée. Orla Poole (2011) and Nadine Rose Mulkerrin (2012) play Chloe Flynn. Daniel Rogers plays Steve Flynn, and Lorenzo Rodriguez plays Mikey Flynn. Alex Carter joins in Series 2 as Kevin Flynn, who moves in with his father after Tommy runs off with his fiancée; Kevin fears women and has a gambling habit. Beverley Callard appears as Pat, Caroline's mother, and Paul Copley as Alan, Caroline's father, both living in Spain.

Reception

The first episode received mixed reviews. James Walton of The Telegraph criticised it as the kind of sitcom that The Royle Family and Outnumbered should have rendered obsolete, though he praised the cast and called it acceptable undemanding television. Zoe Williams of The Guardian described it as bland, smooth, and unremarkable, with acting that was not great, and noted the characters needed to be more like actual people. Metro offered a more positive view, advising not to set expectations too high but acknowledging a decent cast and potential for improvement. Series two also drew criticism. Sam Wollaston of The Guardian called it a tired, lame sitcom. Phil Harrison of Time Out wrote that the BBC responded to competition from Sky with a second series of a piss-weak sitcom, with flat dialogue, telegraphed jokes, and superficial characterisation. Emma Sturgess of The Guardian was more positive, saying that although broad, it was not total carp.