First of all let me say that I have never seen the first series (with Ben Chaplin) so I can't judge if this is better or worse. But what I do know is that if you can't laugh with the humour on 'Game On' you should really wonder if you have any sense of humour at all...

Game On is a British sitcom which ran for three series on BBC2 from 27 February 1995 to 6 February 1998. [1] And speaking about the blast from the past, Ed introduced Samantha and spoke about her surprise performance of her song this week ahead of the final this weekend. Read More Related Articles Like many sitcoms, the first series has that sense of a feeling out process. It's trying to find its rhythm, led by Ben Chaplin’s performance as Matt. He’s the embodiment of Nineties machismo: sat around reading loaded magazine, reenacting scenes from Reservoir Dogs, and waxing his surfboard in the living room. Even the title of the series comes from his laddish catchphrase – “Game on, Martin, game on” – accompanied by a mini fist bump. The head of the house is Matthew Malone ( played first by Ben Chaplain then by Neil Stuke ), a he-man type whose main interests are women and surfing. However, he is never able to fulfil his interests as he suffers from agoraphobia, a condition which was brought on following the death of his parents.The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tour reveals first look and additional dates | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com . Retrieved 4 August 2022. Samantha said: "I was in Liverpool yesterday and it was wonderful. I was terrified I didn't think anyone would remember. Fans organised this huge prepress to the Eurovision and you know I went on stage and they knew all the words! I honestly had the best time!"

I remember the one in the first series when Mandy was going out with that boxer, Paul "The Rage" Johnson and he comes to the flat and plonks his beer down on Matthew's surfboard, much to his horror. Of course the surfboard has probably never even been used. Stoat ( Eddie Marsan) – A criminal, and Mandy's ex-boyfriend from school. Appears in only one episode, during which he takes everybody in the flat hostage and is later revealed to have fathered Mandy's daughter whom she gave up for adoption when she was a teenager. Wally Bazoum - An unseen character, Mr Bazoum is Martin's only other friend except Matthew. Mr Bazoum is a Turkish man who also works at the bank where Martin works. The character is referred to in all series, and spoken to by Matthew who says "he sounds like a complete wanker". Spends a weekend away with Martin in the first series. All three series of the show are available on DVD. The first series DVD is the only one with any special features, which include Chaplin's best moments as Matthew Malone from the first series and character photo galleries. Since appearing on EastEnders she has made regular television appearances on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, The Paul O'Grady Show, Richard & Judy and Loose Women. In November 2007, she sang with EastEnders co-stars in the 2007 Children in Need charity appeal.Dennis and Ursula - Two further unseen characters referenced throughout the show, they are an elderly couple who live in the flat next door. Notably, Martin borrows their rusted, unsightly Nissan to drive Mandy to church on her wedding day. Clare Monaghan (Tracy Keating) – An Irish nurse, Clare is Martin's girlfriend in the second series and then his ex. She meets Martin and initially makes a deal with him to lose her virginity, not knowing that he was also a virgin. They start dating and eventually break up due to Martin's inability to trust her around other men, his almost vegetative state, and irreconcilable life paths - Clare wanted to travel the world while Martin did not. She appears in five episodes of series two, and four episodes of series three. Actress Tracy Keating also makes a further appearance in the final episode as a different character, a woman who Martin pursues because she looks like Clare. Keating plays this part with an English accent. I was just lying in bed wondering why women loathe and despise me and suddenly I was wide awake. Martin Henson (Matthew Cottle) in Series 1, Episode 4 The Digital Fix noted that viewing figures for the show were highest during its first series with Ben Chaplin as the lead actor, and the audience for the subsequent series declined sharply when he was replaced by Neil Stuke. [4] The British Comedy Guide noted in its review of Game On that the series was polarizing due to some controversy over some of the politically incorrect dialogue, situations and gags, but also that the series had high viewing figures, building up an even bigger following after its cancellation. [5] Awards [ edit ]

As far as mainstream sitcoms go, there hadn’t been a show that skewed so young since, well, The Young Ones. Samantha breaks shoulder. Samantha Janus sported a sling at the Bafta TV Awards after she broke her shoulder". Metro. 21 April 2008 . Retrieved 5 December 2022. In 1991, Samantha who was Samantha Janus at the time, represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest in Rome with the song A Message To Your Heart, but finished in joint 10th place with Ireland.In Full: All About Soap Bubble winners". digitalspy.co.uk. 27 March 2011 . Retrieved 27 September 2012. Chaplin's character was more serious, but I'd say more believable and in some ways funnier. Stuke plays Matt as more madcap and much dimmer, and he definitely doesn't have the authoritative air that Chaplin gave the character. Stuke still did a great job, and changed the Matt character a lot, but I can forget about Chaplin, and just enjoy what Stuke delivers. If Ben Chaplin had never been cast in that first classic series of Game On then I feel Neil Stuke would be fondly remembered. Stuke played Matthew very fun and OTT but didn't bring the dramatic undercurrent to the hilarious loser Matt that Chaplin did. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19thed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p.279. ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7.