Preview: Hebburn – Episode 2

Hebburn

Previously on Hebburn: “Welcome to Hebburn, Pet. Jack Pearson [Chris Ramsey] is taking Sarah [Kimberley Nixon] home to meet the family, but they think she is his new girlfriend, not his new wife that he just married in Vegas. Mum Pauline [Gina McKee] goes overboard to make Sarah welcome, while sister Vicky [Lisa McGrillis] winds them up about the thin walls in the house. Dad Joe [Jim Moir] has an important family announcement: he is retiring, his mother, Granny Dot [Pat Dunn], is moving in and he needs Jack’s help.

The only way to cope is a visit to the local, Swayze’s. Jack’s old mates Ramsey [Jason Cook] and Gervaise [Neil Grainger] are there, and Gervaise is hoping to win Vicky’s heart with the power of song. Jack’s ex Denise [Victoria Elliot] also turns up to remind Sarah of the ghost of Geordie girlfriends past, and the party ends quite unexpectedly.”

Last week, North East sitcom Hebburn attracted a cool 1.8 million viewers in the 10pm slot on BBC2 – twice the number creator Jason Cook had hoped for the show. The second episode, entitled Ghost Town, airs tonight – so we thought we’d give you a little taster for what’s to come…

The official line: “Jack is hoping mum Pauline will forgive him for the whole ‘not telling her about the wedding thing’. They’re back in Hebburn to help Dot move out of her retirement village and Jack’s big news – a book deal and a big publishing advance – will help, surely? He can leave his job as a local paper journalist behind and calm his mum down in one fell swoop. But Pauline is no pushover and Joe is getting it in the neck for their son’s recklessness too. Jack has got a big gesture in mind that will smooth it all over. Meanwhile, Ramsey tries to woo Denise’s heart with the power of booze.”

Creator Jason Cook said: “It’s time for episode two. We set up all the characters in the first episode, so the story really moves on in Ghost Town. It’s really about what Jack’s going to do to make it up to his mum…”

Our verdict: Of the episodes we’ve seen so far, Ghost Town is definitely the strongest. It brings bigger laughs than the series opener, but thankfully the characters still carry that lovely, warm feeling. Watch out for Pat Dunn stealing the show again as grandma Dot, plus a new romance is born – with hilarious consequences.

Watch a clip from Ghost Town here:

Tonight, BBC2, 10pm.