Dawn French’s Divisive Sitcom Gets Green Light for Second Season
The BBC has confirmed that Dawn French’s latest comedy offering, Can You Keep A Secret?, has been renewed for a second season, a decision that has already sparked debate among viewers. The initial season, which premiered in January, garnered a mixed bag of reactions, with some social media users expressing strong disapproval, even suggesting it made the often-criticised Mrs Brown’s Boys appear as high-quality comedy in comparison.
Despite the online backlash, the show has found a more appreciative audience on the IMDb platform, where it currently holds a respectable rating of 6.8 out of ten. This positive score likely played a significant role in the BBC’s decision to recommission the series.
The premise of Can You Keep A Secret? centres on a seemingly ordinary retired couple, Debbie and William Fendon. In a bid to commit life insurance fraud, they concoct an elaborate scheme to fake William’s death. The ensuing narrative plunges the audience into a chaotic and unusual living arrangement, with the “deceased” William forced to hide away in the loft of their home.
The BBC revealed that the first season of the show achieved an impressive viewership, with 5.3 million viewers tuning in within the first 28 days of its release. This figure positions it as the third-biggest comedy launch for the broadcaster since 2024, underscoring its significant audience reach despite the divisive critical reception.
A Stellar Cast and Creative Team
The series stars the beloved Dawn French as Debbie Fendon, a character described as a “domineering granny.” Alongside her is Mark Heap, who plays the role of William Fendon. The ensemble cast also includes Craig Roberts as their son, Harold, and Mandip Gill as his wife, Neha, who happens to be a police officer, adding a layer of inherent tension to the Fendon family’s secret.
Dawn French, renowned for her iconic role in The Vicar Of Dibley, expressed her delight at the renewal. “As chuffed as an actual chuff to hear that we have a second series!” she exclaimed. “More chance for Debbie to get her bossy boots on and create further havoc… hooray.”
Simon Mayhew-Archer, the creator and writer of the show, described the creative process as “a joyous experience.” He highlighted the collaborative nature of comedy, stating, “Comedy is a team game, and Dawn, Mark, Craig, Mandip and the whole cast and crew are dream collaborators. I love sitcoms and I want more of them on TV, so I am enormously grateful to everyone who has watched this show and taken the Fendons to their hearts. I hope our success will help even more comedy get made across the UK. It’s one of our national superpowers – and we need it!”
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning, echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the “fantastic” response to the series. “Dawn French and the whole creative team have crafted a warm, mischievous comedy that clearly struck a chord with audiences,” he commented. “We’re delighted to bring it back for a second series and can’t wait to see even more secrets unravel.”
Social Media’s Scathing Verdict vs. Critical Acclaim
The initial broadcast of Can You Keep A Secret? on January 7th was met with a barrage of negative comments on social media platforms. One viewer on X (formerly Twitter) starkly stated, “Makes Mrs Brown look like a comedy masterclass. Wish the bbc had kept it a secret! [sic]” Another echoed this sentiment, confessing, “Not sure not raised a half hearted smile so far #CanYouKeepaSecret.” A third simply labelled the show as “Just awful,” while a fourth questioned, “Waiting for the comedy on @bbc #CanYouKeepaSecret.”
However, not all reviews were so harsh. In contrast, Christopher Stevens of the Daily Mail awarded the sitcom a commendable four stars out of five. His review offered a deeper insight into the show’s darker, more complex themes.
Stevens elaborated on the sitcom’s departure from typical comedic fare, noting its darker undertones. He pointed out that William suffers from Parkinson’s disease, and his involvement in insurance fraud was an accidental consequence of an overdose of his Parkinson’s medication. Debbie’s discovery of him in a comatose state led to a misdiagnosis by a hypochondriac GP, who, ironically, provided a death certificate after a highly cautious examination. The plot thickened as Debbie allowed her son Harold to grieve for months before revealing the truth, a revelation she attempted to soften by presenting him with the entire insurance payout in cash, a move Stevens described as a way to “cheer him up.”
The reviewer praised Dawn French’s performance, describing her portrayal of Debbie as being “in strong form.” He characterised the character as “self-centred,” capable of being “big-hearted one moment and brutally inconsiderate the next.” Stevens noted the striking resemblance of Debbie to the eccentric characters French famously played in sketches on French And Saunders, suggesting the role was tailor-made for her. He also highlighted a fascinating connection, revealing that Mayhew-Archer’s father, Paul, was a co-writer on French’s long-running hit, The Vicar Of Dibley.
For those eager to catch up on the Fendons’ misadventures or experience the show for the first time, Can You Keep A Secret? is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
