Tuesday 18 February 2020

Inside No 9 : The Referee's a W....r



The fifth series of Inside No 9 opened with my favourite episode to date, The Referee's a W....r, a half hour classic that stands multiple viewing. Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith write and appear in every episode and this time thet have surpassed themselves. All the "action" takes place in a referee's dressing room, before, during and after a Championship game that might or might not give the winner promotion to the riches of the Premier League.

David Morrisey is the best I have seen him as the belligerent ref at his last match, and Ralph Little is also great as an assistant referee. He hopes that a delegation from Qatar might be in the crowd to pick him for the World Cup in 2022. Some hope! Steve Pemberton runs the other line and might be in a bit of bother. Reece Shearsmith is the fourth official, harping back to an appearance at A C Milan.

Tubby Steve Spiers plays a mascot and Dipo Ola a team captain. There are plenty of twists and turns, lots of comedy, pathos, possible corruption and drama. No horror this time, but the ending is superb. There is even a mention of Robbie Savage's hair, so everything football gets in somewhere.


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