Ever Decreasing Circles

I thoroughly agree with the other reviewers that Richard Briars, Penelope Wilton and Paul Egan excel in Ever Decreasing Circles which, for all of them, I do think, feature their best TV comic performances. Paul Egan in a commentary for the DVD box interestingly notes that this was his first TV comic series previously he had played far more serious TV roles, notably as a gangster in Big Breadwinner Hogg (ITV, 1969).

'Ever Decreasing Circles' passed me by back in the '80's. Though aware of it, I did not see it due to work commitments ( video cassettes were expensive then!

Ever Decreasing Circles is a 90's sitcom based around the marriage of Martin Bryce, an overly pedantic, borderline obsessive compulsive man who lives in middle class suburbia and his wife, Ann who is steadily but surely becoming disenchanted with her marriage due to her husband's obsessions which always take precedence over her needs from him. A new neighbour, Paul Ryman, moves in next door and there is electricity between him and Ann instantly which results in some very heartfelt and yet awkward moments between them.

I don't quite know how I stumbled across Ever Decreasing Circles again, over twenty years since it was made. But having rediscovered this sitcom, I have watched several episodes and frequently find myself rolling around in laughter at Richard Briers' character Martin Bryce.

Sorry to see this excellent series damned by faint praise in another review. A quiet home-counties close is the setting for some complex characters and relationships, brought out superbly by the principals, Richard Briers, Penelope Wilton and Peter Egan.

What makes Ever Decreasing Circles so charming and fascinating ? Basically, it's the old world values of love and fidelity.

I remember this being pretty funny when I was a kid but watching it now I realise it's a dark study of mental illness and a marriage on the rocks.

Martin Bryce is a man going in ever decreasing circles. His long suffering wife Ann loves Martin, but he drives her mad most of the time, particularly when he takes his obsessive behaviour to extremes (such as oiling the bed in the middle of the night because it squeaks!

Apart from Only Fools and Horses there is no better mainstream 80s comedy than this, on the surface it's the usual middle class suburban fare with clichéd characters but is a whole lot deeper, cleverer and funnier than that.Richard Bryers gives his best comedy performance, quality support from Penelope Wilton and Peter Egan is well cast as his foil Paul.