Image: BBC Press
By Jon Donnis
Deception, fraud and family drama form the backbone of Can You Keep A Secret?, a darkly humorous new series that finds chaos lurking behind the most ordinary of family facades. Dawn French leads the cast as Debbie Fendon, a seemingly typical granny whose love for lawn bowls masks a sharp, cunning streak. She is fiercely protective of her family, although the truth is that her well-intentioned schemes often cause more problems than they solve.
Nice to see Dawn French back making TV instead of making ignorant and ill-informed commentary on politics and world affairs. Stick to the comedy and Dawn French is a national treasure.
The story begins when Debbie's husband William, played by Mark Heap, is declared dead in a bureaucratic mix-up. Seizing the unexpected opportunity, the couple concocts a plan to cash in on William's life insurance, hiding out in the loft for several months in hopes of enjoying their retirement in comfort. While the scheme is audacious, it places enormous strain on the rest of the family, particularly their son Harry. Played by Craig Roberts, Harry has his own household to manage, along with the looming promise of an insurance payout that is both tempting and morally compromising.
Complications escalate when Harry's wife Neha, portrayed by Mandip Gill, enters the equation. A local police officer by profession, Neha embodies practicality and caution, meaning any slip-up by her in-laws could expose the family's deception. Harry, already stretched thin by parenthood, suddenly finds himself juggling toddlers, marital loyalty, and the absurd criminal antics of his parents. The resulting tension between generations, combined with moments of sharp comedy, makes the series both entertaining and surprisingly relatable in its portrayal of family dynamics.
Can You Keep A Secret? blends comedy, suspense and familial chaos into a series that is as witty as it is unpredictable. Viewers can catch it on iPlayer and BBC One from 7 January.
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