I am having fun with The Change — That’s Not My Age

Bridget Christie in The Change. Picture: Channel 4

Must admit that I wasn’t initially up for a sitcom about menopause. The Change, Channel 4’s new collection, written by and starring the award-winning actor, author and comic, Bridget Christie. Whereas it’s essential that everybody is lastly acknowledging this stage of a girl’s life, at 59-and-a-half, I really feel a bit, er, over it. In fact, I’ve had phrases with myself. What number of occasions can we see fascinating, midlife ladies on TV and movie, in important character roles? OK, OK. Completely happy Valley, And Simply Like That, Mare of Easttown – issues are enhancing however we’re nonetheless outnumbered by males of their 40s, 50s and past. Anyhow. Preconceptions apart, I’m having fun with The Change.

The present is humorous and heat – and peculiar. I haven’t watched all of the episodes however it could possibly get a bit League of Gentleman at occasions (episode three, the village assembly). However, fortunately it doesn’t bang on about menopause, and the extra several types of middle-aged ladies we see on TV, the higher.

Bridget Christie performs Linda, a 50-year-old menopausal mum and retail employee with two teenage youngsters and a clueless husband, Steve. Having totted up all of the minutes she’s spent doing house responsibilities and different stuff in a cupboard-full of notebooks ( ‘Intercourse with Steve: one minute 20 seconds), Linda takes her previous motorcycle out of the storage (not a euphemism) and decides to reclaim the time she’s owed.

Taking off on a highway journey, she finally ends up dwelling in a scuzzy caravan in a village within the Forest of Dean – that is the place it will get a bit Royston Vasey. Christie is supported by different nice comedy actors, together with: Paul Whitehouse, Tanya Moodie (Meg from Motherland), Susan Lynch (Killing Eve, Completely happy Valley) and Liza Tarbuck. And, there are giggle out loud moments, my favorite line up to now:

‘The Hulk is the one menopausal function mannequin within the historical past of TV and movie.’

Don’t miss our summer time e-book suggestions over on Bookshop.org