Can You Keep A Secret?

The four principal characters are perfectly balanced, but above all, it’s the players who make the magic.

Can You Keep A Secret? is a funny show about a family who tries to get something they think they deserve, without much of an idea of how their plan will play out.

A lot of fun, and the best work she’s [Dawn French's] been given since The Vicar of Dibley.

It’s a surprising treat, sweet and butter-soft in places but with just the right note of astringency to delight even the fussiest chocophile.

“Can You Keep a Secret?” is certainly a cut above the standard TV comedy. .... But it has a bit of a tonal imbalance, the plotline being almost generic while the dialogue is rife with enough wit and drollery that viewers actually have to listen, rather than, say, play with their phones.

Can You Keep a Secret? has charm, wit and warmth enough to work as soothing balm rather than riotously fun fare. Though if farce is your thing, you will probably find yourself edging more towards the latter and enjoy yourself very much.

For as much potential as there is in the premise and cast, it's largely squandered in scripts that rely heavily on basic gags, whether that's a broad range of bodily functions, a few recurring naughty words, or Debbie and William's meandering banter.