The lead characters in John Morton’s drama are, at first sight, flat, undistinguished and predictable as they go about their task of finding work for clients hoping to secure their place in show business. But it’s a measure of the speed with which writer-director Morton’s skills make themselves felt that “Ten Percent” quickly establishes something close to a perfect blend of satire and geniality in this portrait of a ruthlessly competitive world.

The characters largely retain the same core role as their French counterparts, but they succeed in feeling distinct, in large part due to their distinctly British traits.

It’s not bad, with a strong cast and a group of guest stars including Helena Bonham Carter and Kelly Macdonald who evoke some of the spirit — if not the brutal satire — of the original series. ... [But] It’s too loyal to the narrative blueprint of “Call My Agent!,” to the point where the story lines lose their charm because we’ve seen them play out already. Some remakes toy a bit with the source, but “Ten Percent,” written by John Morton, prefers to hew closely. More alterations might have helped to make it feel fresh, for those of us making a return trip.

Ten Percent has neither riotous slapstick nor biting satire. It just rambles along benignly, like the radio at a hairdresser. But, in spite of all those weaknesses, there is a seductive quality to it. Like a comforting bowl of French onion soup, it is largely absent of texture or complexity, but will fill you up all the same.

I suspect that viewers who have not seen the French original may get more out of this, as the agents’ storylines, about secret daughters and reluctant love affairs and buyouts and sell-offs, have a heightened sense of melodrama that is rarely seen on British television.

What we end up with is an underdog story, as the Brits fight to defend their agency from a takeover by appalling Americans. By the end, you may even be rooting for them.

The set-up sounds promising except the overwhelming apologetic tone that blankets every single exchange stops Ten Percent from developing any kind of edge.