When I heard that American comedian David Cross was writing a comedy starring Stephen Mangan as an Englishman with two families who do not know about each other I assumed that one family would be in America, one in the UK. Maybe the budget didn't stretch that far. On the other hand there is plenty of additional tension as both families live in Bristol.
Bliss is full of nice touches. If you know what the set-up is you will get the early reference to being forced to choose between two new kitchen taps when all you can think about it that you love them both. Mangan plays Andrew, a travel writer which gives him the excuse of jetting off all the time. In reality he is parking one car at Bristol airport, picking up another, switching identities and writing his features about Spanish chorizo festivals without leaving the UK based on Trip Advisor reviews.
Stephen Mangan is excellent as the stressed out bigamist, while Heather Graham and Jo Hartley play his respective loving wives Kim and Denise. Of course the plot stretches credibility – how has he managed to live this lie for so long that he has brought up (seemingly perfect) teenage children? And, of course, how the hell can he afford to support two nice middle class families in a world where it is hard enough to support yourself through journalism. Though I expect a quick google will reveal real cases that are even more bizarre. And, of course, there was Goodnight Sweetheart, though the relationships in that were divided by half a century so there was less chance of two-timing Gary Sparrow being rumbled.
Bliss is by turns both clichéd and striking. Mangan has been given flecks of grey hair, presumably to hint at the angst he is living with. But there are some neatly written scenes, particularly one in a restaurant where he attempts to be as offensive as possible to some muslim friends so that he can bring the dinner to an early close as he thinks his other wife is about to walk in. There is some token emotional depth too - it is clear from tears that Mangan's character is not evil, he just told a fib that got out of hand. Very out of hand. Despite being corny and farcical in places, Bliss must be well-written, how else do you explain that after watching it you are feeling sorry for a bigamist and not the people he has duped?
Bliss, Wednesdays, Sky One, 10pm.
