Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat; Imperfect Women; LOL: Last One Laughing UK

“The inescapable reality is that – even as it skewers touchy-feely corporate bonding exercises – this is a show with a weird relationship to work, and to what it means to be employed. More than 10,000 people applied for this short-term gig – many, perhaps, wanting to be on camera; others maybe just while firing off as many applications as possible. The digs against corporate culture – especially towards the end of the series – are funny and well executed. But ultimately this is a series about convincing a man that he is employed when in fact he isn’t, and in fact it’s just a big joke masterminded by a gigantic shop. “You couldn’t make this up for a TV show,” declares [Anthony] Norman at one point – and yet they did. Like [Ronald] Gladden before him, he is presented with a large cheque in the final episode; any further deals with Amazon are still to be confirmed. It’s chump change for them, and – as always – the big reveal is rather lovely. Just go in with the “captain fun” mentality rather than worrying about, you know, late-stage capitalism.”
Hannah J Davies, The Guardian

“this is a series that takes relish in unveiling its twists and unsuspected villainies to keep viewers glued to it, even as they’re perhaps slightly maddened by it. As whodunnits go, it’s a protracted trash-watch where everyone is secretly rampant, and with the sexual ethics of alleycats in heat.”
James Jackson. The Times

“The producers understand this and realise that, left to play the game unhindered, the competitors might retreat to corners and spend weeks with their teeth clenched. Presenter Jimmy Carr is on hand to stir the pot, challenging players to perform party turns. David Mitchell doing a music hall number from Half A Sixpence is quite a sight. We don’t see much of Amy at first, or Maisie. I’d never heard of Sam, but he proves from the start that he’s a dangerous player. Diane’s an actress more than a comic, and she’s only safe as long as she stays in her po-faced character. Romesh might be at a dis-advantage, with a style so deadpan, it’s downright morose. His schtick is to deliver one-liners without cracking a smile, almost daring his audience to laugh. Bob, on the other hand, can turn the most mundane aside into a punchline. Introducing himself to the group, he announced, ‘My name’s Robert, and my go-to adhesive is PVA.’ It shouldn’t be funny, but it made me bark. I’m straight out, first episode.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail