Nighty Night

Jill Tyrell is a narcissistic sociopath who manages a beauty parlour alongside her moronic, asthmatic assistant Linda. When Jill learns that her husband has cancer, she uses this fact to manipulate new neighbour Cathy Cole, a wheelchair user with multiple sclerosis whose husband Don, a womanising doctor, Jill has become obsessed with.

Nighty Night (2004-2005) is a British dark comedy sitcom created by Julia Davis for BBC Three. Julia Davis plays Jill Tyrrell, a narcissistic sociopath who runs a beauty parlour with her moronic, asthmatic assistant Linda (Ruth Jones). When Jill learns her husband has cancer, she turns the news into a weapon, targeting new neighbour Cathy Cole (Rebecca Front), a wheelchair user with multiple sclerosis. Jill is also fixated on Cathy's husband Don (Angus Deayton), a womanising doctor, and her schemes escalate episode by episode into humiliating social disasters. The show runs for two short seasons of six half-hour episodes each, with each season built around Jill's self-serving plots against the people around her. The tone is acidic, bleak and fearless, with cringe-inducing awkwardness and raw, unapologetic cruelty played for laughs. Its sharp character observations and deadpan British delivery place it in the company of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Absolutely Fabulous and The Office, and fans of uncompromising British comedy will find it a sharp, provocative watch set in a mundane suburban England of salons, dinner parties and cul-de-sac rivalries.

Viewers praise Julia Davis's fearless, dark British comedy and her sharply observed narcissistic characters, though the aggregate critical reception is unknown.

• Curb Your Enthusiasmshared dark satirical sitcom tone built on a grotesquely selfish protagonist and cringe comedy
• Absolutely Fabulousshared mean-spirited British sitcom register centered on a manipulative, unlikable lead
• The Officeshared deadpan British dark comedy with a sociopathic character and awkward social cruelty
• Fleabagshared pitch-black British comedy of a self-absorbed woman and neighbourly humiliation

Created by

Julia Davis

Release Date

2004-01-06

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

8.1 / 10 (45)

What is Nighty Night about?

A narcissistic beauty parlour manager schemes against her new neighbour in this pitch-black British sitcom.

What is Nighty Night like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Nighty Night as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.

Is Nighty Night violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Nighty Night as mild.

What did critics think of Nighty Night?

Viewers praise Julia Davis's fearless, dark British comedy and her sharply observed narcissistic characters, though the aggregate critical reception is unknown.

Which shows are like Nighty Night?

Shows with a similar feel include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Absolutely Fabulous, The Office, and Fleabag.

How long is Nighty Night?

Nighty Night: 2 seasons, 12 episodes.

Is Nighty Night still running?

No, Nighty Night has ended.