My Hero

My Hero is a BBC sitcom created by Paul Mendelson. The programme ran for six series, first broadcast in February 2000, and concluding in September 2006. The series follows the antics of the dim-witted superhero "Thermoman", portrayed by Ardal O'Hanlon in series one to five and by James Dreyfus in the final series. The series was regularly directed by John Stroud. In the UK, the digital channel Gold regularly re-runs the programme, although the last series has yet to appear on the channel. In the United States it was shown on PBS and, briefly, BBC America. In Australia, UKTV offered re-runs of the first three series, while BBC Entertainment provided repeats for Scandinavia.

My Hero (2000-2006) is a British BBC One sitcom created by Paul Mendelson. Ardal O'Hanlon plays George Sunday, a dim-witted everyman who secretly becomes the superhero Thermoman, and James Dreyfus takes over the role in the final series. Their antics unfold across six series, with the hero's ordinary life and his heroic alter ego constantly colliding. The engine of the show is simple: George wants to do good and keep his secret, but his clumsiness keeps tripping him up in everyday situations. Episodes are self-contained half-hour sitcom stories built around escalating mistakes and misunderstandings, a comedy of errors played for gentle laughs. Supporting characters, including Janet Dawkins played by Emily Joyce, Tyler played by Philip Whitchurch, and Dr. Piers Crispin played by Hugh Dennis, orbit George's domestic and workplace life. The tone is light, silly and affectionate, with a deadpan British sensibility and a cozy, breezy feel. Fans of Mystery Men, The Office and Ghosts will find resonance in its mix of absurd premise, awkward domestic comedy and warm British humor.

• Mystery Menshared absurd sitcom premise with a bumbling everyman and light superhero parody
• The Officeshared british sitcom tone, workplace and domestic awkwardness, deadpan characters
• Ghostsshared low-key british sitcom comedy of errors with an incompetent protagonist

Created by

Paul Mendelson

Release Date

2000-02-04

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

6.6 / 10 (33)

What is My Hero about?

A dim-witted everyman superhero, Thermoman, blunders through ordinary British life across six series.

What is My Hero like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of My Hero as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is My Hero violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in My Hero.

Which shows are like My Hero?

Shows with a similar feel include Mystery Men, The Office, and Ghosts.

How long is My Hero?

My Hero: 6 seasons, 50 episodes.

Is My Hero still running?

No, My Hero has ended.