How do you get change from a chicken? Eggs.

Still some great lines and riffs from the kids and wonderful situations like Ben and the glow in the dark snails and Karen's solution to phone theft. Just hope she never becomes prime minister.

It's been two years since series 3, so she's gone from 7 to 9.

No it isn't. But he's 11 now and was 9 before, so it's bound to be a little bit lower.

The two younger kids are certainly growing up fast - but it didn't seem as disconcerting as I thought it might be. So long as the writing grows up with the kids, that episode made me feel there could be more life left in the show than I thought. There were still hilarious moments, and plenty of them didn't just rely on the age of the kids to make the gags work. In any case, the parents are excellent in their own right - and Jake is really well performed too. Glad to have it back.

Agreed - good to see it back!
Loved Ben's glow in the dark snails, and Pete being laughed at for moving his legs as well as his arms on the Wii Fit struck a chord
I must admit, I found Karen's precociousness just a tiny bit overdone last night, but not enough to spoil what I think is still a great show.

This was just as funny as previous series, in my view. The children have grown up a lot but Karen particularly still makes me laugh out loud. I thought I read there might be one more series.

A shout out for Claire Skinner who was excellent too.

I think Karen is getting less funny as she gets older; she sounds more whiney now than funny & precocious.

The scene at the funeral was so funny - the eulogy was well done by Hugh.

I thought so too, the funeral scene in particular, interesting to see the difference in the character Karen abd the actress on the One Show who was shy as a 10 year old would be.

I thought last nights episode was so so.There were really only 2 scenes that made me lol.The scene were Sue walks into the living room & Pete is playing the Wii in the middle of the night & the scene at the end with Pete & the Wii.

I'll being watching next week but i just found last nights episode not that great.

I enjoyed last night opening ep. Not as great as when the kids are younger. But still quite good.

However, that said, I do hope this series is the end.

Just watched it on iPlayer and enjoyed it. I'm glad that they've mellowed Ben's character a bit, he got a bit too much last series. He's a lot calmer now and a lot less annoying.

Apparently the 'real' Ben is just as loud and annoying in real life as his character. He has always ruined the show for me.

Just watched this on Sky+ as Big Brother took precedence last night, but it was on top form as usual.

Fantastic improvisational comedy. My, aren't the boys growing older, and Karen!, Ben's voice seems to have dropped a lot this series.

D

''I have a dream that I will stop making speeches and spend time with my family''

That's what I like about this show, the side comments like that and the knock back the father gets from uncle Bob's partner, I know how old I'm getiing when I see how old John Sessions is getting too..

Jesus it was John Sessions ?

That's what I thought

Had me doubting myself then, just checked the credits..twas him

Parents evening would be interesting

The actress playing Karen can't help growing older, but it seemed as if she was playing a character 3 years younger, doesn't work. Apart from that it was a solid episode.

Yeah the episode wasn't the best but was still pretty funny and watchable and better than some of the trash thats on these days. I also loved the bit where she walked in on him in the middle of the night playing on the Wii and the fact that he kept moving his legs as well as his arms

Starting to feel a little bit like of the others on here though in that the series is getting less funny etc as the kids are getting older. I still really like it though and will continue to watch.

I thought it was good, not in comparison to the early couple of series..but they were really something special.
Watching it straight after the dire last episode of My Family was like watching a Premiership game after watching a Sunday match on Hackney Marshes.

I agree, it's still good, but with time it has lost some of it's sparkle. I think that's probably down to the kids growing up though and losing a little of their 'cuteness' factor.

One show with kids that, for me at least, actually got better with time, was Malcolm in the Middle.

I watched it just now on Sky+. Just as good as ever I thought. I think there's at least one more series in there after this one. Karen is still young enough.