The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show, review: a ramshackle affair held together with winning enthusiasm and sheer charm

At times the show felt like eavesdropping on a depressing dinner party, but The Ramseys proved warm and their reactions felt genuine

Who’d have guessed that two decades after they split up, pop combo Boyzone would provide one of the most heartwarming TV moments you’ll see all month?

The Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show (BBC Two) climaxed with audience member Louise reluctantly agreeing, at the request of her long-suffering family, to let her collection of Boyzone memorabilia be destroyed. When the band’s former frontman Ronan Keating emerged to join in, Louise’s face was an absolute picture.

After apologising to her relatives “for all the years of pain I’ve caused you”, Keating gamely helped smash up old CDs, unspool VHS tapes and rip up tour programmes. He and Louise closed the show with a karaoke duet, crooning “Life Is A Rollercoaster”. Emotionally, this lovely segment certainly was.

It helped rescue a debut episode which until that point had been decidedly patchy. Genial Geordie comedian Chris Ramsey and his entertainer wife Rosie tried to translate their hit podcast onto the screen with mixed success. A creaky format was salvaged by the up-for-it guests.

The bickering couple’s relationship podcast, Sh**ged Married Annoyed, recorded in their kitchen, became a lockdown hit, notching 100m downloads with its mix of freewheeling wit and eye-popping honesty.

After a spin-off book and sold-out live tour, the South Shields spouses now brought their brand of undemanding domestic badinage to the BBC – with a toned-down title to avoid scaring the schedulers.

Chris Ramsey, Rosie Ramsey, Jamie Laing and Sophie HabbooCredit: Avalon

The premise of this six-part series is that they’re joined each week by another celebrity couple. First onto the matchy-matchy sofas were Jamie Laing (of Strictly semi-fame) and his fiancée Sophie Habboo (of Made In Chelsea micro-fame). They’ve just launched their own podcast, Nearly Weds. If you’re weary of hearing the word “podcast”, this certainly wasn’t the programme for you.

The endearingly goofy Laing was good value as always. All the confectionery heir’s anecdotes seemed to involve exotic holidays, which somewhat undermined the show’s desperation to appear “relatable”. Happily, Laing brought the house down by demonstrating his cocktail mixology skills and confessing that he pictured Dame Judi Dench during sex.

The 45-minute running time (arguably a tad too long) was padded out with plenty of audience interaction. Couples aired their petty grievances in “What’s Your Beef?”, a segment imported straight from the podcast. Comedian Judi Love, a total scene-stealer, hosted a riotous confession session called Please Keep Me Anonymous.

Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo

At times, it felt like eavesdropping on a depressing dinner party, as various couples criticised each other’s foibles. The badly dated production design – with a garish set and jaunty on-screen captions – added to the unreconstructed retro feel.

It whiffed of Nineties Chris Evans vehicles like TFI Friday and Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush, while that Bewitched-style animated title sequence will soon become annoying. The series wore its influences on its sleeve. Graham Norton’s Big Red Chair was another clear touchstone, as was gameshow Mr and Mrs.

The ramshackle show was just about held together with winning enthusiasm and sheer charm. The Ramseys proved warm, natural interviewers and their unfiltered reactions felt genuine. Celebrity guests and civilian punters alike played their part. For little apparent reason – there were no topical references – the show was recorded close to transmission, which lent it rambunctious, seat-of-the-pants energy.

Then came that closing feature, titled “It Goes Or I Go”, in which loved ones nominated hated items to be destroyed. Would the loser be Brad’s manky childhood pillow, Adam’s “depressing gown” or Louise’s “assorted Boyzone s***e”? Well, you already know the answer. For a tense moment, Louise looked upset. The stunt was at risk of backfiring but when Keating appeared with a cheeky twinkle, suddenly all was forgiven. Presumably Gary Barlow is now waiting for the Ramseys’ call.