Reviewed by Matt Forrest

Opening Night verdict ⭐⭐⭐

Back in 2005, Ideal burst onto our screens. A pitch-black sitcom that quickly gained both commercial success and critical acclaim. Created by actor-writer Graham Duff and set in Salford, the show revolved around Moz, a small-time cannabis dealer played by Johnny Vegas. Over seven series, viewers were treated to a cavalcade of wonderfully bizarre characters who dropped by Moz’s grimy flat to score weed, hang out, or both. With its surreal tone and dark humour, Ideal became a cult classic.

In 2011, the BBC abruptly cancelled the show, a move that left its loyal fanbase frustrated. But in 2024, at the Bay International Film & TV Festival in Morecambe, Duff and Vegas made a surprise announcement: Ideal would return in 2025 as a brand-new live show.

Premiering this week at The Lowry, Ideal is officially back and I’m happy to report that it’s lost none of its twisted, unhinged charm. This isn’t a nostalgia-driven rehash of old episodes. It’s a fresh new story, with a few familiar faces along for the ride.

Moz hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still dealing weed and drifting through life in his rundown flat. The revolving door of oddballs is still spinning, there’s Colin (Ben Crompton), a petty criminal just out of prison and struggling to reintegrate into normal life; Brian (Graham Duff), Moz’s loud, flamboyant, and razor-tongued best friend; and Judith (Joanna Neary), the jittery and slightly deranged neighbour, who also happens to be Moz’s ex.

One notable addition is Liza (Lucy Farrett), Moz’s younger, attractive yet possessive new girlfriend. She appears devoted, but jealous, especially toward Moz’s past flames.

Meanwhile, Moz’s old rival Psycho Paul (Ryan Pope) and the ominously silent Cartoon Head (complete with trademark mouse mask) have launched a new venture: a body disposal service called “Dead & Gone,” catering to Salford’s criminal underworld. Trouble arrives when Brian’s sister, Tania (Emma Fryer), turns up with a corpse, which may contain some hidden diamonds.

A party at Moz’s to celebrate Colin’s early release takes a dark turn when one of the guests is later found dead. Can the killer be found?

Duff’s script is sharp and unapologetically odd, delivering rapid-fire laughs through a heady mix of silliness, unease, and outright grotesquery. As expected, the dialogue is peppered with biting one-liners and absurd exchanges.

Performance-wise, Johnny Vegas is as gloriously shambolic as ever — chaotic, loud, but endearingly watchable. Ben Crompton shines as Colin, and his interplay with Vegas is a highlight. Their shared scenes often veer delightfully off-script, to the audience’s clear delight.

Ryan Pope delivers a brilliant performance as the braindead hardman, while Emma Fryer is an absolute treat as the Salford femme fatale. Their chemistry and comic timing are a joy to watch, especially as they compete to out-‘Manc’ each other with their dry deadpan delivery. Joanna Neary puts in an outstanding comedic performance; her twitchy, awkward portrayal of Judith practically steals the show.

Tonight’s performance was affected by some technical issues.There were clearly microphone and sound problems during the first half of the show, which were thankfully resolved after the interval. Scene transitions also lacked polish and could have been smoother, hopefully, these will be addressed as the run continues.

One malfunctioning prop left Vegas and co-star Lucy Farrett in a somewhat compromising situation, but Vegas managed to turn it around with a fun adlib.

Fans of the show will, of course, love it, but even those unfamiliar with the characters can enjoy it, as Duff’s script stands strong on its own. It pulls off the impressive feat of being accessible to both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Hopefully, the technical issues can be resolved for the rest of the run, as they occasionally distract from what is otherwise a consistently entertaining and often hilarious night out.

Ideal is on at the Lowry Saturday until 13th September. Tickets available here