![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/396911-10fcf1f.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>From this set-up, the plots of each episode are self-contained and recognisable. There\u2019s a guest who outstays their welcome, a jealous squabble about exes, even a Christmas mix-up where each family thinks the couple will be visiting them for the day. The only added note is that in this series, the couple both have Down\u2019s syndrome.<\/p>\n
The series has been written entirely by a group of emerging disabled writers and the benefits of their lived experience is clear. The series\u2019s exploration of experiences specific to disabled people feels authentic, sensitive and perceptive, but it\u2019s important to stress this is not a show about the characters\u2019 disabilities.<\/p>\n
On the whole, it is an affectionate and gentle, yet insightful, depiction of the married life of these two individuals \u2013 which also manages to be incredibly witty.<\/p>\n
One major difference from The A Word is the series\u2019s format. While that was an hour-long drama with a sprawling cast list, this is tight-knit, half-hour, character-based comedy-drama which often leans fully into the sitcom. Each episode clips along at a pace and the jokes come thick and fast, particularly in the show\u2019s opener.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/396915-8fd2e3f.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>As with almost all comedy-dramas, there is occasionally a tension between the genres as they jostle for dominance in each episode. Those which lean heavier on the comedy worked better for me \u2013 it\u2019s the lightness of touch which makes this series stand apart, and the show is at its best when the characters are having fun together and getting into light-hearted mishaps.<\/p>\n
This brings us to the stars of the series: Leon Harrop and Sarah Gordy. The pair are absolutely delightful on screen, selling both the emotional moments and the comedy completely. A series like this lives and dies on the chemistry of its leads, and it\u2019s fair to say that, on that basis, this one thrives.<\/p>\n
As with most sitcom couples, Ralph and Katie at first fall into types. He\u2019s the impetuous and stubborn one, she\u2019s more sensible and emotionally intuitive. But as the series progresses, both characters are fleshed out and we understand each of them separately as much as we do them as a couple.<\/p>\n
The supporting cast all put in strong performances too, particularly Pooky Quesnel as Ralph\u2019s mum Louise, returning from The A Word, and Dylan Brady as Danny, the couples\u2019 new support worker after they fire their previous one.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2022\/10\/396892-86b9696.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Ralph and Danny\u2019s friendship is a real highlight of the series, recalling previous sitcom duos where a meeting between the pair is almost certain to lead to disaster.<\/p>\n
But ultimately, it\u2019s the central, sweet relationship that will keep viewers coming back for more, and the simple warmth which exudes from each episode. The plots are rarely high-stakes \u2013 they largely revolve around a small row between the pair, who then come to an understanding and reconcile by the end of each episode.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s exactly what slice-of-life TV should be. There\u2019s a place for exploration of tougher subject matter and themes, and Ralph & Katie doesn\u2019t shy away from reality. It just chooses to embrace the optimism to be found in the everyday.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also exactly why this series could run and run. It feels like we\u2019ve just scratched the surface of the couple\u2019s life together and there\u2019s so many more stories to be told.<\/p>
As much as the series lends its focus to relatable situations and tried and tested relationship comedy, it is also important to recognise that shows with this level of on- and off-screen diversity should be cherished \u2013 they don\u2019t come along all that often.<\/p>\n
And when they\u2019re this charming, this funny and this heartfelt, that\u2019s really not a hard thing to do.<\/p>\n
Ralph & Katie will begin airing on BBC One and\u00a0BBC iPlayer<\/a>\u00a0on Wednesday 5th October at 9pm and 9:30pm. C<\/strong>heck out our\u00a0Drama<\/a>\u00a0hub for more news, interviews and features or find something to watch with\u00a0<\/strong>our\u00a0TV Guide<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now \u2013\u00a0subscribe now<\/a>\u00a0and get the next 12 issues for only \u00a31. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the\u00a0Radio Times podcast<\/a>\u00a0with Jane Garvey.<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n By James Hibbs Published: Tuesday, 04 October 2022 at 12:00 am I have a confession to make: I\u2019ve never seen The A Word. It\u2019s not that I\u2019ve purposefully avoided the BBC drama, which debuted in 2016 and focused on the family of a boy diagnosed with autism. It just, quite simply, passed me by. That […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":23165,"template":"","categories":[5],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/ralph-katie-review-the-a-word-spin-off-is-a-warm-hug-of-a-series-scaled.jpg",2560,1706,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/ralph-katie-review-the-a-word-spin-off-is-a-warm-hug-of-a-series-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/ralph-katie-review-the-a-word-spin-off-is-a-warm-hug-of-a-series-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/ralph-katie-review-the-a-word-spin-off-is-a-warm-hug-of-a-series-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/ralph-katie-review-the-a-word-spin-off-is-a-warm-hug-of-a-series-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/ralph-katie-review-the-a-word-spin-off-is-a-warm-hug-of-a-series-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/10\/ralph-katie-review-the-a-word-spin-off-is-a-warm-hug-of-a-series-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By James Hibbs Published: Tuesday, 04 October 2022 at 12:00 am I have a confession to make: I\u2019ve never seen The A Word. It\u2019s not that I\u2019ve purposefully avoided the BBC drama, which debuted in 2016 and focused on the family of a boy diagnosed with autism. It just, quite simply, passed me by. That…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/23164"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"