Guardian Review Pans Graham Norton's TV Thriller 'Forever Home' as Dull Despite Grim Premise

A review published by The Guardian's culture section has delivered a harshly negative verdict on "Forever Home," a six-part television adaptation of Graham Norton's best-selling novel, which has begun airing on Channel 5.

According to the review, the series centres on a mysterious foul smell emanating from a house at "7 Stable Row," an Edwardian property where much of the drama unfolds. The review describes a scene in which the character Moira, played by Denise Welch, reacts with alarm to the odour while visiting her daughter Carol, played by Amy Nuttall, in the kitchen. Other characters, including Carol's partner Robert (played by Douglas Henshall) and his son Kaden (played by Lewis Cope), offer differing theories for the smell, ranging from drainage problems to foxes, according to the review.

The Guardian critic wrote that despite the premise — which the headline characterises as a "corpse-in-the-basement thriller" — the show fails to generate suspense or entertainment, calling it "a total yawn." The review was critical of the show's tone, describing "bad gags" and performances from "ex-soap stars in drab cardigans drinking fake coffees" as part of what it characterised as a lacklustre production.

The review singled out Douglas Henshall's performance as a rare bright spot, stating he was "far better than he needs to be" given the material, according to the article.

"Forever Home" is based on a novel by Graham Norton, the Irish broadcaster and author known primarily for his work as a television host, who has also published several works of fiction. The Guardian's review did not provide further detail on the plot beyond the setup involving the smell and the household's reactions to it, nor did it specify additional cast or crew involved in the production.

The review appears in The Guardian's television and radio coverage and reflects the opinion of its author rather than a broader critical consensus, as no other outlets' assessments were referenced in the piece.