Dawn French stars in Simon Mayhew-Archer's debut sitcom Can You Keep a Secret? as Debbie Fendon, a stalwart local resident with a penchant for speed-walking and a recent widowed status. The show follows Debbie's efforts to keep her late husband, William, alive by pretending he's dead - all for the life insurance payout she now has in cash.
While William may seem like an unlikely character at first, Mark Heap brings his own brand of quirks to the role, making him a far cry from your average hermit. The chemistry between French and Heap is undeniable, as Debbie repeatedly reassures William that he's just been "dead" for 68 years, rendering him even more useless in everyday life.
Their son, Harry (Craig Roberts), is struggling with his own grief, especially after discovering the secret surrounding his father's "death". As a police officer (and husband to Neha, played by Mandip Gill), Harry finds himself trapped between revealing the truth and living with a lie. The tension builds as blackmail notes start arriving, threatening to expose William's existence for £20,000.
While Can You Keep a Secret? may not break new ground in terms of comedy or plot, it pulls off the tried-and-true formula with ease. French and Mayhew-Archer's script is full of charm, wit, and warmth, making this a soothing watch rather than an explosive farce. Even if you're not sold on the show's tone, the talented cast - particularly French and Heap - ensures that each episode has its moments.
Ultimately, Can You Keep a Secret? works as a delightful, laugh-out-loud sitcom with plenty of laughs and unexpected twists.
While William may seem like an unlikely character at first, Mark Heap brings his own brand of quirks to the role, making him a far cry from your average hermit. The chemistry between French and Heap is undeniable, as Debbie repeatedly reassures William that he's just been "dead" for 68 years, rendering him even more useless in everyday life.
Their son, Harry (Craig Roberts), is struggling with his own grief, especially after discovering the secret surrounding his father's "death". As a police officer (and husband to Neha, played by Mandip Gill), Harry finds himself trapped between revealing the truth and living with a lie. The tension builds as blackmail notes start arriving, threatening to expose William's existence for £20,000.
While Can You Keep a Secret? may not break new ground in terms of comedy or plot, it pulls off the tried-and-true formula with ease. French and Mayhew-Archer's script is full of charm, wit, and warmth, making this a soothing watch rather than an explosive farce. Even if you're not sold on the show's tone, the talented cast - particularly French and Heap - ensures that each episode has its moments.
Ultimately, Can You Keep a Secret? works as a delightful, laugh-out-loud sitcom with plenty of laughs and unexpected twists.
and I'm totally hooked! Dawn French is hilarious as Debbie Fendon - her speed-walking skills would make me laugh too 
! The way Mark Heap's William Fendon makes you feel like he's not actually dead is genius. And Craig Roberts' Harry is so relatable, it's like my mates in real life are struggling with the same thing after losing someone. 
I love how the show balances comedy and heart - it's not trying to be too deep or complicated, just a nice, feel-good watch 
I just binge-watched Can U Keep A Secret? & I'm HOOKED 
Dawn French is EVERYTHING 
as the sassy Debbie Fendon! She's got this perfect mix of quirky & lovable, it's like she's speaking straight to my soul 
The show's formula might be old school but it's still so refreshing, I love how the cast just brings it all together with their chemistry & comedic timing 
. Don't get me wrong, Dawn French is hilarious as always, but the whole "pretending to be dead" thing gets old after a while. And I mean, who comes up with this idea? It's just so predictable and formulaic. The comedy relies too much on relying on the audience not knowing what's going on, rather than actually being funny. Still, I'll give it points for its lightheartedness and warmth - it's like a warm hug 
and I'm totally obsessed! Dawn French is absolute perfection as Debbie Fendon - her speed-walking skills are giving me LIFE 
! And Mark Heap's quirkiness has got me laughing out loud every episode 
. The chemistry between the leads is so real, it feels like you're watching your own family drama ( minus the whole "lying about dying" part 
. And can we talk about Mandip Gill's character Neha? I'm low-key shipping Harry & Neha 
! Overall, Can You Keep a Secret? is a solid 10/10 in my book - give it a try if you need a laugh and some feel-good vibes 
. Life insurance payouts can be a huge weight off your shoulders, but it feels like Debbie's just trying to get by instead of dealing with her grief in a healthy way 
. And what's with the blackmail notes? Is that really how people would behave in a situation like this? It seems like a pretty contrived plot twist 
. Still, I'll give Dawn French credit - she always makes me laugh! 
. I'm intrigued by the way they've developed William as a character - it sounds like Mark Heap brings some great energy to the role. And I love that the chemistry between French and Heap is undeniable, their banter sounds hilarious! 
Dawn French is just perfect as the main character Debbie Fendon, she's got this awkward energy that's just infectious! And Mark Heap is amazing too, his quirky vibes really add to the show. I was genuinely surprised by how much I cared about William's "death" and Harry's struggles with it 
Can You Keep a Secret? is literally my new favorite sitcom, I'm hooked! 
, I mean, they're like two peas in a pod, but also total opposites, you know? 
! On the other hand, I'm not sure about this show at all 
... I mean, it's just so formulaic and predictable, like they're phoning it in. But then again, that's kinda what makes it work, right? The cast is amazing, especially French and Heap 
, but what really got me was how it explores grief and deception in a way that feels relatable and humanizing. I'm torn, man 
!
. Can't wait for more episodes!