Farewell to Brassic – one of the funniest and rudest shows on TV

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After seven seasons of wild and hilarious adventures, the popular Sky TV comedy series Brassic is coming to an end.

I’ve been really enjoying Brassic! It’s created by Danny Brocklehurst, who wrote Shameless and Fool Me Once, and stars Joe Gilgun, who I loved in This Is England and Misfits. The show follows Vinnie O’Neill – played by Gilgun – and his group of friends. They’re basically small-time crooks living in this made-up town called Hawley, and they get by doing things like growing cannabis and, well, stealing pretty much anything you can imagine – from a little Shetland pony to a whole wedding! It’s a funny, chaotic show.

Although the characters’ often-disastrous adventures are a funny part of every episode, the show really shines because of the characters themselves, who are wonderfully brought to life by the talented cast with plenty of colorful language.

The show features a group of lovable characters, including single mom Erin, played by Michelle Keegan, who Vinnie has always had a crush on. There’s also Vinnie’s lifelong friend Dylan, the kind-hearted Cardi and his strong-willed wife Carol, Irish boxer Ash, mechanic and podcast enthusiast JJ, Erin’s close friend Sugar, and the entrepreneurial Tommo. Tommo’s known for his unusual businesses, like the notorious Rat & Cutter nightclub and his iconic ‘erotic love bus’ – which has become so popular with fans it’s now available to rent on Airbnb.

I have to say, the main actors were amazing, but the supporting cast really stole the show! Steve Evets, you might recognize him from ‘Looking For Eric,’ totally transformed what was originally a small part – Farmer Jim – into this hilariously grumpy, sweary character. He’s become a real icon of the show! There’s one scene in particular – it’s in season 2, episode 5 – where he goes off on a rant about a rave, and it’s pure gold. He asks, “Who wants a disco biscuit?” and honestly, you *need* to see it. It’s unforgettable!

Ramon Tikaram, playing Terence McCann, Neil Ashton as Davey MacDonagh, and Rachid Sabitri as Manolito, have all brought unique and unsettling performances as the criminals and drug lords who’ve caused trouble for Vinnie and his crew over time.

Dominic West’s performance as Chris Coxley, Vinnie’s eccentric GP, is a highlight of Brassic. Coxley is a doctor with expensive tastes – fine wine and cannabis – and a very unusual preoccupation: women’s knees. It’s remarkable – and brilliantly played by West – to see the actor known for roles like McNulty in The Wire and Prince Charles utter lines like, “Knees, shins, thighs, but mainly knees… I couldn’t stop wanting to see other women’s knees,” especially considering his previous work.

But Brassic offers much more than just crime and crude jokes. It cleverly references classic British films like Trainspotting and The Italian Job, and features fantastic guest appearances – including Lee Mack, Greg Davies, Imelda Staunton (as Dr Chris’s aunt in the Christmas special), and Bill Paterson, whose exit from the show is hilariously over-the-top. The show’s soundtrack is also spot-on, with the theme song being Barrett Strong’s ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ and a wider selection of great tracks from artists like The Black Keys, Tom Petty, Etta James, The Slits, T-Rex, and ABBA.

Understanding how crucial music is to ‘Brassic,’ Joe Gilgun and executive producer David Livingstone created ‘Brassic Unsigned’ in 2022. This initiative allowed them to select an up-and-coming artist to contribute to the show’s fourth season soundtrack. The winning track, ‘Narcissist’ by Anti!i, was then featured prominently in a key scene.

The writing is clever, with Brocklehurst and his team finding creative solutions for the plot. For example, one episode explores Vinnie’s relationship with his father using puppets instead of a traditional flashback, and it’s surprisingly effective.

The show really shines when dealing with difficult and emotional topics. Over its seven seasons, it hasn’t shied away from issues like bullying, abortion, sexual assault, and even modern slavery. Some of its most powerful moments – and *Brassic* can be surprisingly heartbreaking as well as hilarious – come from Joe Gilgun’s brilliant performance as Vinnie, who battles depression and bipolar disorder. He perfectly captures Vinnie’s internal conflict, as expressed in lines like, “I’m lonely yet I can’t stand being with people,” during his sessions with Dr. Chris.

As a big fan of Brassic, I always admired Joe Gilgun’s performance – especially knowing he draws on his own experiences with bipolar disorder to play Vinnie. It’s amazing how much of himself he puts into the role. It’s a bit heartbreaking to hear that season seven will be the last, and the show’s creator, Daniel Brocklehurst, even pointed out that Gilgun has been nominated for a BAFTA four times now, but hasn’t taken home the award yet. It feels like the perfect time to give the show and its star the recognition they deserve.

Joe Gilgun and I never expected Brassic to last as long as it did, or to gain such a dedicated following,” he explained. “It’s been incredibly fun building this quirky world, but we feel it’s best to end the show while it’s still great. Hopefully, this will finally get us a BAFTA!”

If they don’t manage to get their hands on one, let’s hope Vinnie, Tommo, Ash, JJ, Cardi, Carol, Sugar, and Erin’s last mission involves a daring theft.

Season 7 of Brassic starts on Sky and NOW on Wednesday, September 25th, with new episodes released each week. You can watch seasons 1 through 6 right now. Interested in getting Sky TV? Find out how to subscribe.

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2025-09-25 10:45