Can You Keep a Secret? review: A sitcom with plenty to like, except good jokes

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A star rating of 2 out of 5.

I’m finding it tough to write this review. I recently told Dawn French, jokingly, that anyone who doesn’t enjoy “Can You Keep a Secret?” ought to feel bad about it (you can see the video above). The truth is, I really want to love this book, even more than I actually do.

French is a delightful show, and it’s made even better by its talented cast. You might recognize Mark Heap from ‘Friday Night Dinner,’ Mandip Gill from ‘Doctor Who,’ and Craig Roberts, who used to be on CBBC and now makes independent films like ‘Still Up’.

The series is also deeply personal, drawing from the creator Simon Mayhew-Archer’s own life experience. His father, Paul, a writer for The Vicar of Dibley, lives with Parkinson’s disease, a condition shared by the character William Fendon in the show.

A pre-existing health issue, made worse by a remarkably incompetent doctor, results in him being wrongly pronounced dead at the start of the show. This allows his wife, Debbie (played by French), to falsely claim his life insurance money.

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Even though ‘Can You Keep a Secret?’ is often silly and lighthearted, its realistic portrayal of dealing with serious illness creates a strong emotional connection, making you root for the Fendons even when they make questionable choices.

The show effectively builds suspense because Debbie and William face serious consequences – a long prison sentence – if anyone discovers their plan, even their daughter-in-law, Neha (Gill), who works as a police officer.

Every episode ends with a surprising twist that creates new problems for the family, leaving viewers eager to see how they’ll cope next time. It’s similar in style to the popular Disney+ series Only Murders in the Building, but with a charmingly British feel.

So what’s the problem? Well, to be frank, it’s just not very funny.

Despite a promising idea and talented actors, the movie wastes its potential with simple, often crude jokes. These include slapstick, repeated swearing, and drawn-out, pointless conversations between the characters Debbie and William.

Okay, so this movie isn’t just funny – it blends mystery and thriller elements too, which is a cool bonus. But honestly, French and Heap are such amazing comedic actors that sometimes it feels like it should be all about the laughs, and that’s a little disappointing. It’s a tough trade-off!

However, ‘Can You Keep a Secret?’ is primarily a comedy, and it really focuses on getting laughs. Because of this, the fact that not every joke lands is a noticeable weakness.

The show has promise, and if enough people watch, it could be worth revisiting. However, I’m disappointed to say that this comedy about insurance fraud hasn’t really delivered so far.

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Can You Keep a Secret? premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesday 7th January 2026.

Don’t miss ‘Can You Keep a Secret?’! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about television and streaming drama and comedy for TopMob. Before joining them, he worked at Starburst Magazine, hosted the podcast ‘The Winter King’ for ITVX, and earned a Journalism degree from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-01-07 16:04