Parents' Guide to

Friday Night Dinner

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Quirky family peppers weekly meals with salty expletives.

TV BBC America Comedy 2011
Friday Night Dinner Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 7 parent reviews

Tally T.
Tally T. Parent of 12-year-old
July 30, 2023
age 12+

Great show and everything you need to know

A great show with funny characters, relatable family dynamics and hilarious dialogue, with a bizarre sense of humour. - There is a prominent use of strong language, such as ‘sh*t’, ‘b**tard’, ‘f*ck’, and many insults using similar profanity. No slurs or derogatory language. - For violence, characters are often shown slapping or hurling things at each other, but there’s nothing terribly graphic that you would have to cover your eyes to. There’s a lot of pranks as well. - There are various mentions of sex throughout the show, (eg. a character has a conversation about sex mentioning ‘penetration’), but there is absolutely none on screen. It’s to note that characters do kiss and touch each other. - Romance? Yes. In fact, nearly every episode mentions getting a girlfriend or giving advice about romantic partners. Many characters are shown on a date, and many others have crushes. It’s for laughs though. - About nudity, there is no showing of genitals or any nudity intended to be sexual, but characters are shown topless very often. - There is footage of characters drinking wine at dinner and going to a pub. In one episode only, a character is smoking and another character is falsely said to be on drugs. - Occasionally, there are dead people and animals shown, but it’s mostly comedic rather than upsetting or frightening. - I say this is a solid 12+ because of the fact ‘adult’ topics in the show are meant purely for laughs. I think 12 year olds are just about mature enough to accept and understand the jokes. If you think your child is mature enough to be exposed to and understand the content in this media, go for it! It’s a hilarious and seriously entertaining show.
Rinbob
Rinbob Adult
November 14, 2021
age 10+

So funny and overall a great programme

I watch this programme with my child and she loves it too. I think it is up to the parent if they want their child to watch it since there is a few swear words. Very funny and entertaining. It is something that you can watch over and over again without getting bored. I recommend this to 10+ but it is the parents preference.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The Goodmans gather weekly for a FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER in their suburban English home, where a simple meal provides the backdrop for high jinks, hilarity, and family dysfunction. The clan consists of man of the house Martin (Paul Ritter), who has a tendency to go without his shirt; mother Jackie (Tamsin Greig), a good cook with a saucy disposition; and grown sons Adam and Jonny (Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal), who keep each other entertained with endless ribbing and practical jokes. Socially awkward neighbor Jim (Mark Heap) stops by regularly too to use the loo -- and get his hands on Jackie.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (23 ):

Americans accustomed to the zip of Modern Family might find this British comedy a little bland at first. But give the Goodmans a few episodes, and their quirks and eccentricities really start to grow on you, delivering laugh-out-loud moments that transcend cultural differences.

It's tough to say whether American teens will latch on to the show's decidedly British humor. But if they do, it's thanks to the infectious sibling rivalry between brothers Adam and Jonny, who are old enough to know better...but rarely do better. And since one of their favorite pranks involves dumping large quantities of salt into an unattended beverage, you'd best keep an eye on your water glass.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the concept of family dinners. What are the benefits to sitting down to regular meals with your parents and siblings? How often do you and your family eat home-cooked dinners together at the table?

  • How different would the show be if the language were toned down? Would it still be as funny? Why do you think the writers used so much salty talk?

  • How does this show's portrayal of a family in suburban England compare with families on American television? Are there any major differences -- or similarities that surprise you?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate