TV Review: The Flatshare - the romcom we didn’t know we needed.

Let me start by saying something you don’t hear often: this is better than the book. When I read the book there was a lot about The Flatshare world I didn’t enjoy - the plot felt clunky, the characters flat and unlikeable, and it lacked the warmth we want in a rom com. But the TV adaptation took all of that and made it better.

These characters are charming, they feel relatable, they feel like people we know as 20 somethings stumbling through life. With the exception of Leon’s annoying girlfriend Kay, and Tiffany’s co-workers, they are a likeable bunch, you sort root for them to figure their stuff out.

Anthony Welsh and Jessica Brown Findlay are charming and unassuming as the leads Leon and Tiffany. But for me the person who steals the show is Shaq B. Grant as Leon’s brother, Richie. He doesn’t get a huge amount of screen time but he made his mark when he was on.

I mean, it’s not realistic by any stretch of the imagination. Who is agreeing to flatshare with someone they’re contractually never allowed to meet? Who is so broke they are living off sample snack boxes but is paying for high end organic milk? Who is having a whole day of dates in the same spot like she’s interviewing for a job vacancy that just opened up? It’s totally ridiculous, completely cheesy, and absolutely brilliant.

Remember those romcoms we grew up watching and now we’ve turned into our parents when we say “they just don’t make them like that anymore.”? Well, with this one they did. It’s like a 2002 movie starring Hugh Grant had a TV baby with Fleabag. It’s full of heart, it’s very English in the best way, it’s light, the soundtrack is killer, and it’s the warmth we need on these cold winter nights.

All episodes of The Flatshare are now available on Paramount+.