Dawn French returns to BBC One in a delightfully mischievous new role, leading the cast of the warm-hearted sitcom Can You Keep a Secret? The show, which aired on BBC One and is available now on iPlayer, offers a charming blend of farce and melancholy, proving an ideal soothing watch for 2026.
A Secret Life Under the Stairs
French plays the formidable Debbie Fendon, a speed-walking pillar of her community who is publicly grieving her late husband, William. The twist, however, is that William is very much alive. Played by the brilliantly eccentric Mark Heap, William was mistakenly declared dead by a germ-phobic doctor after taking too much Parkinson's medication.
Seizing the opportunity after being denied a payout post-diagnosis, Debbie convinced William to remain 'dead' to claim the life insurance money. The cash now resides in a holdall under their stairs, funding not a life of luxury but, as Debbie puts it, coping with "a dodgy boiler and a garden full of fox shit."
A Family Torn by Deception
The central conflict thrives on the fallout of this lie within their family. Their son, Harry (Craig Roberts), is traumatised, having genuinely mourned his father. His guilt is compounded because his wife, Neha (Mandip Gill), is a police officer. He is trapped between betraying his parents or lying to his spouse.
The script, the debut sitcom from Simon Mayhew-Archer (son of Vicar of Dibley co-writer Paul Mayhew-Archer), carefully maintains sympathy for the Fendons. It highlights their prior financial struggle, making their criminal act one of desperation rather than greed.
Classic British Comedy with a Heart
The series leans into familiar but comfortable sitcom territory. Expect awkward memorial speeches, a husband hidden in a cupboard during a widows' club meeting, and the recurring punchline "You massive twat." While some jokes feel dated, the show's underlying warmth and the undeniable chemistry of the cast carry it through.
Narrative tension escalates when blackmail notes arrive, demanding £20,000 to keep William's secret. This, alongside Harry's growing conscience, propels the story forward amidst subplots involving a local nuisance named Pigfish and William's craving for simple freedoms.
While Mark Heap's uniquely weird presence feels slightly underutilised, and William sometimes seems from a different, quieter show, the ensemble works well together. Can You Keep a Secret? doesn't aim to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it delivers a reliably funny, character-driven comedy with ample charm and wit, serving as a perfect televisual balm.
