Citizen Khan is back – but it still feels too much like an Asian version of Terry and June

Citizen Khan, Adil Ray’s inexplicably popular sitcom, has returned for its fifth series. But not much has changed in the life of Birmingham’s self-appointed Muslim community leader – including the lack of any dialogue or plot developments that seemed remotely funny.

The opener saw Khan (Ray) try to make amends for forgetting his wedding anniversary by pretending he knew local cricketing hero Moeen Ali and could get him to make a personal appearance at a mothers’ group fundraiser.

The resulting confusions, as he tried to blag his way into the England dressing room at a test match, lacked the farcical, upside-down logic of Fawlty Towers or Only Fools And Horses and simply seemed nonsensical and irritating.

There were a couple of good visual gags, and some genuine character development as eldest daughter Shazia (Krupa Pattani) and Mrs Khan (Shobu Kapoor) became increasingly competitive over looking after the grandchildren.

The potential is there to do for the sitcom what Goodness Gracious Me did for the sketch show, but at the moment it seems content to be an Asian version of Terry and June.

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