THE return to screens of a BBC Northern Ireland comedy sketch show after 15 years has been met with stinging online criticism, with some viewers lambasting the one-off special.
Dry Your Eyes, which was originally broadcast in 2006, was a sketch show by comedy troupe The Hole in the Wall Gang, best known for their sitcom Give My Head Peace'
It returned with a new cast and characters on Monday evening for a special show as part of a new line-up of local comedy output by BBC NI.
However, some viewers took to social media afterwards to pan the show, which featured characters including a man who continually wants to "get the peelers", and a Line of Duty-inspired Northern Irish policeman who utters local phrases while on the job in England.
The original Hole in the Wall gang members involved with the new show have shifted roles behind the camera, including Tim McGarry, who is an executive producer, and Michael McDowell, who directed the special episode.
They left performing to a new cast of actors, including Diona Doherty, Michael Stranney and Niamh McAllister.
However, following the broadcast viewers criticised its content, with many on Twitter questioning why it was commissioned.
They included former DUP special advisor Tim Cairns describing the show as "not funny".
Replying to a joke which urged him to "dry your eyes", he replied: "Won’t need to with this rubbish". In another response, Mr Cairns wrote: "I didn’t realise this was a reboot of a hole in the wall gang show, you can’t half tell. Really is time to retire this humour once and for all."
Others twitter users lined-up to add their thoughts, with one writing: "Don’t know what’s worse the so called comedy or the canned laughter."
Another added: "Jeffrey Donaldson and Michelle O’Neill have issued a joint statement saying they will collapse the Stormont Assembly if BBC NI runs another episode of Dry your Eyes."
Launching the comedy line-up for 2022, Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning spoke of the north having "a wealth of local comedy acting and writing talent".
"We are delighted to be able to offer viewers a rich mix of comedy favourites together with developing new material featuring some familiar and new faces," he added.
Asked about the criticism, a BBC Northern Ireland spokeswoman last night said: “BBC Northern Ireland remains committed to developing new comedy talent and formats.”
