Comedian Jack Rooke said that he wanted to celebrate Watford “for what it does have” in his new Channel 4 comedy Big Boys, as he called his final episode a “bit of a love letter to Watford”.

Of course, being the quick-witted comedy it is, the way he expressed his adoration for the town was by immediately calling it a “s***hole” at the start of the episode, adding that is “full of love and kindness and community”.

“Yes, Watford may also be a bit of a s***hole, but we’ve three Harvesters, so shut up,” Rooke narrates.

But that’s me getting ahead of myself.

Watford Observer: Jon Pointing as Danny, Jack Rooke and Dylan Llewellyn as Jack. Credit: Channel 4Jon Pointing as Danny, Jack Rooke and Dylan Llewellyn as Jack. Credit: Channel 4

Despite the crude humour and hysterical acts, Big Boys manages to blend its hilarious scenes with strong emotional beats from both lead characters, 19-year-old Jack (Derry Girls’ Dylan Llewellyn) and 25-year-old Danny (played by Jon Pointing).

The opening minutes of the show, that is loosely based on Rooke’s life, quickly goes to the punch of bereavement as the comic retells the story of losing his dad and how people would awkwardly avoid talking about it.

Jack is taken to the fictional Brent University – filmed in the University of Westminster Harrow campus – and is a fish-out-water when surrounded by the typical aspects of campus culture and trying to come to terms with losing his dad and his closeted sexuality.

Watford Observer: The character Jack (played by Dylan Llewellyn), Jack Rooke, and Camille Coduri as Peggy. Credit: Channel 4The character Jack (played by Dylan Llewellyn), Jack Rooke, and Camille Coduri as Peggy. Credit: Channel 4

Big Boys excels with the growing friendship between Jack and Danny, as it refreshingly shows a gay and straight male character just become best friends and support each other through their hardships.

The juvenile jokes are akin to Channel 4’s The Inbetweeners, but it’s particularly Danny’s arc with his mental health struggle that will grab the eyes of viewers.

While the show was advertised as an “LGBTQ+ led show”, it is much more than just that as each character, including Jack, goes through heartfelt struggles and still manages to crack hilarious jokes.

Camile Coduri smashes the role as being a relatable “Watford woman” who cannot help but quickly hop from Watford to Harrow to nurture her son, while also worrying about how to move on as a widow.

Watford Observer: Behind the scenes. Credit: Channel 4Behind the scenes. Credit: Channel 4

For the eagle-eyed viewers, you’ll have fun watching these scenes and trying to see how many spots around Watford, Mill End and Harrow you recognise.

And the show takes no stops in reminding viewers Jack’s links to Watford, with quirky constant references in each episode – such as hearing how his nan bought a Christmas turkey from a man in a van at Watford Ring Road, who “later got arrested for smuggling coke in their bum holes”.

All episodes of Big Boys can be streamed on All 4, the third and fourth episode will air on Channel 4 on Thursday (June 2) at 10pm.

Have you got a story for us? You can contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

To receive breaking news alerts or newsletters sign up here.

Check out our Watford crime and court Facebook page here.