Watch Desmond's Online

Desmond's

Where to Watch Desmond's

13.
0 Little Town of Peckham
2011-06-06
The last ever episode of the popular sitcom. Shirley is planning a traditional Guyanese Christmas but the family have other plans.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 13 Now

12.
A Sign of the Times
2011-06-06
Desmond has ordered a neon sign for the shop and Lee has got it for him at a bargain price. But then he offers to install it, too...

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 12 Now

11.
When the Cat's Away
2011-06-06
A huge wedding takes place in Peckham, which means big business for the shop. But Desmond is away and Shirley is forced to call in his hated rival, Irving Poole.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 11 Now

10.
Heavy Traffic
2011-06-06
Lee falls in love. She's beautiful, talented, an aromatherapist - and that's not all...

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 10 Now

9.
Return of Hyacinth Green
2011-06-06
Porkpie's old flame Hyacinth turns up - and just happens to answer the phone when his absent fiancee Susu calls from Jamaica.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 9 Now

8.
Judgement Day
2011-06-06
A funky American preacher arrives at the barbershop to sue Desmond for a cut he had two years ago and the months of mental distress he had to suffer afterwards.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 8 Now

7.
The Speech
2011-06-06
Desmond is away at a conference. but his speech has gone AWOL. When it can't be found, there's only one answer - the barber shop gang will write a replacement.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 7 Now

6.
Planning Permission
2011-06-06
Desmond hires an architect to plan the retirement house he's always dreamt of - but then he tries to keep it secret from Shirley.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 6 Now

5.
Love Letters
2011-06-06
Beverley becomes distraught when she finds some love letters written by Cuthbert.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 5 Now

4.
Demon Barber II (Turbo)
2011-06-06
Sean invents a video game that seems destined to put his father out of business.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 4 Now

3.
Georgetown Dreaming
2011-06-06
On a miserable English day Desmond wonders what might have happened if he had never come to this 'godforsaken country'.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 3 Now

2.
Hatchet Job
2011-06-06
Desmond gets a shock when he reads a page or two from Porkpie's diary.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 2 Now

1.
Do Move a Favour
2011-06-06
Desmond hires a new assistant Ricky - but no one else can understand why he's chosen Ricky in the first place.

Watch Desmond's Season 6 Episode 1 Now

Desmond's, a British television situation comedy aired on Channel 4 from 1989 to 1994, is recognised for its perception in the portrayal of the Black British experience in the late 20th-century. This light-hearted sitcom navigates the trials and joys of family life, and is set primarily in a barber shop in Peckham, South-East London. Choreographed by Trix Worrell and produced by Farrukh Dhondy, this enjoyable and inclusive series has been hailed as a TV classic.

The face of Desmond's, is Desmond Ambrose, brilliantly portrayed by the charismatic Norman Beaton. Desmond is a Guyanese-British barber running a business - Desmond's Ambrose Barbershop, presumably named after him. With no fancy hairdressing techniques in his artillery, Desmond's cuts are straight-forward and 'no nonsense', which makes his thriving establishment a popular hangout for a parade of colourful characters.

The heart of the show, quite predictably, is Desmond's wife Shirley Ambrose, a character played by Carmen Munroe. Shirley, with her warm-hearted manner and her life wisdom, often serves as the family's moral compass. But unlike her somewhat traditional husband, she is more adaptively British, demonstrating a confrontation of two cultures' values and expectations within a single family unit.

Among the regular characters that grace the Ambrose's barbershop, Ram John Holder's portrayal of Augustus 'Porkpie' Grant is particularly memorable. Porkpie is not just a loyal customer but also Desmond's friend from their childhood in Guyana, and he often provides comic relief with his quirky observations and anecdotes.

Gyearbuor Asante bends into the role of Matthew, a sophisticated Ghanaian postgraduate student who rents a room from the Ambrose family. His distinctly African perspective on British life often serves as a counterpoint to Ambrose’s Caribbean outlook, creating an interesting dialog about the variations within the Black British experience.

The narrative gets its brisk pace from the interactions between Desmond, Shirley and their three children, each one displaying varying degrees of acculturation to British life. Their eldest son Michael, a bank employee, is more 'establishment' than the rest, while their daughter Gloria, is a fiercely independent feminist. Lastly, their younger son Sean, a schoolboy still at home, acts as an arbitrator when the family opinions clash.

A notable feature of 'Desmond's' is its originality in putting the Black British experience at the centre of the narrative without turning ethnic and cultural identities into cartoonish caricatures. It delves into issues such as immigration, race relations, cross-cultural fusion, and generational clashes with a mellow touch of humour. The black-and-white debates get shaded through the dialogues, as the characters grapple with racism, discrimination and cultural identity neatly wrapped in situational comedy.

The relatability of the characters owes a lot to the perfect casting and the talented actors who breathed life into them. Norman Beaton's formidable versatility allowed him to bring the right blend of sternness, vulnerability, and humour to Desmond’s character, making him a favorite among the viewers. Carmen Munroe's rhythmic performance as Shirley adds layers to her character’s resolve and strength, resulting in a dynamic matriarch. The eccentricity in Ram John Holder's enactment of Porkpie and Gyearbuor Asante's debonair portrayal of Matthew further enrich the show.

Highlighted with a colourful backdrop of a multicultural London neighbourhood, the Basins (often mentioned in the series) is shown to be a vibrant and spirited community, woven with stories of dreams, struggles, and camaraderie. The barbershop serves as the nexus of these anecdotes, a close knot of friendships, gossip, and casual wisdom, delivering a sense of community and home.

In its original run of six series, Desmond’s mirrored the development of the multicultural British society during the late 20th century, leaving an enduring impact on viewers of all ages and backgrounds. Distinguished in its pioneering representation of the Black British experience, Desmond's is more than a situational comedy, offering a warm, poignant, and humorous insight into the personal and collective life of a British black family.

Desmond's is a series categorized as a canceled. Spanning 6 seasons with a total of 136 episodes, the show debuted on 2011. The series has earned a mostly positive reviews from both critics and viewers. The IMDb score stands at 7.8.

How to Watch Desmond's

How can I watch Desmond's online? Desmond's is available on Channel 4 with seasons and full episodes. You can also watch Desmond's on demand at Amazon Prime, Tubi TV online.

Genres
Channel
Channel 4
Rating
IMDB Rating
7.8/10
Cast
Norman Beaton, Carmen Munroe, Dominic Keating, Kim Walker, Robbie Gee, Ram John Holder, Geff Francis, Justin Pickett, Lisa Geoghan, Gyearbuor Asante, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Sol Raye, Mona Hammond, Treva Etienne