In 'Nolly's Second Episode, You Can’t Keep A Good Woman Down

The premiere episode of Nolly closed on our titular heroine screaming right into the camera, all of the vexation, confusion, fury, and sadness of her unexplained and unceremonious sacking from the successful soap opera Crossroads pouring out in one anguished howl. Episode 2 will also close out with a tight closeup on Nolly, but this time, we’ve got our formidable protagonist back. She steps into a literal spotlight at the encouragement of her long-reigning bestie, Larry Grayson (more on him in a moment), who asks if she thinks she can navigate this next phase. Staring right into the camera with the confidence of a true diva, Nolly invites and challenges us all: “Oh, watch me.” That’s more like it!

Thank goodness for Larry. His wry stand-up show, Shut That Door!, is playing multiple sold-out performances at a nearby theatre, and sitting in the audience, Nolly enjoys what looks like the first real laugh and moment of ease since she learned that she and Crossroads would be parting ways. Larry has been a fixture of British TV for years at this point, most famous for hosting the long-running Generation Game for the BBC, and has tons of material for a set filled with amusing vignettes, all delivered with a cheekiness that’s somehow both dry and arch.

Everyone’s having a great evening, and some of his camp comedic bits prompt Nolly to reminisce about their long history together. We get flashes of his two appearances on Crossroads, his surprising Nolly on her episode of This Is Your Life, and their joking engagement. Decades of friendship history, laughs, and genuine love are delivered in the space of two minutes. Brisk storytelling: we love to see it!