Watch How Not to Live Your Life

How Not To Live Your Life is a British sitcom created and written by Dan Clark. The show premiered on BBC Three in 2007, and it aired for three seasons and 20 episodes, wrapping up in 2011. The series follows a charming but clueless young man named Don, played by Dan Clark himself, as he navigates through his chaotic life and attempts to avoid making the same mistakes that he's made in the past.

Don is a lazy, self-centered and socially awkward twenty-something who lives in a crappy flat with his housemate Eddie, played by David Armand. While constantly trying to avoid paying rent, Don spends his days playing video games and dreaming about being a rock star while ignoring his mounting pile of bills and responsibilities.

However, he faces constant intervention from his eccentric grandmother, played by Leila Hoffman, who despises his lazy lifestyle and always pushes him to be better, albeit in her own odd ways. With her sense of humor and no-nonsense approach, she's the perfect foil for Don's lack of common sense and motivation.

In contrast to Don's lack of ambition, his younger and much more responsible cousin Samantha, played by Laura Haddock, is overly obsessed with trying to do everything right in life. Despite her best intentions, however, Samantha seems to always end up in absurdly hilarious situations, which makes her the perfect match for Don.

The show revolves around Don's attempts to live his life without the perils of previous mistakes, which he achieves by creating a "not to do" list for himself. However, he usually ends up doing the opposite of what he intended and landing himself in more trouble. While Don's lack of common sense is often the driving force of the humor of the show, it's the relationships he has with the other characters that make it even more entertaining.

Throughout the series, we watch Don deal with various struggles and situations that include everything from losing his job, to experimental drug use and even dealing with baby dummies. But no matter what happens, Don always manages to learn something about himself and grow as a person, even if it's only slightly.

One of the key strengths of How Not To Live Your Life is the clever writing and sharp dialogue, which is delivered expertly by the cast. Dan Clark's portrayal of Don is a standout, providing an excellent balance of sincerity and comedy, while the supporting cast of David Armand, Laura Haddock, and Leila Hoffman are equally hilarious.

In terms of visual aspects, How Not To Live Your Life isn't particularly remarkable, but it doesn't need to be. The focus of the show is on the characters and their interactions, rather than flashy cinematography or special effects. The show's low-budget aesthetic only adds to its charm.

Overall, How Not To Live Your Life is an underappreciated gem of a series. With its intelligent writing, clever humor, and skilled cast, this show has all the ingredients of an excellent sitcom. It's a heartfelt and witty comedy that's well worth watching, particularly for fans of shows like Peep Show, Black Books, and The IT Crowd.

How Not to Live Your Life is a series that is currently running and has 4 seasons (21 episodes). The series first aired on October 14, 2010.