Did we like it?

It’s quite cute. Ideal for those who like US sitcoms with almost-recognisable characters, boring-looking bars, yellow cabs and flashbackititis.

What was good about it?

• Attractive central characters. Ted (Josh Radnor) won us over immediately and we want him to succeed in his quest for love. And his newly-engaged pals Marshall (Jason Segal) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan – the best actor in the show) don’t indulge in that tiresome petty squabbling you usually get from US sitcom couples. Instead, they have a really good chemistry between them.

• “Lebanese girls are the new half-Asians” was one of the better “are the new…” jokes we’ve heard recently.

• “Did you know there’s a Pop Tart under your fridge?” “No – but dibs.”

• Lily revealing to the cabbie that she likes to be spanked. “Pyjamas or au naturelle?” he asks.

• Ranjit the Bangladeshi cabbie with his accent reminiscent of ITV’s Mind Your Language

What was bad about it?

• We didn’t take to Ted’s second best friend Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) – the obligatory wisecracking goofball – or his catchphrase (“Suit up!”).

• We were a bit disappointed with the twist in the tale of the opening episode. We hoped that Ted would win over TV reporter Robin (Cobie Smulders), who does “those full little fluff pieces you see at the end of the news”. She ticked all his boxes (loves dogs, Scotch and Ghostbusters, hates olives). But in the tale he’s telling his kids 25 years hence, it turns out she’s only their aunt not their mother.

• The Smurf penis jokes weren’t funny.

• Josh Radnor looks too much like Will of …And Grace fame.