Break Clause review: a funny, uncomfortable portrait of ex-partners forced to live together

Break Clause centres on Lil and Ben, a couple who move from Leeds to London after university for Lil’s first proper job. On the day they receive the keys to their new flat, Ben tells Lil that he wants to break up. The pair are then left living together for six months as friends while they try to leave their tenancy.

The six-part comedy-drama was created by Jess Bray, whose previous work includes Big Boys and We Might Regret This. Alice Snedden directs the series; she is also a co-writer and star of Starstruck. Lara Ricote plays Lil, while Samuel Bottomley plays Ben.

The review describes the series as weird, funny and at times uncomfortably true to life. It places Break Clause in the tradition of late-2010s “sadcoms”, a term used for comedies that combine humour with emotional difficulty. The series is not presented as a straightforward romantic comedy, despite opening with a scene in which Ben tells Lil he will move to London with her as she is about to walk across the stage at graduation.

The soundtrack includes The Foundations’ “Baby, Now That I’ve Found You” and Sylvester’s “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”. The review says the series may prompt laughter or tears, while making viewers reconsider moving in with another person.