A unique presenting trademark is a main characters' breaking the fourth wall at episode beginnings, inquiring as to why the viewer supposedly did not view the previous episode before recap flashbacks with unaired scenes.
Yes, it's based on the UK show of the same name: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377260/. The series is loosely based on the family life of the show's creator, Paul Abbott http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0008036/.