Graham Duff

Moz tries to call in his debts but a surprising number of his mates are conveniently skint. Meanwhile, Nikki's sister is falling for Cartoon Head, despite Nikki's warnings to steer clear. This seventh series is warming up nicely (after Paul Weller's ace cameo last week) and which other UK sitcom can boast the subtle, un-starry presence of Janeane Garofalo in a supporting role, back to her Larry Sanders best? Graham Duff's ability to write seven of these incredible series (and play one of its funniest characters) should be enthusiastically applauded.

A seventh series for Graham Duff's exemplary weed-com, starring Johnny Vegas as Moz, the hapless dealer and woman magnet. We join him desperately trying to win back the heart of Jenny, but dismayed to find she has taken up with the police force. And lord knows he's been through enough already, what with the kidnapped dad and the Triads and so on. Any sitcom that can leap deftly from straight drama to surrealism to full-blown musical and back again deserves far more acclaim than Ideal gets. Truly a show of which BBC3 can be proud.

Graham Duff on Ideal Series 7

Ideal returns to BBC Three tonight for a seventh series at 10.30pm. Writer Graham Duff explains the art of finding a special guest...

Johnny Vegas returns with a shuffle and a sigh as hapless drug dealer Moz. Entertaining an endless stream of zany clients in his poky Manchester bedsit, he's an acquired comic taste. Series five comes with the shock news that Moz has decided to go straight - although it's not enough to wake his girlfriend Jenny. She's in a coma, entertaining even zanier all-singing, all-dancing visions (the opening number stars a barely recognisable Moz as a slick, suited crooner). This is for those that like their gags surreal, bawdy and more than a little off-key.

I must say, three years on, Ideal has bedded in very nicely. Moz has now acquired a permanent partner, an infant son, and an assortment of regulars, who, while odd and sometimes nasty (such as the criminals led by the eerily comic Cartoon Head (David Sant) and Moz's necrophiliac neighbour, Judith, played by Joanna Neary), all work within the series' logic.

Graham Duff's writing was sharp, with the gags coming thick and fast, and while not all made the grade, the hit-rate was impressive. Well done BBC3 for sticking with it.

2006 Interview with Graham Duff

An interview with Ideal writer Graham Duff conducted back in 2006.