Tonight with Vladimir Putin review

While the premise isn't anything special, if the writing was good it would be serviceable, if somewhat redundant. But it isn't, unfortunately.

Following on from last week's droll, awkward tension, the second episode of Simon Amstell's gentle meta-sitcom continues in the same vein. This week, the 'Simon Amstell' character begins to seek (and beg) for alternative living arrangements and is desperate for the part of Ariel in a producer friend's new production of The Tempest ("Who's playing Prospero, June Sarpong?" snaps Auntie Liz). Once again, Rebecca Front steals the show as Simon's mum, Tanya, with a horde of smutty outbursts - "Clive is a generous, kind man. Let him have a wank in the loft" - and an outburst at Liz's husband Barry in the episode's finale. So far, the second series feels like more of the same. But the witty, understated dialogue make half an hour in Grandma's House strangely entertaining.