Karl Pilkington's new sitcom refuses to work for its laughs, or its pathos. He plays Karl, a newly and unhappily single cabbie whose implausible fecklessness, in a world full of monstrous chancers, creates farcical situations from nothing. He also plays Karl's more forthright inner monologue as a separate character, which is a way to crowbar in Pilkington's trademark observational rants. But, in a scripted comedy that aims for bittersweetness, simply spelling out what pains the protagonist is another easy shortcut.

Karl Pilkington interview

He wanted to quit but Ricky Gervais's side-kick is the writer and star of Sick of It, a sitcom which deals with loneliness and depression.

I talk Sick of It

Karl Pilkington has produced radio shows, featured on podcasts, starred in his own documentaries and even written books but never has he starred in his own scripted comedy, until now.

Karl Pilkington risks backlash with Harambe joke

The Sky star said he was annoyed because the dead gorilla was one of only 700 but there's 'loads of kids'.

Karl Pilkington: I owe my success to Ricky Gervais

He's returning to our TV screens to travel the globe yet again in The Moaning of Life 2, but Karl Pilkington says none of it would be possible if it wasn't for two people: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

Canongate sign up more Karl Pilkington

Canongate has signed the latest book from Karl Pilkington, planned for released in summer 2016.

There's a massive spider on the wall in the men's toilet at the nursing home where Derek (Channel 4) works. Is it after the fly perhaps? No, because this is Ricky Gervais wobbly hand-held mockumentary style. Who is this camera operator supposed to be though? A recovering alcoholic? A resident? Maybe with Parkinson's? Certainly with no previous experience of camera operation - it's lurching all over the place, zooming in and out, I'm feeling a bit airsick to be honest. Oh for a bit of fly-on-a-wall steadiness.

And what are these amateur documentaries supposed to be, do you ever ask? I suppose a residential care home is a more likely subject than a Slough-based paper company, but I'm wondering if the whole mockumentary idea is a little tired?

Anyway, the reason for the big spider is of course to demonstrate Derek's nature. He's terrified of it but he certainly doesn't want it killed. "Go and get a cup, catch it," he tells Dougie (Karl Pilkington). "Make sure you catch it, and let it go free." Derek may not be the brightest tool in the box, or the bravest, but he's a good guy, kind and gentle, and he loves animals.

You can tell that Derek's not so bright, a bit backward, because of the way RG plays him. He hunches over a little, tilts his head to one side, darts his eyes around, grimaces idiotically, and he holds his hands in front of him, like some kind of rodent. Plus, he's not so good at declining his verbs. "Animals always tries their best," he says, demonstrating his selflessness and love of animals as well as confusion over the third person. It's the same on Twitter: "I loves animals," tweets @MrDerekNoakes. It's always a dead give away, poor verb declension ...

That's the biggest problem with Derek. Not, as some have said, that it mocks people with learning difficulties (it's too kind for that, and tries to be sympathetic). Just that it's a very crude portrayal. Gervais's previous characters - David Brent and Andy Millman - are not, I suspect, so very different from RG himself, kind of grotesque caricatures. Here he's trying to be someone else completely, and it's awful.

It may not be fashionable, but I'm a fan of Ricky Gervais. I used to like him on the radio with Stephen Merchant. Then The Office pretty much changed comedy on television, invented awkwardness. Extras was bold and bloody hilarious. I also very much enjoyed his Golden Globes hosting - baring a cheeky British arse to humourless Hollywood. But he's no Tom Hanks himself (and Derek's not Forrest Gump). Karl Pilkington also - I enjoy his Idiot Abroad show but he's no great actor.

Derek's father has moved in. He's a ladies' man, and he likes a drink (well, he seems to be Irish, maybe Derek isn't totally lazy-stereotype free). But the old man is a good 'un too. He's got a photo album, pictures of himself on holiday - France, Germany, Morocco, Spain - with a different lady in each place. "That's the point in travelling, boy: nookie." "Newquay?" says Derek, darting his eyes around, shaking his head. "I haven't been to Newquay."

A pun! Nookie, said a bit drunk and a bit Irish (same thing innit?) sounds a bit like Newquay. Especially if you're a half-wit ...

That's the other big problem with Derek. That it's not very smart. Or very funny. Or very good.

Derek: season 2

Overall Derek has come back on the strengths with which it first succeeded and continues to be a highly entertaining show that treads between genre boundaries. Personally, the removal of Dougie takes an edge off of the show for me as he was by far my favourite character, yet admittedly I am a huge Karl Pilkington fan.

I've never watched Derek before, but I decided to dive straight into Series 2 which is currently airing on Channel 4. Normally I loathe skipping episodes, but I'd heard mixed things about the first series.

My initial thoughts aren't what I thought they'd be. I've always been skeptical about this show (for the obvious reasons) and was worried that the humour would be crass in an uncomfortable way. This wasn't the case at all. It's far sweeter than I expected and is not at all in your face. Obviously there were some good gags and I'm sure the sickly sweet moments were occasionally for comedic effect, but I genuinely found it endearing. I'd even go so far to say it was moving in places. Bear in mind that I am an incredibly soppy so and so.

I'm a sucker for Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington anyway, but I did think their acting was good. Yes, it probably wasn't as funny as I had hoped, but it is definitely different and that's what all comedies should be aiming for. To be different.