TV preview: Tracey Ullman's Show, BBC1

By their supporting cast shalt thou know them. Or something. The first episode of the second series of Tracey Ullman's return to British sketch show comedy features an enviable cast list of contemporary comedians and actors.

Readers' Qs - does every sitcom need an idiot?

This question comes from @andyrileyish, aka Andy Riley, an extremely experienced sitcom writer (Black Books, Hyperdrive, The Great Outdoors), a thoroughly nice man, and writer of a new series of children's book called King Flashypants. He was also a guest with his writing partner, Kevin Cecil, on The Sitcom Geeks Podcast here.

The first episode of Watson & Oliver was, on the whole, pretty poor. It began well - I was especially fond of the opening sketch in which Lorna Watson draws eyebrows on her face in response to Ingrid Oliver's feelings, which became more and more ridiculous as the conversation went on. The duo are good physical performers.

However, I didn't enjoy the second half of the episode nearly as much.

The problem seems to be the writing. Some of the sketches seemed lack any purpose, like the friendly conversation between a prisoner and a warden. It totally stumped me, and I think judging by the audience reaction the studio didn't realise understand it either (mostly light tittering and nothing more).

Concerning the writing, I think that the most interesting aspect of Watson & Oliver is that while Watson and Oliver are the main writers, there is a larger bunch of writers providing "additional material". In the opening episode, for example, Kevin Cecil, Ali Crockatt, David Scott, Alex Lowe and Robert Mills all contributed. In other words, apart from the two stars, all the writers are men writing for female roles. Perhaps if Watson and Oliver wrote all their material there'd be a fluidity to the show and it might, well, be a bit better.

Still, it's probably best to see what comes up in future episodes...

An interview with Kevin Cecil

Kevin Cecil is a co-multi-BAFTA-award-winning comedy writer who, along with long-time friend Andy Riley has written for some of the best and/or most popular British comedy shows of the past however many years, such as Black Books, Little Britain, Hyperdrive, and countless others.

Doing for rambling what Rev did for inner-city religion, The Great Outdoors debuted on BBC4 last autumn and now BBC2 is repeating the three episodes. Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil's charming sitcom meets a group of walkers led by Mark Heap just as they're joined by pushy new member Ruth Jones, who tries to make the gang go her way. Often literally. Also rambling are Katherine Parkinson, Steve Edge and Stephen "Skoose from Whites" Wight.

The Great Outdoors rambles onto BBC2

Kevin Cecil, co-creator of The Great Outdoors, writes about the show getting a BBC Two repeat.

Come Fly With Me 'Online Book'

For the last month or two I've been working on some web stuff to tie in with Come Fly With Me. In a way what I've been doing is writing a comedy spin-off book for the show. Only as a website and before the programme has started.

Like most comedy writers, I've tried to get a sitcom on television. And, like most comedy writers, I've failed (although older viewers can find a show I co-wrote, The Junkies, on YouTube). Naturally, this makes me bitter about those who've succeeded where I haven't.

So I was very much looking forward to hating BBC4's new comedy The Great Outdoors, written by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Black Books, Hyperdrive).

But much to my distress, The Great Outdoors is brilliant. Not only is it the best comedy on TV right now - not difficult as we're in a midsummer trough of trash as usual - but it has the makings of a classic.

The almost actionless adventures of a walking club might not sound thrilling. But The Great Outdoors' genius is to unfold the lives of the members over several episodes, rather than lumber them with weak dialogue and willy jokes.

This week I was moved by the plight of Bob the walk leader (played by Mark Heap, the only man to star in both Brass Eye and Lark Rise To Candleford) and the stirrings of his affection for Christine (Ruth Jones).

Heap and Jones are great but the entire cast work together and every scene - every line - combines to make this something rather special.

Rats. Now I'll have to find something new to hate.