Rebecca Nicholson

Has the BBC lost its nerve over this dark comedy?

You loved Julia Davis in Nighty Night. You loved Jessica Hynes in Spaced. So why is their new pilot on at 11.45pm?

Taking a leaf out of Skins' character-per-week structure, the second episode of the series hones in on cheeky chap Nathan. He's ended up with the double blow of being kicked out of home and not appearing to have a superpower, though given Alisha's "abilities", he might be better off without one. While dealing with the aftermath of killing their support worker - and discovering that somebody else knows about it - the gang help out at an OAP tea dance, which brings a little light to Nathan's situation. Not safe for work, but very funny.

With a script supervised by Ricky Gervais (though it's not clear whether he helped with the gags or just read it and gave a regal wave), the latest Comedy Showcase pilot takes its cue from the absurdity of mobile phone shops, which will be instantly familiar if you've ever had to go into one for any reason at all. Writer Phil Bowker, who produced Pulling, does a great job of keeping it as quick as the jokes are tight. Should it be turned into a series? Yes please.

Home Time reaches its conclusion after six delightfully droll weeks, which means the end of Gaynor's silence on what exactly drove her back to Cov. But first the gang end up at their school reunion, where rumours about what she's been up to spread around the library to the sound of Paul's band playing Kula Shaker covers. It's too dry and understated to have been an attention-grabber for BBC2, but the lack of showiness has been to its credit, and tonight's episode is a fine end to a taut and thoroughly original comedy.

Home Time proves BBC's comedy credentials

The BBC sitcom about a local girl returning to her home town after 12 years is a brilliant, sophisticated, low-key show.

Shifted from its usual Monday-night slot, the penultimate episode of Home Time brings the sadness that's been bubbling under the silliness right to the surface. It's Kelly's 30th birthday and the gang host a budget spa day in celebration (which means dropping a soluble aspirin in the bath). But a night out in Cov reminds them that life is moving forwards, whether they like it or not. And they really, really don't.

Benidorm - Series 3, Episode 1 Review

Nothing disappoints a British holidaymaker quite like a successful trip away; at least that's the comedy premise that's explored in the third season of this comedy. After the chaos surrounding their previous trip, we join our roster of British stereotypes gathering on a non-airconditioned coach in order to enjoy their compensatory free holiday. We then watch as this gift horse is looked in the mouth: it's like The Royle Family, but with sunburn. The amiable Geoff (Johnny Vegas) is an enjoyable feature, the incredibly caustic Madge (Sheila Reid) a riotously unlovable grandma.

Home Time - Episode 1 Review

With the exception of BBC4's Getting On, British comedy has been suffering from a lack of inspiration lately, with sub-par sketch shows sucking the life out of it. It's a pleasure, then, to come across Home Time, which is as smart and original as it is sad and funny. Ideal's Emma Fryer co wrote the series and stars as Gaynor, the 29-year-old Coventry native who suddenly returns to her home town after 12 years in London: "A lot's changed . . . We've got an Ikea now." It's perfectly observed and deserves to do well.

Lunch Monkeys is a dog's dinner

Even Nigel Havers can't save BBC3's new show. But a bad comedy on the youth channel shouldn't come as a surprise.

Katy Brand is back on ITV2 for a third series of sketches, and though she's shifting things around a bit - a "fine" Jennifer Aniston is the new "normal" Kate Winslet - she still has a canny ability to dismantle the silliness of celebrity.