Jonathan Pryce and Nicholas Le Provost deliver first-class performances in this comedy drama series, which charts the misfortunes of a middle-aged HR officer and his troublemaking colleague.

Lazy HR officer Sam (Nicholas Le Provost) and his equally useless workmate Peter (Jonathan Pryce) realise they are in trouble: Peter for lateness and abusive phone calls to clients, and Sam for his over-relaxed attitude to errant staff members like Peter. Soon their worst fears are realised when they learn that one of the abusive phone calls made by Peter has been intercepted.

Series 1 sees the duo inflict disastrous injuries on their boss on an away day, profoundly insult his successor on a train and rehearse for humiliating interviews for their own jobs. From Series 2 onwards, Peter, on a tiny pension, has moved into Sam's suburban home, where the odd couple continues to play out the curious behaviours developed over a lifetime in work. Together they must face money worries (from pensions under threat to the perils of being rich) and navigate their increasingly complicated love lives.

First published: Thursday 1st November 2018

• Audiobook