TV's new heroines make us all feel better

A new wave of shows are being told through a woman's perspective, from sharp-tongued Fleabag to the darkly honest One Mississippi.

Fleabag and Miranda are more similar than we think

David Baddiel applauds the rise of "shock" entertainment.

Fleabag is Miranda with anal sex, says David Baddiel

David Baddiel has suggested that the frank series, written by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is merely Miranda with added shock value.

I quite enjoyed watching Fleabag but I only laughed once in the first three episodes. It was where the guy came into her cafe, said he didn't want to order anything and then plugged in all his various electronic devices. It was a pretty tame, old-fashioned gag in the context of Fleabag, where most of the jokes are about grim stuff. I'm not sure these programmes are actually supposed to elicit laughter so much as shared recognition of that grim stuff. I'm not saying programmes like this don't have a place. I just think comedy should make you laugh.

Fleabag - Series 1 review

A cursory glance at Twitter shows lots of comedy aficionados are professing their love for Fleabag. Hopefully, as the show is repeated on BBC Two and finds an even wider audience on Amazon Prime, it will develop an even larger fan base. It would be a travesty if Fleabag doesn't get a second series to become the cult hit it deserves to be.

TV needs far more seething women like Fleabag

Angry young men are commonplace on our screens - but it's refreshing, and rare, to watch a woman use the c-word like a bullet.

Fleabag, series 1 review

At first glance BBC Three's new sitcom Fleabag may give the illusion of being like any other modern day sitcom. A young, attractive but troubled lead with a turbulent love life, an uptight sister and a struggling small business; what more could writer and Fleabag Phoebe Waller-Bridge bring to the table? But within the first episode the narrative is already swept in an interesting direction, with the suggestion of darker aspects to this person's life than one might previously have assumed.

TV review: Fleabag, BBC Three, Episode 6

I'm reluctant to review the final episode of Fleabag. I don't want to give anything away. All I should really say is that you should watch it. And if you haven't watched the first five episodes catch up immediately.

Fleabag, BBC Three, review

Have you seen Fleabag yet? If not, here's the one-word review: brilliant.

Why the riskiest TV comes straight from the stage

Screenwriters often find themselves in a straitjacket - but comedy shows written for the theatre have free rein to be as foul-mouthed and foul-minded as they like. The world needs more of it.