G'wed

"A funny, filthy classic in the making" - this rare beast of a sitcom has been criminally overlooked

Russell T Davies has raved about the hilarious new school-based show G'Wed, which dropped oh so quietly on ITVX. Fans of The Inbetweeners and Derry Girls will love it.

New six-part comedy G'Wed (ITVX), created by Danny Kenny and Mario Stylianides, about Liverpudlian schoolkids, is a bracing holler of cheek and spirit. Orphaned "posh southerner" Christopher (Jake Kenny-Byrne) is sent to live with his nan in Liverpool, where he's "mentored" at school by fellow student, gobby rapscallion Reece (Dylan Thomas Smith).

Containing echoes of comedies from recent years (PRU, Derry Girls), G'Wed (Scouse for "go ahead") is a white-knuckle riot of school, family (Reece's vibrant mother is played by Leanne Best), disruption, young love, social media, filthy banter, peacocking boys, queenly girls ("Lads are so thick"), race and diversity ("Come here, my curly haired little homophobe"). There are pokes at working-class stereotypes ("We're not all sitting around eating crack out of a binbag") as well as deeper meditations on grief, disability and identity. At times it all feels a tad hyperactive, but this young cast are firestarters who blow up the screen with seamless ensemble playing beyond their years.