One of the pleasures of Rev (Thursday, BBC Two) is that its characters' foibles seem to have taken root quite naturally rather than being glued on in a scriptwriters' conference. Tom Hollander's Adam Smallbone may be hapless, but his haplessness comes in part from his constant wavering between conviction and doubt. Hailed as the "Kung-Fu Vicar" after an unheroic misunderstanding, Smallbone is advised to tell the truth by the Bishop of London (a balefully creepy Ralph Fiennes) - "You're going to have to tell the truth and that's when your courage will really be shown."

Sanctimonious piffle on the one hand, yet nothing in Rev is quite as simple as that. Smallbone, did, reluctantly, tell the truth, and was surprised to find himself feeling enriched as a result. This may not have lasted long, and flocks of unchristian thoughts may have come beating in its wake - but that, surely, is exactly how these things work.

Rev. review: The second coming

Christenings, weddings and funerals. These are the three occasions when even God-less wretches like myself are forced inside a church. Two out of these three occasions have the potential to raise a smile; this is similar to the gag to smile ratio of BBC Two's church-based sitcom, Rev. Even the most ardent heathens will be able to enjoy themselves.

Rev is a much kinder comedy than Life's Too Short, and prompts a different kind of question, which is, how kind can a comedy get before it stops being funny? The success of the first series means that they can show off with a big-star cameo too; in this case, Ralph Fiennes, who did an eerily pious turn as the Bishop of London. Due to a misunderstanding, Adam finds himself up for a Pride of Britain Award he doesn't really deserve. With little more than a penetrating gaze of Christian understanding, the Bishop gets him to own up and forgo his moment in the limelight. It was a scene suffused with moral seriousness, but it didn't deliver a lot of laughs. The show is better (and more lovable) when it seems to celebrate human weakness. But then it's lovable enough itself to be forgiven the odd shortcoming.

Rev - More from the urban vicar

Rev's an example of a very strange thing: a sitcom that's warmly received from day one, then continues to grow as it goes on.

When Rev first hit our screens last year, its lack of belly-laughs might have seemed a bit of a ­disadvantage for a sitcom.

But as a hugely-deserved series two begins, it's obvious that its more gentle humour is in fact a stroke of divine genius - making it more true-to-life and ­consequently far, far funnier than any number of Dibley-ish chocolate fountain moments.

The modern vicar's impossible mission of having to please all the people all the time is perfectly captured in James Woods's confident script and Tom Hollander's sweet-natured performance. The only banana skins you'll find vicar Adam Smallbone skidding on are moral ones and in this week's episode he's got his dog collar in a twist over whether or not to accept a Daily Mirror Pride Of Britain award after accidentally tripping a mugger.

To paraphrase Life Of Brian, he's not a hero - he's just a very clumsy vicar. But what does God want him to do?

Adam's prayers are a regular feature of Rev, but as God never replies, these are, by necessity, a one-way conversation. Tonight, as one of God's regional managers appears in the shape of the Bishop of London (a marvellous cameo from Ralph Fiennes) your imagination fills in the requisite choir of angels and celestial light.

There's also a lovely scene in a ­steam-room where Adam, Archdeacon Robert and publicity-hungry vicar Roland appear to be sitting on a cloud.

But Rev's brief lies is more earthly matters and this week we're treated to a heart-felt rant from Adam's wife (Olivia Colman).

Being married to a man who doesn't even get Sundays off definitely isn't her idea of heaven.

This vicar comedy may be gentle in tone but its cast, direction and script is often first-rate: witness the scene in which Adam Smallbone's appearance at the impending Pride Of Britain awards is snootily sized up by two well-known guest stars in a sauna. Yes, Tom Hollander's Smallbone is a hero in this series two opener, though he's more intent on forcing fresh air down the lungs of inner-city school kids, via a trip to the White Cliffs of Dover.

Rev returns tonight on BBC 2

At long last, it's time for everyone in the UK to return to the inner-city world of St Saviour's in East London beginning tonight, Thursday, 10 November at 2100 on BBC2. Reverend Adam Smallbone (Tom Hollander) is back in Rev, along with Alex, his long-suffering solicitor wife, Colin, Mick and the entire motley congregation en tow for a sophomore season of the hit comedy.

As Rev returns for a second series, gentle, long-suffering vicar Adam Smallbone is on retreat, savouring moments of silent contemplation and spiritual solace. But the peace is broken with the arrival of boorish fellow cleric Roland Wise (Hugh Bonneville) who isn't getting into the spirit of the thing: brandishing a brace of DVD boxed sets he announces: "I've got The History of Christianity or The Killing!".

As Rev, which had a devoted following AND won a Bafta last year, could never be accused of shouting its presence, this is as loud as it gets as sweet Adam (wonderful Tom Hollander) quietly puzzles his way through life. And he has a lot of thinking to do when he is hailed a hero after foiling a bag snatch. Except he didn't. Cue some wise words from his bishop (a lovely guest appearance from An International Star).

Praise the Lord for the return of Rev

Tom Hollander's brilliant vicar and a fine supporting cast return to BBC2 for another series of the excellent comedy.

Video: Tom Hollander's religious research for Rev

Tom Hollander is to star in a second series of Rev, a series he co-created with writer James Woods.

Hollander told BBC Breakfast about his research for the role of Reverend Adam Smallbone.

Rev will be broadcast on Thursday 10 November, 9pm, BBC Two.