IN THE LONG RUN

IDRIS ELBA COMEDY WED 22 JULY, 10 PM, SKY ONE/NOW TV

Sky One’s sitcom, based on Idris Elba’s life growing up on a council estate in the ’80s, returns for a third series. It’s panic stations for Walter (Elba) as his mum – aka Mama – is due to arrive, so he and wife Agnes (Madeline Appiah) are up at 5am cleaning the flat. Yep, we’ve all been there. So far we’ve only ever heard Mama on the phone from Sierra Leone – but now she’s come to live on the estate and is less than impressed with her new surroundings. Beautifully played by Ellen Thomas ( EastEnders’ Claudette) – who has always voiced the character – Mama is a force of nature who has an opinion on, well, just about everything. Meanwhile, neighbour Kirsty (Kellie Shirley) is experimenting with food for her budding catering business – which isn’t exactly edible for humans but goes down a treat when Bagpipes (the marvellous Bill Bailey) uses it for fish bait and catches a whopper.