DAMNED FUNNY U

NDERSTATED but packing a punch, this fearless topical comedy from Jo Brand, Morwenna Banks and Will Smith is a comedy gem.

We’re into series two now, following the staff at Elm Heath Social Services where everything remains the same as ever. They are still dealing with everything from the serious to the ridiculous: “A boy posted a sausage through my letterbox,” explains one caller. “Can I eat it?”

Unpopular Nitin (Himesh Patel) is wondering why he’s not doing better with “da’ladies”. Perhaps it’s because he says “da’ladies”. Or perhaps it’s because of the dandruff problem.

Meanwhile, Ingrid (Banks) is excited about the arrival of her 14-year-old foster son – even though he stubbed out his cigarette on the welcome cake.

Nitin is despatched to the supermarket to buy a new cake. “Peppa Pig?” he asks, which parents of small children will likely know is a cheeky nod to Banks’ other role as the voice of Mummy Pig.

Elsewhere, Al (Alan Davies) gets a visit from a troubled teenager with a transitioning parent and has to go down to the school to stop him being excluded.

And Denise (Georgie Glen) gets a visit from her brother, amusingly named Dennis, who takes rather a shine to Rose (Brand). This of course infuriates Denise.

With Rose as our beautifully sarcastic heroine, some wonderfully cutting remarks from Denise, the steady presence of goodhearted Al, not to mention the almost admirable idiocy from Isy Suttie’s twit temp Nat, all of life is here.