DVD REVIEW

Rev is being adapted for the States and has already been given the green light for a third series, but such are the career trajectories of its leading players (Olivia Colman seems everywhere at the moment) that it will have to wait until 2014 to reach the screen. Meanwhile, the Series 2 DVD should keep viewers happy.

Rev Adam Smallbone (Tom Hollander) may now be used to life in inner city London, but it has done nothing for his insecurities. He sees the promise of a new curate as welcome cover for his Sundays off, but when she proves to be brilliant and popular, he grows jealous and changes his mind.

Typically, this is only one strand of the episode, which also includes an attempted trip to Greenbelt and genial down-and-out Colin giving Adam some Ecstasy.

In a similar line, Matthew, the new science teacher at the church school is good news, except that he is an atheist - and it doesn’t help Adam that Matthew is dating the headteacher, whom Adam is secretly in love with.

It is the turn of Adam’s wife to be jealous when she goes away for the weekend and returns to find Adoha cooking for him. This is the episode when the archdeacon, played with delicious energy by Simon McBurney, comes out as gay.

Rev’s gravitas comes from being based on the experiences of real vicars, so the wealth of content is no surprise. We have a haunted room, a fake exorcism, a school trip to let the inner-city kids see cows, and a visit by the goddaughter from hell.

For me, the series is more drama than laugh-out-loud comedy, but that is what gives power to its credibility and poignant moments. The Christmas episode builds brilliantly and its emotional clout is a fitting climax to this run.

It is not flawless. The first episode lacks oomph and the extras are again very basic, but this welcome series is rich with characters and the humour of real life. Derek Walker

Rev, Series 2