Comedy

With ‘Little Britain’ outstaying its welcome by at least a couple of series and Catherine Tate’s lack of quality control consistently undermining her undoubted talent, this isn’t a vintage era for sketch comedy. So, patchy as it is, it feels good to have Mitchell and Webb back with more of their skewed, amiable cynicism. The ludicrously portentous posturing of Sky Sport’s football coverage is righteously and amusingly skewered, Numberwang turns into a murder mystery and Five’s ‘Sensitive Freakshow Season’ continues with ‘The Boy With An Arse For A Face’.

Frequently television about television, certain elements of Mitchell and Webb’s conceits would appear trite and smug in less engaging hands,
but the pair possess enough charm and natural comic chemistry to make them easy company. They also seem able to recognise an idea that has run its course (no drunken snooker commentators or squabbling superheroes this time around), and that alone gives them the edge over their current competition.

'That Mitchell And Webb Look', Thursday February 21, 9-9.30pm, BBC2.
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