Lovesick
For many of us, an STD in all probability wouldn’t be our first selection for the idea of a sitcom, however that’s why Lovesick is so genius: it takes a normally no-laughing-matter idea and stuffs it stuffed with refreshing honesty, heat and deliciously humorous one-liners. We all know we’re in secure palms from the very first, very humorous scene, when twenty-something landscaper Dylan (Johnny Flynn) will get instructed “You’ve examined constructive for chlamydia” by his sarcastic GP (We Are Not Alone’s Vicki Pepperdine), and he replies “That… that doesn’t sound constructive”. Dylan is tasked with informing all his earlier sexual companions in regards to the prognosis, so every episode of Lovesick focusses on a unique former conquest, instructed primarily by way of flashbacks of the time they had been collectively, together with his finest mates and flatmates – the feckless however lovable Luke (Daniel Ings, The Gold) and witty Evie (Antonia Thomas, The Good Physician) – alongside for the trip. All three sequence are excellent humorous viewing – in reality, in all probability the one factor Lovesick received fallacious was its unique title which, as you’ll be able to see from the Channel 4 trailer above, was the appalling Scrotal Recall.
Crashing
Earlier than Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s monumental success with Fleabag, there was Crashing, her 2016 Channel 4 comedy a couple of group of mates residing as property guardians in a disused hospital. Like Fleabag, Crashing works due to its creative premise and wonderful forged of messy characters, with Waller-Bridge starring as Lulu alongside recognisable names like Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, Gavin & Stacey’s Adrian Scarborough and The Break up’s Damien Moloney, in addition to a riotous look from Kathy Burke (Gimme Gimme Gimme). Though there’s just one sequence, the six episodes are packed stuffed with entertaining shenanigans, with some genuinely horrifying moments that won’t depart your reminiscence for a protracted whereas.
Really feel Good
This award-winning comedy drama is a semi-autobiographical work by Mae Martin (a standup and up to date Taskmaster contestant), who stars as a fictional model of themself, alongside Charlotte Ritchie (Ghosts) as their girlfriend George. It actually delivers on the title, with Ritchie and Martin sharing unimaginable on-screen chemistry, however Really feel Good additionally has actual depth and an enormous coronary heart, tackling advanced points like habit, childhood trauma and concern of popping out. Like Lovesick above, Really feel Good was initially a one-series surprise for Channel 4 in 2020 earlier than Netflix took it on and commissioned one other sequence (or two in Lovesick’s case), which was launched the next yr. It additionally earns critical comedy bonus factors for its supporting forged, together with Buddies star Lisa Kudrow as Mae’s mom and Buffy’s Anthony Head as George’s father.
Nonetheless Recreation
Initially a stage play about three Glaswegian pensioners, Nonetheless Recreation then featured on sketch present Chewin’ The Fats within the late nineties, earlier than turning into a nine-series Scottish sitcom basic for the BBC. The present stars its creators – Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill – because the cheeky widowers Jack and Victor, and their daft, amusing and infrequently bawdy high-jinks among the many aged inhabitants of Craiglang (a fictional space of Glasgow) is as comforting as it’s relatable. Sure, Nonetheless Recreation is filled with extra textbook comedy tropes than you’ll be able to shake a stick at, and it’s not precisely high-brow, but it surely’s actually quite a lot of enjoyable, though these much less conversant in Scottish dialect would possibly must pay a bit extra consideration to understand Nonetheless Recreation’s simple humour.
Man Like Mobeen
Guz Khan has the uncommon expertise of being naturally, simply humorous whereas additionally being a performer of substance who calls for your consideration, and that’s additionally a superb general description of his comedy drama Man Like Mobeen. Khan stars because the titular Mobeen, a reformed drug vendor who’s elevating his youthful sister Aqsa (Dúaa Karim) whereas additionally caring for his daft finest mates, Nate (Tolu Ogunmefun) and Eight (Tez Ilyas). Over the course of its 4 sequence this BBC Three comedy drama strikes its emphasis from the previous to the latter, coping with more and more critical material in amongst the jokes – from knife crime to drug gangs, Islamophobia and different points going through younger, working class households in Birmingham – and regularly elevating the stakes for these flawed however loveable characters. There’s at present three sequence of this exceptionally made comedy on Netflix, with the fourth and ultimate sequence launched on BBC iPlayer in June 2023.
Crazyhead
This 2016 E4 comedy-horror sequence arrived simply because the profession of Susan Wokoma (Yr of the Rabbit and series 16 Taskmaster contestant) was on the rise, which suggests it’s typically been neglected in favour of her extra distinguished roles that got here shortly after it, however her efficiency as self-made demon hunter Raquel in Crazyheads deservedly earned her Greatest Onscreen Efficiency on the RTS West Awards. Wokoma stars alongside Downton Abbey’s Cara Theobold as a reluctant fellow “seer” (one of many uncommon individuals who can see demons) who Raquel mentors as a demon hunter, with Mayflies’ Tony Curran as their nemesis, the highly effective demon Callum. It’s action-packed, foul-mouthed and utterly bonkers – sadly there’s just one sequence.
