Faye Marsay

After it became one of my favourite programmes of last year, I was a little disappointed by the first episode of this series of Fresh Meat. I personally felt that there was far too much of a focus on JP, who's need to find a sexual partner made the character feel fairly one-dimensional. Additionally, Josie and Kingsley's relationship woes seem a little tired and I'm a bit fed up of this story that's been continuing since series one.

Luckily, the character of Howard seems to be heading in a new direction after finding a potential partner in the attractive Sam (Hannah Britland).

Once again, it was up to Zawe Ashton to provide the laughs as Vod's lost in translation romance was the highlight of the episode for me. The introduction of a new housemate, the home-schooled Candice (Faye Marsay), offered up some new comic possibilities and it seemed she'd been fully integrated into the group by the end of the first episode after being introduced to the wonders of cocaine by Vod.

While this first episode may not have been of the quality that I expect from Fresh Meat, it was still head and shoulders above most of the comedies that TV has offered us this year.

'I'd like to do it again,' reckons Howard as we join the occupants of 28 Hartnell Avenue at the outset of series three of the Bain-Armstrong studentcom. Howard's talking about sex, which looks like being the major theme of this series: after first year ('Beer Year') and before third year ('Fear Year') comes 'Spear Year'. JP inevitably attempts to lead from the front, forming 'Team Hard On' and taking over the Dry Slope Skiing Club in a bid to get laid.

Vod and Oregon are back from South America nursing an unspecified beef, while Kingsley's love life isn't looking quite as simple as it appears to be. And Josie? Stranded in Southampton, but still in constant touch via Skype. It takes a little while to get going, but it's never less than supremely watchable, with all the series plotlines neatly established, a promising newbie in home-schooled fresher Candice (Faye Marsay, late of The White Queen) and the cast slipping into their roles with consumate ease.

Faye Marsay introduces new fresher Candice

The White Queen actress joins Jack Whitehall, Zawe Ashton, Joe Thomas, Kimberley Nixon, Greg McHugh and Charlotte Ritchie for the new series of the Channel 4 comedy Fresh Meat.