Felicity Montagu

Review: Chinese Burn, BBC3

Somehow Chinese Burn, written by co-stars Cheung and Chen, manages to perpetuate stereotypes - the men tend to be pretty familiar jerks - while at the same time subvert them. I wonder if it would have been made in a pre-Fleabag world. It doesn't always feel quite as original as it thinks it is - Jackie's audition scene could have come from half a dozen past comedies - but it is good to see some fresh faces onscreen (as well as Felicity Montagu from Alan Partridge) and there's no denying that the half hour pilot zips by in a flash.

Comics appear in new version of Kafka's Metamorphosis

Tim Key and Tom Basden plus Felicity Montagu and Emma Sidi are among the stars of a new darkly comic adaptation of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis.

Felicity Montagu's comedy gold with Coogan and Austen

She played the loyal PA to Norwich's deluded DJ and the cake-scoffing vicar's wife in Nighty Night. Now back on stage as Mrs Bennet, Felicity Montagu explains why humour is a deadly serious business.

Adam Buxton and Ross Kemp become Bad Robots

The comedian and the formers EastEnders hardman join Felicity Montagu, Matt Le Tisser and Sir Michael Gambon as the voices of the pesky automatons.

The series adapted from children's books by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver returns for a second season. Based on Winkler's own experiences growing up with dyslexia, but with events transposed from the US to Yorkshire, it also stars the man who was Fonzie as teacher Mr Rock, an understanding counterpoint to Ms Adolf (Felicity Montagu). In today's opener, McKelty ruins Hank's school photograph by spraying him with pop. Hank (Nick James) is determined to get himself cleaned up and back in front of the camera.

Adapted from the books by Lin Oliver and Henry Winkler, based upon Winkler's own experience of growing up with dyslexia, Hank Zipzer is a fast-paced, frantic and very funny comedy, with serious undertones, from the CBBC channel.

Several aspects of episode one did jar, however. Firstly, our schoolboy anti-hero's extremely American-sounding name is never explained. Secondly, I'd like to think that modern schools are sufficiently enlightened around dyslexia not to punish a student with the condition by making him read his essay aloud in assembly. Thirdly, the quality of the acting among the young cast covers a wide spectrum, and that's putting it charitably.

Minor quibbles apart, Hank Zipzer is great fun, cleverly constructed and eminently likeable. It also boasts an excellent adult cast, including Felicity Montagu as Hank's bad-tempered, sword-wielding teacher Miss Adolf, and Winkler himself oozes charm as a rock'n'roll music teacher, appropriately named Mr Rock.

Henry 'the Fonz' Winkler co-wrote the books that this high-energy new British school comedy is based on. Hank is a dyslexic boy (as was Winkler) with a quick mouth, who's given short shrift by an uptight teacher (Felicity Montagu), but finds a kindred spirit in another (Winkler). Hank is played with great sparkle by Nick James, and the series has a warmth that does credit to all involved.