Greg Davies (I)

The second series of Greg Davies's crude, clever comedy continues to deliver, despite the hole left by Rik Mayall. This week, Davies's world-worn protagonist Dan is horrified to discover that his former school bully has the lead role in a play that he is attending with his students. Cue group therapy and a lesson in resilience from Aunt Nesta (Stephanie Cole). As per, disaster-prone pals Jo (Roisin Conaty) and Brian (Mike Wozniak) get into a variety of scrapes, too.

Radio Times review

It's bananas that Channel 4 have scheduled their sitcom gem directly opposite BBC Two's Episodes. There are few enough new comedies around without the best of them clashing head-on.

This week, Greg Davies and co-writers summon creative new humiliations for Dan, their sublime clot of a hero. These revolve around a trip to the theatre organised by Dan for his pupils, though he realises too late that the play stars Geoff Doogan, his old school bully. "He made my life hell! Why do you think I'm all Pip Schofield?" he cries, pointing to his grey hair.

Elsewhere, there's aunt Nesta's idea of helpful role-play, Jo's misunderstanding of how theatre works and, in an icon-endangering moment, Brian without his moustache.

Comics back Wolverhampton youth theatre crowdfund bid

Greg Davies, from the Inbetweeners, has hosted an evening of comedy raising money for youth theatre in Wolverhampton.

Greg Davies continues to excel as a teacher driven by cynicism - a role he created for himself with his performances in The Inbetweeners. The second series of his sitcom brings impressive people out of the woodwork (Geraldine James? Really?) and reprises a similar manic energy. Tonight's episode derives dark laughs from the excruciating demands of the school's community week and Dan's farcical attempts to woo his colleague Jo with the assistance of a second world war veteran. It seems unlikely things will end well.

Comics join 'Save BBC Three' campaign

A host of top comedians including Jack Whitehall, Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Greg Davies and Noel Fielding have joined the campaign to save BBC Three.

Radio Times review

We've waited a while for Greg Davies's beautifully tasteless sitcom about a middle-aged loser to come back for a second series, but it's worth the wait. His hero Dan is a brilliant creation, a towering oaf whose self-delusion and gift for setting off minor disasters remind you of the greats - the Fawltys and the Brents - although Dan's world is rougher-edged and, frankly, filthier.

As we rejoin him, our shambling man-child is trying to confront the ageing process, not least its effect on his waterworks: "It's like I'm trying to run a bath but someone's turned a tap on in the other room," he tells a doctor. The scene where Dan tries to persuade a personal trainer to take him on is superb ("You're too far gone," sighs the trainer. "You've slipped off the edge, mate"), as is the faded Shed Seven T-shirt Dan wears for a date with a younger woman.

The ridiculousness is perfectly judged and there are nice subplots for the supporting cast. Gloriously square Brian's attempt to bond with bin-men nearly steals the show.

Greg Davies interview

Greg Davies was hit by a double shock last year when both his TV dad and then his real dad died - but now he's back on top.

Man Down, series 2 episode 1, review: 'vulgar'

Greg Davies's infantile sitcom is only the poorer after the death of Rik Mayall, says Sarah Carson.

Man Down series 2 review

The death of Rik Mayall was a huge loss to comedy - and especially to Man Down. The wild slapstick stunts he played on Greg Davies's character, Dan, were the highlight of every episode in series one. So could the series survive without him? The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, it's possibly even better.

TV preview: Man Down, C4

OK, I confess. I wasn't convinced by the first series of Man Down. It had its moments, but given that they were mostly in the violent interplay between Greg Davies and his TV dad Rik Mayall I had a bad feeling about the second series which - for sad but obvious reasons - doesn't feature Mayall. Yet would you believe it, it looks like they've turned it round.