Harry Hill

Although the pilot was a BBC affair, this new comedy series arrives on Sky. Created by and starring comedians/music video directors Chris Bran and Justin Chubb, it's set on the isolated fictional isle of Jinsy. It's all about silly situations and funny wordplay, more like The Goons and Stanley Unwin than Little Britain. Its good supporting cast includes Alice Lowe (Darkplace), Harry Hill and even David Tennant.

Words can't adequately describe this gloriously eccentric new British sitcom - you'll just have to see it for yourself.

But imagine Monty Python, The League of Gentlemen, George Orwell's 1984 and An Island Parish in a blender - along with some spectacularly cheap scenery - and you'll start to get an idea.

It's written by and stars the previously unknown pair of Chris Bran and Justin Chubb (where have they been all our lives?), and is set on the tiny fictional island of Jinsy.

The island is dotted with devices called tesselators that look like those money-in-the slot viewing machines you find on the end of the pier.

These act as two-way CCTV, where folk can see what's going on and also be spied on by the island's fussy arbiter Maven and his assistant Sporall.

The constant flow of surreal ideas and sight gags lends this a sketch-show quality in parts.

There are hilarious folk songs, photo-copying owls and Harry Hill in drag as Joon Boolay presenting the island's weekly Punishment Round-up.

But in the first episode of tonight's double bill, the big draw sees guest star David Tennant playing local celebrity Mr Slightlyman - the master of the balls in the regular wedding lottery.

Peter Serafinowicz is just as fabulous as an evangelical cupboard salesman in the second episode.

A pilot for This Is Jinsy was screened on BBC Three in March last year, but they foolishly failed to pick it up for a full series and it's now on Sky Atlantic.

The show is directed by Matt Lipsey of Psychoville and Little Britain fame.

Well, I hope BBC Three is kicking itself right now because this has got cult classic written all over it.

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Ronnie's brand of humour might not be to everyone's taste, but as one half of one of Britain's greatest comedy duos, he is entitled to a little introspection in his old age. In the concluding episode of his two-part series, the legendary comedian cavorts with fellow comics Harry Hill, David Walliams and Rob Brydon in an effort to understand what inspired them to carve out a career making people laugh.

The second half of the diminutive veteran's fluffy history of comedy sees him snoop round Harry Hill's unique prop store - see if you can spot stuff used in TV Burp. Next Corbett takes afternoon tea with David Walliams and his mother. Cue copious talk of cross-dressing. He also joins Rob Brydon for a round of golf, visits Dara O'Briain's favourite comedy club and takes a ferry across the Mersey with Ken Dodd. Finally, Corbett retells one of his most loved, free-wheeling monologues from the chair made famous in The Two Ronnies - and gets touchingly dewy-eyed over the memories it brings back of former partner-in-mirth Ronnie Barker.

Harry Hill in drag for This Is Jinsy

What are the chances of this happening - Harry Hill dressed like a laydee?

Harry Hill throws bread at book festival audience

Harry Hill throws bread at the audience in his gig at the Telegraph Ways With Words festival.

Harry Hill calendar and greeting cards launched

Harry Hill will be coming to a greeting card and calendar near you soon.

Harry Hill interview

Getting paid millions of pounds to sit at home and watch TV sounds like the cushiest job in the world. But don't be too quick to envy comedian Harry Hill. He says his obsessive work on hit show TV Burp pushes him to the edge.