Harry Landis

Harry Landis - Friday Night Dinner's Mr Morris - dies at 90

His agent has confirmed that the actor - who appeared in three episodes of the Channel 4 comedy after a long carer - passed away on Monday.

Lou (Harry Landis) - the elderly "gentleman" who grandma (Frances Cuka) dated in series two - inexplicably reappeared in churlish fashion a few episodes back to berate her "punk rocker" grandsons among others. Now the purpose for his return is clear, with the pair's wedding providing the ideal excuse for full-blown shambles as series three comes to a close. Joyous cries of Mazel Tov seem unlikely as the couple head up the aisle, much to the dismay of Jackie and Martin (Tamsin Greig and Paul Ritter).

This week's helping of domestic disorder comes with a side order of déjà vu. Grandma (Frances Cuka) brought boorish suitor Lou (Harry Landis) to dinner back in series two, and now he returns for another excruciating meal with the Goodmans. Once again he manages to offend the whole family as well as creepy neighbour Jim. FND continues to entertain, but the rehash element of this episode highlights its limited mileage.

Impish family kibitzing this episode gives way to wall-to-wall haranguing, as grandma brings her new boyfriend to dinner. Flashes of Inbetweeners-style brinkmanship in what's acceptable abound, as the Goodmans are forced to appreciate the presence of an octogenarian fuck-buddy in their matriarch's life. Fans of Mark Heap will be disappointed with minimal creepy-neighbour shtick this time round. But Harry Landis's demonic suitor, Mr Morris, more than makes up for this, stealing the show - and possibly the series - as an archetype of doddering evil. If creator Robert Popper is conducting some sort of twisted experiment to find the most grotesque and misshapen form into which the traditional family sitcom can be contorted, then the final five minutes of this show are probably a bit of a breakthrough. At least a nine point five on the shudderometer.