Jasper Rees

Back To Life review

The wintry coast of Kent provides a suitably chilly backdrop. With considerable poise, and none of the gurning she deployed in Episodes, Haggard walks that line so well trodden by Phoebe Waller-Bridge between awkward comedy and deep pathos. The first episode passes a key test: you are intrigued to know more, and you care.

Fleabag, series 2 finale, BBC Three review

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's miraculous situation tragedy.

This Time with Alan Partridge finale review

Back to his worst.

Dead Pixels, E4, review - gamers for a laugh

Witty sitcom about videogame addicts pits real life against fantasy

After Life, Netflix, review

Ricky Gervais's grief emoji.

White Gold, episode 1 review

A welcome return for the knuckle-gnawing social comedy.

Catastrophe, Channel 4, series 4 finale review

Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney go out on a grief-stricken, hope-filled cliffhanger.

Cold Feet, Series 8, ITV, review - mortality lite

The cast return once more to pull sad faces and silly faces.

The first episode of Hold the Sunset was so gruellingly unamusing I was determined to have nothing more to do with it. Then John Cleese objected to my review on Twitter and argued that only people who had TV are qualified to critique it. I did try two more episodes. If anything, the script deteriorated, leaving fine comedians including Rosie Cavaliero and Jason Watkins to overact their socks off. A second series is coming next year. Can an average audience of 4.65 million possibly be wrong? A majority of commenters on The Arts Desk would suggest they might. For a proper depth-charged comedy about an autumn romance thwarted by selfish hangers-on, stick with Mum.

This odd-couple road trip high-fives Christmas

Click & Collect offered proof that, in certain circumstances, it is possible to have your cake and eat it. It subjected Christmas to a testy satirical buffeting while also smothering it with reverence as an enfolding nationwide group hug.