Johnny Flynn

From that screamer of a title down, Scrotal Recall seemed contrived as hell, what with its twentysomething flatmates set-up, hipster favourites London Grammar on the soundtrack, and a supporting Jack Whitehall-alike (Daniel Ings). Yet, two episodes in, this is shaping up to be one of the warmest, smartest and funniest Channel 4 comedies in years, pegged to a daring STD-based framing device. Tonight, luckless lothario Dylan (Johnny Flynn) invites older love interest Anna back for dinner. What could possibly go right?

Channel 4 also brought us an enjoyable new sitcom in the form of the awfully-titled but quite funny Scrotal Recall. The comedy's central conceit sees likeable Dylan (Johnny Flynn) forced to contact all of his former sexual conquests after being diagnosed with chlamydia. Dylan then draws up a list of his exes, in alphabetical order, as he prepares to give them the news one-by-one. The majority of the episode is then told in flashback as we learn about how he met the first girl on the list, hotel desk clerk Abigail (Hannah Britland), whilst at a wedding with another woman. The awkward wedding reception is a scenario that has been played out time and time again in sitcoms, but I felt that Scrotal Recall did a good job at keeping the story feeling fresh. This first episode also introduced us to Dylan's friend Luke (Daniel Ings); a sexual predator with no morals who basically attempts to bed as many bridesmaids as possible. At times I found Luke to be too similar to How I Met Your Mother's Barney to believe in him as a realistic character but at the same time he did provide a lot of the best gags. Writer Tom Edge also adds quite a sweet element to the sitcom in the unrequited feelings that Dylan's friend Evie (Antonia Thomas) has for him. Although this part of the plot could come off as clichéd; Edge meshes both elements of the comedy well enough for it never to feel too saccharine. As the majority of the sitcom happens three years in the past, I was shocked to discover that in the present Evie is engaged to another man whilst Dylan is left looking forlorn during her engagement party. Although I didn't have massive expectations going into Scrotal Recall I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would and I laughed out loud at least four times during the twenty or so minute run time. Flynn and Thomas are likeable leads whilst Ings brings a larger-than-life persona to the despicable Luke. All-in-all I thought Scrotal Recall showed bags of potential and I'll definitely be tuning in next week for episode two.

It's never a good idea to have a pun in a name. Book titles, bands, babies, yachts, TV shows, anything. Come up with it, say it out loud, have a laugh, have a groan, move on, that's the correct behaviour. What's funny now won't be next week. Even a good pun - which, admittedly, Scrotal Recall (Channel 4) is - will irritate in time, if you have to live with it. Imagine if it gets recommissioned.

It's not just a good pun, but an apt one too. Dylan (played by likable actor/folk singer/posh boy Johnny Flynn) finds out he has chlamydia and must contact all the people he's ever slept with, to tell them the news. So memory and (presumably) nutsacks do come in to it. But there's a sweaty, visceral, hairy, loose-skinned crudity about the title that doesn't quite fit Tom Edge's new comedy, tonally.

Dylan's doing it - recalling his sex life - alphabetically, starting with A, for Abigail, three years ago at a wedding. Which one is she, though? The new girlfriend, who dumps him, during the marriage service? One of the bridesmaids? The hot vicar (complete with dog collar, woof woof)? "Definitely top of the wedding sex pyramid," says Dylan's louche mate Luke (Daniel Ings). So there's a guessing game, a nice element of whodun'im about it. [Spoiler alert: don't read the rest of this paragraph if you haven't yet seen it and plan to.] The answer turns out to be none of the above, but the girl behind the desk of the hotel. It's obvious, in retrospect. "Ding if you need me," she said. He did, so he did.

There's more to Scrotal Recall than ding-dong and scrotums and "wall-to-wall snatch" (louche Luke's description of the wedding), though. It's about Dylan's examination of himself, and his relationship with women, including best friend/true love Evie (Antonia Thomas from Misfits). It's about how love hurts, and not just when he pees. There's something of Four Weddings about it, and One Day (you know, by David Nicholls, whose new novel Us is already being read by the person opposite you on the train). Charming, then. But also with drunkenness, and falling over, and bodily fluids. And it's very funny. I already hope it gets recommissioned. I can live with the title.

With its brash title and NSFW premise - twentysomething tracks down former partners to inform them he's contracted an STI - this new series sounds as far away from a romantic comedy as you could possibly get. It comes as a surprise, then, that protagonist Dylan (folk singer and actor Johnny Flynn) is on an earnest search for "The One" and ignores pal Luke's (Daniel Ings) cavalier attitude to sex. Episode one sees him cross Abigail off the list, as he relives their tryst at a friend's wedding. Ballsy but nice.

Radio Times review

One of the funniest comedy titles in TV history, yes, but one which belies the warmth and gentleness of this wryly amusing story of young Dylan Witter (folk singer and actor Johnny Flynn) and his romantic adventures. He has just been diagnosed with an STD, and he has to track down all his sexual partners to warn them, a premise that is sweeter than it sounds.

It also allows us to take in various flashes back (and forwards) across his young life. No secret is made of the fact that the love of his life is best mate Evie (Misfits actress Antonia Thomas) and that best mate Luke (Daniel Ings) isn't as much of a prat as he seems. Rather the joy is in Dylan's hilarious encounters with women, whether it's the horrific girlfriend he takes to the first wedding or guessing which woman he will end up in bed with at the end...

Introducing Scrotal Recall...

Ben Dowell finds much to enjoy in the new comedy exploring the sexual adventures of a young man played by folk singer and actor Johnny Flynn.

Interview: the stars of new sitcom Scrotal Recall

Channel 4's new sitcom Scrotal Recall stars Johnny Flynn as Dylan Witter, who is told that he has chlamydia and has to track down his previous sexual partners. It is written by Tom Edge of YouTube superstars The Midnight Beast and is, erm, transmitted from October 2. Dylan's mates Evie and Luke are played by Antonia Thomas and Daniel Ings. In this interview they talk about the perils of corpsing, the atmosphere on set plus the baking of rock'n'roll pies.

With Peep Show and Friday Night Dinner, Channel 4 has a strong history in the comedy of sexual and social embarrassment, and, based on the title and premise alone, there will be high hopes for this latest filth-com. Folk-rock singer Johnny Flynn plays Dylan Witter, a man diagnosed with chlamydia who must contact a different former sexual partner in each episode to inform them of the possible souvenir of him that they possess.