Michael Deacon (I)

This new series is probably aimed at fans of Cutting It. It's a comedy drama, it's set in the North-West, and the key characters are working-class women who run a small business: in this case a female-only taxi firm. On first impressions it's very soap-like: long-suffering women, hopeless men, and lines like, "I'm not living, just existing" and "We 'ad plans, me and you."

At first, you may take this university-set sitcom for a rip-off of The Office: the main character, the vice chancellor (Andy Nyman), is a suited slob in a goatee who makes casual quips about "spastics". The first difference, though, is that David Brent wasn't offensive on purpose, whereas the vice chancellor is malicious, crude and racist to a frankly implausible degree. The second difference is the standard of the dialogue. "At school they called me 'the big s---'," says one female lecturer, "cos I was a big s---, and I do big s---s." Tonight the VC wants his staff to write bestselling books, because he thinks this will attract rich overseas students, or, in his word, "foreigns".

A history of sex in the sitcom

Ahead of BBC Four's new documentary 'Sex and the Sitcom', we recall landmarks in the way attitudes to sex have changed in British TV comedy.

"Directed by Guy Ritchie" has become useful shorthand for "dismal Mockney gangster tripe" but this, Ritchie's debut, isn't bad. A group of feckless London lads have a week to pay off a £500,000 debt to a crime boss - so take to crime themselves to find the money.

Who should win at the British Comedy Awards?

Ahead of Saturday night's ceremony on Channel 4, Michael Deacon picks out who deserves to win.

The British Comedy Awards' most controversial jokes

The annual ceremony has a history of provocative gags made on the night by presenters, guests and nominees. Here are five of the most contentious.

Mitchell: 'Jokes should come from what makes us angry'

A new show matches David Mitchell with three acerbic pundits, and marks the return of live satire to British television. It's been terrifying, he tells Michael Deacon.

A daunting leap for Just William

Britain's favourite 11-year-old imp is set to become a TV star. But will Richmal Crompton's wit survive the transition?

Ronnie Corbett makes his big comedy comeback - at 80

As he turns 80, the diminutive Scottish comedian returns to the spotlight this Christmas with his own BBC One show and a BBC Two tribute night.

Fry and Laurie Reunited, G.O.L.D., review

Michael Deacon reviews Fry and Laurie Reunited, G.O.L.D.'s documentary about Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie's comedy partnership.