Mike Ward

Fay Ripley plays a drunken, shambolic mess of a human being in this likeable if lightweight comedy-drama series.

She's Christine Frances, head of human resources at the HQ of a struggling supermarket chain, holding things together only thanks to her trusty yet savagely abused PA, Sally (played by Morven Christie) - and looking as if she's finally facing the chop when a ruthlessly ambitious management troubleshooter (Holly Aird) comes to shake the firm up.

Sally herself, meanwhile, has fallen for hunky Steven (Tom Ellis), the arrogant guy who's personal assistant to this new bigwig - only to find he and bossy-drawers have more than just a working relationship.

A strong cast also includes Jenny Agutter, Neil Stuke, Peter Wight and Saikat Ahamed.

Now here's a moment of true excitement: there's a funny comedy on the BBC. Like me, I'm sure it's something of a relief to you when you are fortunate enough to witness such a rare event but I was more than impressed with Taking The Flak

If you can cope with the fact that the central idea is completely barmy (and come on, there's no crime in that), then you should find this new Friday night comedy-drama series a whole lot of fun.

There are plenty of familiar faces popping up in the cast, including Angela Griffin and Marshall Lancaster (Ashes To Ashes) as Danny's DIY store colleagues, plus Paterson Joseph (Peep Show) and James Lance (Moving Wallpaper) as fashion journalist Veronica's boyfriend and lover respectively.

Martin Clunes is a first-rate comedy actor, but also a very courageous one if he's willing to tackle a character created by comic genius Leonard Rossiter. Yet although Clunes lacks Rossiter's manic edge, nobody does grumpy curmudgeon better and there are other differences in the series that augur well, not least that Perrin creator David Nobbs has co-written this series with Men Behaving Badly creator Simon Nye, who understands Clunes' talent well.

Characters like Wendy Craig's Marion, Reggie's disapproving mum, are refreshingly new and there's promise in the casting of Fay Ripley as Perrin's wife and Geoffrey Whitehead as her father.

Kids can learn to love history just so long as it's told to them in a way that brings it to life. And this new series, based on the colourful books by Terry Deary and Martin Brown, does precisely that, with Sarah Hadland, Steve Punt and Meera Syal among the cast re-enacting some gory ancient tales.

Week two of this clever and entertaining new comedy (new to TV, at least) and host Dave Gorman is joined for this one by Frank Skinner. The idea, remember, is to weigh up viewers' suggestions for a better world, with tonight's ideas including melon-flavoured cucumbers and a cunning new way to power the national grid, using prisoners on exercise bikes.

The hairy chap from The Sunday Night Project gets a proper chat show all of his own. Although when I say "proper", don't go expecting a modern-day Parky. The celebs who show up will have to enter into spirit - being set a daft challenge or just letting themselves be the
butt of the gag. There'll also be music, games and oodles of audience involvement.

This is seriously funny. Lee is an absolute master of stand-up, his brilliantly measured delivery enabling him to weave gold from even the most unpromising material. Tonight, in the first of six themed shows, he's talking about books - and, in particular, celebrity autobiographies. If you're Chris Moyles or Russell Brand, I'd advise you to look away now.

Over on BBC1 at 9.30pm is the brilliantly funny Not Going Out (I know it's just one daft gag after another, but that's the whole point).

Since we happen to be on the subject of returning shows, I ought to mention that The Green Green Grass is back on BBC1 for a new series. Even though, for entertainment value, I'd personally rather shove my head in a bucket of horse poo.