Monica Dolan

Catastrophe, series 3, episode 2 review

This show is at its best when it is skewering real-life situations with cynical, on-the-money lines. The subtle, blink-and-you'll-miss-them moments are the most effective. Car crash speeches are a comedy staple, and, sure, all very funny, but Catastrophe doesn't need to lower itself to such sitcom tropes. It's just doesn't need them.

DVD review: Alan Partridge Mid Morning Matters series 2

Alan remains a great comedy creation, often sympathetic (unexpectedly bringing out the softer side of a loathsome opinion former played by Reece Shearsmith) but just as often sickeningly egotistical, politically incorrect and tyrannical, this format (which never sees Alan leaving the radio studio) works well.

The teaming of Fletcher and Sharpe was one of Twenty Twelve's greatest assets due to the fact that they are incredibly mismatched. Although W1A doesn't have quite the spark that Twenty Twelve possessed it still rings true due to its fantastically accurate script. Once again Hugh Bonneville's Fletcher is our baffled guide to a world of shared working space and company jargon that he struggles to understand.

I believe that Siobhan Sharpe is one of the greatest comedy creations of the last decade, partly due to the delightfully zany performance from Jessica Hynes. Some of my new favourite characters in W1A include Monica Dolan's Welsh Communications Officer Tracey Prichard and Hugh Skinner's befuddled intern Will.

The fact W1A has already had some quite big names in cameo roles means that it's definitely a sitcom that BBC is passionate about promoting. I just hope it finds an audience as, judging by the first two episodes, this is a genuinely funny series that shows that the BBC does have a sense of humour about itself.

If you were disappointed that we didn't get to see more of Jessica Hynes's character [Siobhan Sharpe in last week's opening episode, tonight's blisteringly farcical instalment more than makes up for it.

The BBC's new Head Of Values, Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), and Tracey "I'm-not-being-funny-or-anything," Pritchard (Monica Dolan), are on the train to Salford where Ian is going to be interviewed by Jenni Murray on Woman's Hour about the BBC's alleged "institutional anti-West-Country bias".

It's a golden opportunity for him to change the subject by announcing that Carol Vorderman will be joining Alan Titchmarsh to co-present a new series called Britain's Tastiest Village.

Until, that is, Siobhan starts tweeting incessantly on Ian's behalf.

Meanwhile, Clare Balding is on her way to New Broadcasting House because she thinks that SHE is presenting Britain's Tastiest Village.

A perfect storm of a PR disaster is brewing and Siobhan Sharpe is the lunatic steering the boat straight into the middle of it.