Morwenna Banks

Jon Brown's lovable techcom is revealing unexpected reservoirs of tenderness and wisdom every week. Tonight, velociraptor boss Casey is looking to make cutbacks - and even the boys have to justify their positions (Ewan: "I'm like a giant dependable mound of back flesh"). Elsewhere, Josh's gift to his parents of a cultural world tour has had adverse consequences when, on return, mum Linda (Morwenna Banks) announces she's found herself - and wants out of her marriage.

Rebecca Front and Morwenna Banks interview

Rebecca Front and Morwenna Banks talk funny women, taking on dramatic roles and Shush!

TV preview: Loaded, C4

Do people still make gazillions overnight out of internet start-ups? They certainly seem to if Loaded is anything to go by.

Jo Brand and Morwenna Banks's beautifully bittersweet comedy of life at Elm Heath children's services department concludes with Denise intent on laying down the law. Cases must be closed and "there will be a head count" to make sure nobody skives off; bad news for Al, who needs to leave early for a mini-break in Paris. Meantime, Rose and Nitin investigate a report that a baby has been abandoned in Superbrands; bound to be a "prank baby" ... right?

Jo Brand and Morwenna Banks's public-sector sitcom continues, with the social workers' patience evaporating as inexorably as their department's budget. Rose's former husband continues to revolt, as do the staff kitchen in an altogether different way. Al visits some new parents and finds something worth fighting for, while Nat has some bad news that even her meticulously colour-coded Post-It arrangement can't quite quell.

Damned is the third comedy drama in what could be termed Jo Brand's social/healthcare triptych (after Getting On, set in a geriatric hospital ward, and Going Forward, in which she appeared as care-home worker); Damned, in which she also stars, is set in a child protection social services unit.

Co-created with Morwenna Banks (who appears as co-worker Ingrid), Damned follows in Getting On and Going Forward's tracks by being low-key, dark-humoured and full of throwaway lines, but - on the evidence of last-night's opening episode (of six), has yet to reach the former's superb heights of pathos and bathos.

The opener was essentially an office comedy, with the social services aspect merely a faint hum in the background. The people staffing this department alongside Brand and Alan Davies as caring and care-worn social workers Rose and Al would be recognisable in any workplace; Ingrid, telling everyone about her upcoming hysterectomy, ditzy temp Nat (Isy Suttie) - "they call us interim workers now" - well-meaning busybody Martin (Kevin Eldon); office snitch Nitin (Himesh Patel) and manager Denise (Georgie Glen), fluent in management-speak, as she has been "tasked with" creating "streamlined cluster teams".

Add to the mix Aisling Bea's single mother, who has a stalkery crush on Al, and Rose's waste-of-space ex (Nick Hancock), and there are any number of permutations to be worked. The writers certainly nailed the irritations of office life - broken lifts and out-of-order loos, incomprehensible phone systems and smelly communal fridges - but there was very little in the way of social commentary or bittersweet comedy.

It's early days, though, and it could be that Brand, Banks and co-writer Will Smith are softening us up for some comedy with a real emotional punch, glimpses of which we saw only very late in the first episode, when Rose came into contact with an old flame, whose family is now mired in ill health and drug abuse. I certainly hope so as the performances, perhaps needless to say with such a talented cast, were wonderful.

TV review Damned, Channel 4

A very funny show, thanks to bravura performances from Jo Brand, Himesh Patel, Kevin Eldon and Isy Suttie.