Reece Shearsmith

Another perfectly constructed Swiss watch of comedy horror from Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, also starring Monica Dolan and Emilia Fox. This time, they manufacture ornate and macabre chaos out of a house move. The story is told in reverse, so bewildering early scenes give way to a gradual revelation of means and motives. All eventually becomes clear(ish), but don't be surprised if you feel like starting again from the beginning as the credits roll.

Inside No 9: Once Removed preview

With another great episode tonight, this year's series of Inside No 9 is shaping up to be the best yet - and that from an already strong baseline. As always, this preview won't contain any major spoilers, but if you want to be completely surprised, click away now.

Inside No. 9: Series 4, Episode 3 - Once Removed review

Inside No. 9 episodes are known for having at least one twist, but Once Removed has so many twists and turns it is hard to know where to start.

What happens when TV characters get political?

Loadsamoney was co-opted by Thatcher, Roseanne is a Trump fan and Partridge could be the new face of Brexit. But do fictional allegiances make any difference?

Inside No. 9 interview

As with League Of Gentlemen, Reece says the real satisfaction is knowing viewers are going to have a delicious surprise: "There's always that pennydropping moment," he laughs.

Inside No. 9 - Series 4, Episode 3, Once Removed, BBC2

Just as you, well I, might have been thinking that Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton were going soft in this series, along comes Once Removed like a punch in the gob.

Inside No 9 - 'Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room' review

Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room was a different, but far more affecting episode, entertaining and moving in equal measure

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, the performers who also write the darkly comic playlets of Inside No. 9 (BBC2), seem to actively invite criticism, with the wild variety of their stories.

Last week it was a pastiche of Shakespeare, packed with toilet jokes, that I found tiresome. This time, it was a heartfelt homage to the end-of-the-pier double acts that both men adored as children. They played Cheese and Crackers, a fourth-rate version of Morecambe and Wise: 'We weren't even as good as Mike and Bernie Winters.'

The characters were rich, constantly revealing new depths as they bickered their way through a reunion rehearsal -- and the twist at the end came like the turn of a knife.

Because the subject matter and the style of each episode are so variable, there's always a touch of trepidation about sitting down to watch Inside No. 9. The failures wouldn't seem quite so disappointing, if the triumphs were not so superb.

Inside No 9: Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room review

An old comedy double-act reunite after their split 30 years ago, to rehearse old routines for mysterious reasons...