Seb Cardinal

Radio Times review

Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns have more faith in their running characters than their one-off sketches. That seems a shame when, as we saw in the series opener, their one-offs can be world-beaters. The good news is, Cardinal Burns gives its regulars much more to do than simply repeating the same gag in a different setting: each sketch has its own mini-narrative.

In this episode, 70s-throwback minicab drivers Hashtag and Bukake are bewitched by a siren in a red dress, while a virile new temp comes between the office flirts. The biggest laugh? Rubbish lads Jonesy and Metcalfe arrange a stag night for their mate. "3-2-1, organised fun!"

Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns's Cardinal Burns, on to a welcome return series, is still just a sketch show. Hit-and-miss, as even the best in this genre tend to be, but it was more former than latter: nudging a little near to the bone admittedly, but it's on at 10.30pm. The one where a post-office storage-depot worker has to collect a parcel from the bowels of what turns out to be an elaborate game of Crystal Maze was gleeful, and too long, which was its point, and I do hope this becomes a running gag about where people go when they're off collecting utterly simple stuff: your kettle from Argos (it's there! I can see it on the belt!), your x-rays from next door. Sinister watchmakers (as if there's any other kind) limping into the "back shop".

Cardinal Burns, TV review

Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns get tone spot on in second series of sketch show.

Cardinal Burns interview each other

The superbly silly sketch duo are back with a second series of their Bafta-nominated Channel 4 show. So, who better to interview Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns than themselves?

Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns return for a second series of superior sketch comedy as Cardinal Burns. Turkish taxi drivers Bukake and Hashtag are a treat, taking on the 80s buddy action series mantle with aplomb. The rather super take on The Crystal Maze is also immensely pleasing, as is scripted-reality TV show spoof Young Dreams. Banksy is back too, and this time he's taking his stepson Daniel on a guerrilla graffiti mission to spray paint a burger on to a horse, providing a searing comment on the horsemeat scandal.

Radio Times review

The breakout comedy hit of 2012 returns, switching from E4 to C4. Those who remember series one sketches such as the projectile-vomiting cops and the zombies who liked to eat unusual parts of the carcass might wonder if the big channel would tone Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns down.

There's nothing too shocking in the new series opener, and there'll be more focus on longer sketches with returning characters this year, but what counts is the feel, the tone. Cardinal Burns has a sexy physicality and an air of unpredictability that's in thrilling contrast to most sketch shows' carefully weighted observations.

They're given full rein here in the tales of two parodically direct office flirts, and a pair of Turkish minicab drivers starring in a Professionals-style erotic caper. At their best, the duo provoke not a polite titter, but a sudden guttural roar.

Cardinal Burns can do honed gems, too, though: sketch of the week features a brilliantly cruel Mark Cousins parody, earnestly interviewing a bog-standard office temp as if he were a megastar.

Cardinal Burns on the "funk odyssey" of Series 2

Comedy really is the new rock 'n roll when it's by Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns. We talk to the duo as their raucous sketch show moves to C4.

Audio: Cardinal Burns interview

Cardinal Burns are a multi award-winning sketch and character duo consisting of Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns.

Character comedian David Earl has popped up in Extras, Derek and Cemetery Junction, so it's no surprise that Ricky Gervais acts as executive producer on his 4Funnies pilot. Earl plays Brian Gittins - an oddball, gravel-voiced minicab driver - who means well but is a little creepy. This Gittins is a toned-down version of a character who's been a regular fixture on the live circuit (albeit as a café owner rather than cabbie) for Earl. We follow Gittins's car journeys: awkward flirting with colleague Cheryl over the taxi's radio, dating advice from his daughter and conversations with eccentric passengers. Earl's performance is subtle and generous to his supporting cast. The set-ups can be a little clumsy - 'Right Dad, I'm on Google,' his daughter says to establish one scene, before slowly reading out exactly what she's typing - and the half-hour's more likely to induce giggles rather than belly laughs. But it has its moments, with Seb Cardinal's cameo as an Irish passenger obsessed with the volume of dog mess abroad being a highlight: 'My whole memory of Holland was a country jam-packed with dogshit.'