Sharon Rooney

After her disastrous first day at college, Rae's been skiving - and trying not to suffocate under an avalanche of self-doubt. Told by firmly-in-the-closet friend Archie that college means staying under the radar, she attempts to duck and dive out of the way of Finn - whom consensus has deemed the school fitty - lest anyone realise he's her boyfriend. Funny, but painfully so; Sharon Rooney's Rae is one of the most likable characters on TV, meaning the intensity of her unhappiness is sometimes hard to bear.

Series two of E4's growing-pains drama is underway, with Sharon Rooney excellent in the role of troubled teenager Rae, struggling to deal with higher education, a boyfriend she's decided is out of her league, and a mother going through "the change". With Mad Fat, it's not so much catch up as pre-empt, with the series running an episode ahead on 4oD.

A second series for the intense teen comedy starring the rather brilliant Sharon Rooney. It is the era of Britpop and Oasis v Blur, and Rae is now out of hospital and preparing to start college. Her mum has married Karim and Finn seems to be showing an interest, so things are looking up. But Kester isn't sure Rae's sunny outlook is for real in the wake of Tix's departure. All this and now she has to think about lingerie and virginity and college. Excellent, essential coming-of-age stuff.

Things are looking up for hitherto troubled teen Rae (Sharon Rooney) as she opens up the pages of her diary for this second series. True, she's still got the odd body image issue or three, but the summer of 1996 is treating her well: she's hooked up with dream boyfriend Finn, her mates are fun and supportive, and she's even getting on with her mum - up to a point. So the main issue on her agenda is losing her V-plates, because the last thing she wants is to turn up for college as the last virgin standing. It can't be that hard, can it?

TV review: Sharon Rooney is affecting as ever as Rae

As ever, Sharon Rooney was natural and affecting as Rae. Her performance should provoke a painful twinge of recognition in even the most grown-up grown-ups, yet this is still a programme to make you wish yourself young again.

Sharon Rooney shines as the superb comedy drama returns

My Mad Fat Diary wouldn't be nearly as great as it was without the outstanding central performance from Sharon Rooney.

Why we're excited for the return of My Mad Fat Diary

The first series of the E4 comedy-drama, My Mad Fat Diary was an unexpected pleasure. Anchored by a sledgehammer emotional performance from Sharon Rooney and with the delightful Claire Rushbrook and Ian Hart providing support, it was just a joy to watch. Painful, candid and unashamedly honest in its portrayal of adolescence, My Mad Fat Diary was one of my highlights of 2013. Going simply by this series two opener, I can predict a positive future for the wonderful show.

How Sharon Rooney transformed teen TV

How My Mad Fat Diary, E4's hit show chronicling the life of a teenage girl with mental health issues, struck a chord with viewers.

So was there a political edge to scheduling the rambunctious, booze-soaked Two Doors Down on the national network during New Year's Eve primetime? Viewers in the rest of the UK might have their suspicions or preconceptions about what happens at a traditional Scottish Hogmanay house party - underage drinking, sexual promiscuity, almost aggressive sentimentality, the single-minded pursuit of steak pie - and this one-off comedy reinforced and celebrated the best and worst of them.

With a conspiracy bunnet on, you could point to Alex Norton and Arabella Weir's harried hosts being called "the Bairds" and infer that this was intended as a tongue-in-cheek reflection of modern Scotland, bared for all to see. The guest list included middle-class neighbours obsessed with designer labels, a young returning soldier and a Scandinavian couple who looked a lot more attractive than everyone else, but were also a lot duller. In truth, any search for political subtext was overshadowed by the combination of Royle Family-style domestic comedy and rapidly escalating farce. Weir's brilliantly sustained accent, one of the best Kirsty Wark impressions I've ever heard, was just the maraschino cherry on top.

The younger generation of Scottish acting talent was well represented by My Mad Fat Diary's Sharon Rooney and Greg McHugh, the hardest-working man in sitcom-land. It was also good to see Jonathan Watson smoothly integrate himself into an ensemble, even if his malt-obsessed golf club bore veered into caricature. The showiest role, though, went to Daniela Nardini as the predatory Aunt Caroline back up from "that London". A blowsy vision in LBD and heels, Caroline's single-minded pursuit of hunky Thor-alike Henning culminated in a memorable gazebo disaster. For fans of This Life, Caroline felt like an alternate-universe version of Anna after almost two decades of questionable life choices.

Staying in on New Year's Eve when you'd rather be out? Comfort comes in the form of Simon Carlyle's one-off comedy, which demonstrates that Hogmanay parties aren't all prawn rings, soft light and witty banter. Alex Norton and Arabella Weir star as hosts Eric and Beth, who are hoping that their son Angus, serving in Iraq, will be home in time for a slice of Beth's legendary steak pie.

Their guests are friends and neighbours who wouldn't be an obvious social fit: Beth's sister Caroline (Daniela Nardini) is unpredictable, and teenager Sophie (Sharon Rooney) has been left at home by her parents. There's also a pair each of snobs and Norwegians, ill-suited in their own ways to traditional Scottish revelry. Will they all make it through to the bells?