Steve Pemberton

More comic horror of the exceedingly surreal variety from The League of Gentlemen veterans Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Following on from the dastardly denouement of series one, we open tonight with the survivors of the explosion at Ravenhill Psychiatric Hospital reuniting, graveside, to bury one of their number who was killed in the blast. But now it seems they face a new threat in the guise of the mysterious Grace Andrews (Imelda Staunton) and her grovelling henchman, Kelvin (Daniel Ings).

The barmy brainchild of League of Gentlemen alumni Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, comedy thriller Psychoville returns for a mildly disappointing second series, in which their army of grotesques is plunged into a new set of mysteries.

Despite feeling short-changed by its ending (an anti-climax knowingly mocked within this opening instalment), I thoroughly enjoyed series one. But having watched the first four episodes of this sequel, it appears to be treading water. It just doesn't feel as fresh or compelling as before, which is to say, it's still more inventive and amusing than most current comedies, but rather patchy by its creator's usual high standards.

Nevertheless, there are moments of inspired lunacy - such as recurring intrusions from a hilariously unnerving apparition known as The Silent Singer, and a ludicrous storyline detailing Mr Lomax's relationship with a certain dead comedian - that redeem the weaker material. Plus, I'll always have time for the twisted pathos and coal-black comedy of Pemberton and Shearsmith, who remain two of the best comic actors in the business: the latter's deranged Tina Turner impression in episode two has to be seen to be believed.

And any comedy in which the epithet "tea-leaf" makes me giggle, no matter how often it's uttered, has to be doing something right.

Ask the Psychoville agony uncles

It's not easy being a children's entertainer with a prosthetic hand. Or a millionaire with Paradise Syndrome. Thankfully, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton are here to help.

Steve Pemberton: "Psychoville 2 is coming..."

Psychoville co-creator Steve Pemberton has composed a special message for you. He even warns those of a spoiler-sensitive disposition to look away before it's too late...

Reece Shearsmith & Steve Pemberton interview

Psychoville, the dark and demented comedy starring and written by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, returns for a second series...

Psychoville 2: Reece & Steve interview

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton - co-creators, writers and performers behind dark comedy classic Psychoville - talk about Series 2...

Heavyweight swinger Donald goes AWOL on the nudist beach, his wife Jacqueline causes a water-skiing accident, Gavin's partner Troy surfaces with dramatic news, and Madge launches her new bar, the Batley Arms Thus ends another ribald season at the Solana Resort. The show may have lost three key Geoffreys - Perkins (its original producer) and Hutchings (who played Mel) have both died, while mummy's boy Geoff (Johnny Vegas) was dropped last year - but the sun still shines on Benidorm. Around seven million viewers tune in every week for Derren Litten's award-winning, lovingly spun sitcom, which remains refreshingly unabashed at mining all things crass, crude and obvious. A superlative cast makes even the bum notes sing. And Steve Pemberton shows he doesn't need the togs and teeth of his Psychoville and League of Gentlemen grotesques to create a great character. Trunks, lobster tan and a patina of sweat and he's ready to go.

The second episode of this saucy seaside comedy delivers more innuendo-laden material. Tonight, layabout husband Mick (Steve Pemberton) finds himself squabbling with uptight newcomer Pauline (Selina Griffiths), but their fights seem to end up with them in accidental sexual positions, much to the fury of Mick's wife Janice (Siobhan Finneran). That's about as sophisticated as it gets. The series boasts a raft of talented actors, including Tony Maudsley and Tim Healy, but relies for titters on jokes about gastric upset and the double meaning of "balls", which are about as funny as sunstroke.

With brassy characters, outlandish storylines and a sun-drenched setting, it's easy to see why Derren Litten's comedy drama has become so popular. It's back for a fourth series, although it's starting to lose its sparkle. New holidaymakers include portly hairdresser Kenneth (Tony Maudsley) and party girls Sam and Natalie (Shelley Longworth and Kathryn Drysdale). Meanwhile Solana stalwarts the Garveys (Steve Pemberton and Siobhan Finneran) return to track down a beleaguered Madge (Shelia Reid).

Steve Pemberton: Bee that had Broadway buzzing

As the New York hit 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' arrives in London, its star Steve Pemberton talks to Jasper Rees.