Living With Mother

A welcome return for the second series of Alexander Kirk's bittersweet stand-alone comedies of grown-up men who live with their mothers. This first story stars Mark Gatiss as a hopeless Michael Jackson impersonator who gets voted through to the second round of a TV talent competition just because the British public wants to laugh at him. Does this sound painfully familiar?

Living with Mother (Radio 4, 11.15pm) brings more four comic gems about sons who don't leave home (a subject once dear to my heart and probably many another). Meet Marlon (Mark Gatiss) who has entered a talent contest. Helen, his mother, (Susan Jameson) warns him. But does he listen? It's by Alex Kirk, whom I strongly suspect of canny eavesdropping around our house in recent years.

Mark Gatiss among cast of Living with Mother series two

Doctor Who writer joins an all-star cast including Brigit Forsyth, Tom Goodman-Hill and Alison Steadman in the returning Radio 4 comedy.

Stephanie Cole and David Ryall star in the last of a quartet of plays (each by a different writer) about grown-up children who (for various and recognisable reasons) still live at home. This one's by Alexander Kirk, about a skinflint son and a more impulsive mum. Each has been interesting, sometimes touching and remarkable for showcasing the impressive range of acting talent among Britain's older actresses.

Radio review: Living With Mother

A delightful series of short comic plays concentrate on the dilemmas of grown men who still live with their mothers.

Hmm. How strange of Radio 4 to schedule on the same day two comedies about offspring still living at home. This rather over-written one is about a mother (Alison Steadman) whose son (Alexander Kirk) is 41 and not yet moved away. He says he's going to New York, save up, pass his driving test. These prospects seem remote as Mother serves up the oven chips with fair warning that she's going to get him a girlfriend, so he'll move out. Now there's a modern supposition. These days they'd both move in, as used to be customary in all hard times of yore.