Old Harry's Game

I've never quite warmed to Andy Hamilton's comedy about Satan and his minions, but there's no doubt it's phenomenanally popular - hence its return for another series.

Old Harry's Game I regard as one of the best-written comedies around, sustained over its 12 years on the air by brilliant performances and production.

Its commentary on man's inhumanity to man, as Old Harry (more commonly known as the Devil) surveys it across the ages, is very funny indeed. It is satirical, philosophical, inventive, topical yet timeless. What's to dislike?

Could it be because last week's episode mentioned the Bible? This often upsets people. But look at the context: there's a new arrival in Hell, an academic, played by Annette Crosbie. She can't understand why she is there. Old Harry (Andy Hamilton) makes her an offer. He will investigate why if she writes a biography of him which tells the truth. He sees the truth as being favourable to him. She sees it as something arrived at by due historical process, the examination of evidence, the comparison of texts.

She asks for a Bible. Variants on biblical accounts, for instance of the Adam and Eve story, then ensue. I found them very funny. Is this to do with Christianity? I am a Christian, but still laughed my socks off.

The sitcom Old Harry's Game is back for a new series. Having finally rid themselves of the Professor, who used to make the afterlife unbearable with his questions and his moralising, Satan (Andy Hamilton) and his sidekick Scumspawn (Robert Duncan) find themselves facing a new challenge. There is so much sin in the world, and so much slaughter, that hell is overflowing with the freshly damned. Great fun, despite the deafeningly over-amplified laughter track.