Count Arthur Strong

Preview - Count Arthur Strong: Safari Park

There is no news on a fourth series yet, but it seems safe to say the Count will return.

This has been a superb series, subtly enhanced by the addition of Bronagh Gallagher as Birdie, doing that looking-on-in-astonishment thing she did so memorably in Pulp Fiction. This week, despite bungling a video audition for an advert, Arthur embarks on an extraordinary run of good fortune which brings him international notoriety; not a good time for Bulent to suggest a poker game in his sister's absence.

This truly excellent series plumbs new heights (or depths) of logical surrealism as Arthur invites Michael to a "soupover". This involves pyjamas, although it takes place in the afternoon, and numerous rituals including watching VHS tapes of black-and-white horse races from yesteryear. Rory Kinnear draws on all his Royal Shakespeare Company training to do justice to the horror of it all.

TV preview: Count Arthur Strong

This latest series has had a mixed response and maybe it will never win over the fans who prefer the radio version, but this episode really is excellent.

All sitcoms must arrive here eventually: an episode where the whole gang visit a safari park, with near-death consequences. But the Count makes everything his own by playing on the pseudo-paternal bond between the two leads. Either can be the dad and today it's Arthur (Steve Delaney), taking Michael (Rory Kinnear) on a well-meant but disastrously cheap birthday trip. As they go, comic seeds are, as always, deftly planted for harvesting later.

TV Preview: Count Arthur Strong

Nobody in their right minds can deny that there are some great lines here. "I'm sick of being the inanimate eye candy," says Arthur after being cast as a dead body yet again.

Steve Delaney's catastrophically befuddled Count continues his welcome return and continues to make the life of Rory Kinnear's Michael a surreal misery. This week, Michael receives a summons for jury service, Arthur discovers the joy of doing good deeds and John the Watch runs into some of his old criminal associates, leading to a moment of sitcom genius comprising the exchange: "Have they now?" "Yes." Looks nothing on paper but just you watch it ...

TV review: Count Arthur Strong, Arthur The Hat

There are some truly delicious moments here, such as Arthur getting a vision of a saintly Brian Cox whenever he does a good deed.

Count Arthur Strong review

Steve Delaney's hapless comedian is back for a third series, and its gleeful mix of visual gags and absurdist dialogue puts to bed the idea that he is ill suited to TV.

Preview - Count Arthur Strong

While Mrs. Brown's Boys currently holds the title of the most divisive comedy in Britain, Count Arthur Strong surprisingly also seems to split opinion.