Inside No. 9

Inside No. 9 - Series 4, Episode 3, Once Removed, BBC2

Just as you, well I, might have been thinking that Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton were going soft in this series, along comes Once Removed like a punch in the gob.

Inside No 9 - 'Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room' review

Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room was a different, but far more affecting episode, entertaining and moving in equal measure

Inside No. 9 - Every detail is perfectly pitched

Maybe I'm overreacting to the fact that the new year hasn't meant a collapse in the quality of comedy around, but I just found last night's Inside No. 9 such a rich and delightful confection of nostalgia, parody and reflection that I am yet to get over it.

Inside No 9 series 4 episode 2 review

Last week, Inside No. 9 delivered a joyous, life-affirming piece of sentiment, so it's somewhat startling to see that for episode two of the fourth series, the dark shadows are still being held at bay.

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, the performers who also write the darkly comic playlets of Inside No. 9 (BBC2), seem to actively invite criticism, with the wild variety of their stories.

Last week it was a pastiche of Shakespeare, packed with toilet jokes, that I found tiresome. This time, it was a heartfelt homage to the end-of-the-pier double acts that both men adored as children. They played Cheese and Crackers, a fourth-rate version of Morecambe and Wise: 'We weren't even as good as Mike and Bernie Winters.'

The characters were rich, constantly revealing new depths as they bickered their way through a reunion rehearsal -- and the twist at the end came like the turn of a knife.

Because the subject matter and the style of each episode are so variable, there's always a touch of trepidation about sitting down to watch Inside No. 9. The failures wouldn't seem quite so disappointing, if the triumphs were not so superb.

Review: Inside No. 9

You never quite know what you're going to get with that lucky dip of serials Inside No 9, but the latest run is proving to be just the thing to keep you sane through January. Last night's study in pathos was a beauty as it followed a northern comedy double act reuniting alone in a hall for the first time in 30 years to prepare for one last gig.

Inside No 9: Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room review

An old comedy double-act reunite after their split 30 years ago, to rehearse old routines for mysterious reasons...

These self-contained episodes co-written by and starring Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are often dark, as befits their League of Gentlemen pedigree. This one is too, in its way, but its also moving and very sweet in the tribute it pays to an expired mode of popular comedy. The duo star as Len and Tommy, AKA "Cheese And Crackers", light entertainers who split up 30 years ago reuniting one last time, despite recrimination and the divergent paths they've taken.

No room for improvement Inside No.9

When the triumphant return of The League Of Gentlemen just before Christmas was swiftly followed by last week's truly majestic episode of Inside No. 9, I thought Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton would never be able to top either. Then tonight's Inside No. 9 came along and I decided to give up the predictions game.

Inside No. 9: Series 4, Episode 2 - review

A collection of props from a wicker basket No. 9 provide this rather sad tale about an old comedy double act.