Inside No. 9

Emily Howlett on learning to 'sing'

I am Deaf. I can't hear my own voice. I have very little understanding of what constitutes music, and no idea at all about things like keys, pitch or melody - I even struggle with the concept of 'high' and 'low' sounds. But when Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton ask you to sing, you're going to sing, godammit.

Another object lesson in economical narrative from Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith - this time with guest turns from Javone Prince and Tamzin Outhwaite. Tonight, we're at the karaoke leaving do of an office manager. It's a study in communication breakdown; how people use booze, loud music and enforced jollity to fill the gaps between them. As usual, a prickly, fraught affair but, this time, with just a touch of redemption to sweeten the pill.

Preview - Inside No. 9: Empty Orchestra

The latest edition of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's anthology series takes us into karaoke booth No. 9.

TV review: Inside No 9 - Empty Orchestra

Don't bother trying to second guess the twists. Nothing is predictable here, which keeps you watching to the very end. A hit episode full of hit songs.

Inside No 9 review: Karaoke mystery

After several episodes of fiendishly dark and outlandish reveals, Inside No. 9 really pulled out the rug from under us this week. Empty Orchestra ended up being a down-to-earth, relatable and ultimately feel-good slice of drama. Truly shocking stuff.

Inside No 9: Empty Orchestra review

Anyone who has taken part in a works' karaoke outing knows that it's an arena for bad singing, annoyingly good singing and professional tensions to surface unprofessionally. The latest episode of Inside No 9, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's terrifically clever portmanteau series, exploited this to full effect to provide another 30-minute oddity that was bursting with ideas and left you with a feeling of deep unsettlement, like reading an MR James story and then remembering the denouement in your dreams and waking up in a cold sweat.

TV Review: Inside No. 9 - Empty Orchestra

Taking us inside a comparatively more pleasant No. 9, this latest tale from Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton is fairly enjoyable, but lacks the high dramatic stakes of previous episodes.

The Riddle of the Sphinx review

The episode is proof, if any were needed, that Shearsmith & Pemberton possess two of the most extraordinary imaginations of any writers working in television today.

Inside No. 9 series 3 episode 3 review

Inside No. 9 series 3 pays homage to Sleuth in a delightfully nasty, slippery story themed around cryptic crosswords...

Inside No. 9 Season 3 Episode 3 review

Some hardcore fans may well demand something more tricksy, more gimmicky - indeed, less traditional. But there are still many pleasures to be had here, if you follow the clues.