Inside No. 9

Radio Times review

We're back in the 17th century for the trial of Elizabeth Gadge (Mike Leigh favourite Ruth Sheen), an old crone accused of witchcraft by her own flesh and blood. The trial bodes well for local bigwig Sir Andrew Pike (David Warner), keen to attract visitors to the dismal village of Little Happens, whose sole attractions hitherto have been the green, a duck and a bench. Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton play dual witchfinders, Mr Warren and Mr Clarke. (See what they did there?)

The loose anthology format certainly allows them to indulge their passions and peccadillos, here mining the Vincent Price classic, Witchfinder General, for flavour and chuckles. From the start, the arch performances call to mind a League of Gentlemen sketch where they dismissed a DVD movie for having "too much actinggg", but this dark tale soon works a devilish spell.

Tonight's macabre tale is totally different from anything that has gone before in this series, but it is equally accomplished and very, very funny. In an inspired pastiche of a 17th-century witch trial, Sir Andrew Pike (David Warner) has summoned two of England's most notorious witch finders, named Mr Warren and Mr Clark in tribute to the late actor, to try a defenceless old woman (Ruth Sheen) accused of consorting most lewdly with the devil. "Let us at least hear the testimony of the poor old crone," says Clarke, "before we reward ourselves with gold for burning her to death." It's like a long-lost Monty Python sketch, only better.

Preview: Inside No. 9 - The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge

This episode is clearly a labour of love for the team.

Review: Inside No. 9, The Trial Of Elizabeth Gadge

There's no messing inside this week's No. 9; the gags are rolling rapidly as we're dropped into a barn in puritanical England for this week's installment the offbeat comedy series.

Inside No 9, The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge, TV review

Another top class bit of silliness from the makers of Psychoville and The League of Gentlemen.

Inside No. 9 series 2 episode 3 review

Shearsmith and Pemberton transport us to the 17th century for a witch trial this week in an episode high on quotability and absurdity...

Inside No 9, ep 2.3 review: 'occasionally funny'

The third episode of series two fell some way short of what we have come to expect from Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith.

After a patchy debut last week, Inside No. 9 finally came into its own with its second episode entitled "The 12 Days of Christine". The Christine of the title is a shoe shop employee played by Sheridan Smith whose life story is told during the episode. Although each of the twelve days occurs chronologically, each scene represents a different year as Christine grows older as the piece goes on. During the episode we see her meet and marry the man of her dreams (Tom Riley), give birth, get divorced and turn thirty. However Reese Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton litter this seemingly mundane tale with their trademark macabre flair. During the episode Christine experiences several surreal moments and occasionally sees a man dressed in white (Shearsmith) breaking eggs around her home. There are several other odd moments including the fact that her dementia-suffering father often pops up seeming incredibly lucid. The final scene reveals exactly why the events of the episode are slightly skewed and the importance of the music played throughout. I'm not sure why both series of Inside No. 9 have had a brilliant second episode but "The 12 Days of Christine" is definitely up there with "A Quiet Night In". The fantastic Sheridan Smith steps out of her comfort zone to play a rapidly ageing character who never seems to quite know what's going on. I feel this thirty minute episode showcased Smith's range more than last year's three part series of Cilla. Meanwhile Pemberton and Shearsmith took secondary roles here, with the former playing Christine's gay best friend Bobby. I was completely entranced by both Smith's turn and Shearsmith and Pemberton's writing which offered up a number of twists and turns before the shocking final reveal. If you are yet to see an episode of Inside No. 9 I would heartily recommend "The 12 Days of Christine" as it's an easy watch with a fantastic if tragic conclusion.

Inside No. 9 - The 12 Days of Christine review

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's The 12 Days of Christine was revelatory, even for them.

Reece Shearsmith on his dark comedy Inside No. 9

An interview with Reece Shearsmith about comedy dram series Inside No. 9.