Plebs

Plebs focuses on three no-hopers in the form of office boys Marcus (Tom Rosenthal) and Stylax (Joel Fry) and their slave Grumio (Ryan Sampson). Marcus is a bit of a dreamer and when an attractive new neighbour Cynthia (Sophie Colquhoun) enters his life he falls head over heels in love. The only problem is that Stylax wants them both to go to an orgy and that means trying to convince Cynthia to come with them.

Cue a lot of comic misunderstanding, awkward silences and a very kinky cage game. I believe Plebs was conceived when someone said 'why don't we try and make an Ancient Rome version of The Inbetweeners.' Plebs is filled with the crude humour and obvious jokes that you would expect from an ITV2 sitcom. As much as I like Tom Rosenthal he has been saddled with playing 'the awkward one' which means he has to make a lot of sad faces when Cynthia goes off with another man. Meanwhile Joel Fry, who is so great in Trollied, is the 'horny one' and is always trying to get off with someone while avoiding the advances of his boss (Doon Mackichan). In fact the best performance comes from Ryan Sampson as the bewildered Northern slave Grumio who is forced to route through the bins to find food for his two masters.

While Plebs isn't awful it still felt like a sitcom that was developed with a key demographic in mind rather than just simply created by a talented scriptwriter. In fact, while the state of British drama seems to be very healthy indeed, I don't think there's been one really good UK sitcom since the start of the year.

Plebs is a new ITV2 sitcom set in Ancient Rome that follows the misadventures of a low-born trio of 20-something office clerks. Wilfully anachronistic in its dialogue and soundtrack, the series got off to an energetic, engaging and amusing start with a tale of unrequited love, exclusive parties and unassailable doormen.

Doon Mackichan interview

An interview with the comedian and comic actress Doon Mackichan.

Maybe it's the fact that togas are just so darn saucy but there's something irresistibly comical about Ancient Rome. In the noble tradition of Up Pompeii!, Plebs (ITV2) is the latest sitcom to play the old Empire for laughs. And titter I did.

It could afford to up the raunch factor, with opening episode The Orgy surprisingly shy of flesh. But Tom Rosenthal's central character, Marcus, makes a sweet prude amid a sea of debauchery and his servant Grumio (Ryan Sampson), surfing a wave of northern camp, is a guaranteed scene-stealer. 'You never see a dog with a towel,' he observed of his drip-dry post-shower regimen. Fair point.

The cultural connection between Ancient Rome and classic ska and reggae is lost on me, but oddly it's an inspired one, with tunes such as Double Barrel by Dave & Ansel Collins giving the action a sun-kissed spring. And any show that chops Danny Dyer's head off has to be worth a second look.

Plebs review: Ancient Rome comedy is no Inbetweeners

ITV2 comedy Plebs pitched itself as The Inbetweeners meets Ancient Rome, but it didn't fully deliver.

How Plebs gets laughs from the past

ITV2's new sitcom set in ancient Rome belongs to a fine tradition of historical TV comedies, from 'Allo 'Allo to Blackadder.

Plebs is a bit like the spawn of The Inbetweeners and Up Pompeii, but set in ancient Rome to a soundtrack of ska classics, presumably for added anachronism. Friday Night Dinner's Tom Rosenthal is neurotic, uptight Marcus, Trollied's Joel Fry plays dufus Stylax, and Ryan Sampson is their dull-witted Manc slave Grumio, while Doon Mackichan adds class as the boys' ruthless boss Flavia. The first instalment finds them trading their grocery budget for orgy tickets, while Danny Dyer, of all people, turns up as gladiator Cassius in episode two.

More Horrible Histories than Up Pompeii!, this tunic-and-sandals sitcom pitches 21st-century sensibilities into the streets of Ancient Rome for a forum full of fun with ordinary blokes Marcus and Stylax, a pair serviced by grumbling slave Grumio. In the double-episode opener, Tom Rosenthal's Marcus - think The Inbetweeners' Will - is throwing himself at glamorous new neighbour Cynthia (Sophie Colquhoun), while Ryan Sampson's Grumio (Baldrick, by any other name) is in a grump over dog poo. Add in Doon Mackichan as whip-cracking boss Flavia, whose idea of disciplining her workforce is inviting herself along to an orgy, and it's a saucy dollop of fun.

Not only will boys be boys but they always have been: that's the idea behind this comedy billed as The Inbetweeners meets Ancient Rome. Don't let that put you off. Yes, the gags are puerile, but you won't need to scrub yourself down in a cold shower afterwards.

Tom Rosenthal (Jonny in Friday Night Dinner) plays endearingly awkward Marcus, a scribe who falls for his comely new neighbour. Ryan Sampson is deliciously rude as slothful slave Grumio. Tonight's double bill sees them plucking up the courage to attend an orgy. More often than not this hits the spot, whatever your gender.

Danny Dyer on his guest role in Plebs

Danny Dyer took his latest TV role as a gladiator too far - by hitting his opponent in the head with a spear.