Year Of The Rabbit

Regularly rejuvenated by an endless supply of lewd expressions accompanying ever more ludicrous plots, the Victorian police spoof is winning more and more hearts by the week. Tonight, the racist politico Neil Fromage is the first victim of a sniper, and Rabbit fears that the visiting Bulgarian prince in his care may be the next target.

Farage blasts sitcom for assassination of Neil Fromage

Nigel Farage has blasted Channel 4 over a "sick" comedy show in which a right wing campaigner named Neil Fromage is shot in the head.

DI Rabbit is at his rascally best as Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil's riotous Victorian police spoof finds him on the trail of a killer known as the Brick Man. At last we learn more about Keeley Hawes's mysterious character, who steps out of the shadows long enough to lure would-be "ladyfilth" Mabel into her orbit.

Even Matt Berry couldn't save Year of the Rabbit from itself. A spoof Victorian London drama comedy of the sort seen only about a million times since the dawn of television, it wanted to be Ripper Street with giggles. It ended up being The Two Ronnies' "phantom raspberry blower of old London town" with, astonishingly, fewer laughs. And much much filth. The gags, it seems in hindsight, were all about disability, prostitutes and mud, and all done with a certain frenetic foul-mouthiness substituting for actual humour. I may have misread the opening episode, and it will doubtless be to the taste of some souls. But if this is the start of Channel 4's vaunted "summer of comedy", bring on ye autumnal mists.

Year Of The Rabbit review

Berry's cockney accent is a bit dodgy and he forgets to do it half the time which just seems strange, there's a couple of scenes which are pointless, like the bit where Rabbit gets beaten up in a pub, and the dialogue needs to be sharper in general.

Review: Channel 4's Year of the Rabbit is silly & smart

Essentially The Sweeney in Victorian times (in fact the show's original working title was Ye Sweeney), Year of the Rabbit proves to be a winning mix of smart but silly gags with a first-rate cast.

Sweary, mutton-chopped Victorian detective Eli Rabbit proves to be an ideal role for Matt Berry in this roistering police spoof. Alun Armstrong plays Rabbit's bewhiskered boss and Paul Kaye his nemesis as laughs meet Whitechapel-flavoured murder mystery. Heart-stoppingly funny.

Year Of The Rabbit review

Brash, sweary and massively over the top, Year Of The Rabbit plays to all of Matt Berry's strengths as a larger-than-life performer.

Year of the Rabbit, Channel 4 review

A hare-brained comedy that raises eyebrows - even if you only have one.

Year of the Rabbit review

Matt Berry in superb form as drunken and incompetent copper .