Yonderland

Radio Times review

One of the many strengths of this show is the guarantee that there'll be an entirely new, entirely brilliant comic character to enjoy in every episode, in addition to the magic kingdom's regulars. The other week the team even had the nerve to create tremendous womaniser Philip of Woolworth, then kill him off after only one hilarious scene.

Tonight there's another lothario, who lasts a bit longer as he attempts to woo Debbie (Martha Howe-Douglas): King Bernard (Jim Howick) joins her on her latest quest, but he's more interested in his planned statue of himself. The blowsy love ballad Bernard sings to try to make Debbie his queen is terrific, as is Laurence Rickard's episode-stealing turn as Chamberlain, Bernard's disgusted manservant who has long since resorted to burning sarcasm.

Yonderland does preening, benign fools as well as any comedy. But now Debbie also, finally, meets the realm's less benign fool: Negatus.

A joyful collision of Python, Boosh and The Princess Bride, Yonderland has proved immensely enjoyable teatime viewing over the past six weeks; not that anyone should really be surprised by its quality, what with the Horrible Histories lot, masters of cross-generational comedy, behind the wheel. Debbie's attempts to thwart incompetent evildoer Negatus continue this Sunday, while the series so far is available to Sky viewers through its On Demand service. Only three episodes left, though you'd expect a second run to be a near-certainty.

Have you been watching ... Yonderland?

The sort of frothy concoction that looks effortless but is actually very hard to get right, Yonderland is perfect family viewing: utterly daft but very big-hearted.

Yonderland Episode 5 review

A slight dip in laughs tonight is counteracted by a slightly darker tone (relatively speaking), with sinister undercurrents afoot in Elf's behaviour and in the mysterious goings-on in Ennythingos.

Radio Times review

Gentler gags this week - albeit with a couple that are more adult than usual - so time perhaps to enjoy Martha Howe-Douglas's superb performance as Debbie, the increasingly reluctant hero whose status as The Chosen One is making her spend too much time in her magic cupboard and not enough with her family.

Howe-Douglas largely has to stand there and react as puppets and men in wigs make jokes around and about her, which in less charismatic hands could be a monotonous straight role. That it isn't is what holds the show together, especially this week as Debbie decides to leave Yonderland, and Elf the elf sends her on one last quest.

Yonderland Episode 4 review

Yonderland is getting increasingly hard to review, because it's so bloody consistent.

Radio Times review

Sports day! As Debbie's kids prepare to run their little races at school, she's going to be late because, in another world, it's time for Ye Grand Tournament. Every year the good guys stop rubbish villain Negatus snatching the cup, but now Debbie has to train a new contender. This uncovers the political fissures in Yonderland: women can't vote, talking sticks are wholly marginalised and noblemen can demand that pages talc their undercarriages. Among the highlights of another constantly funny episode are Ben Willbond's blond Aussie commentator, and a reptilian newspaper seller who flogs left- and right-wing news, using his actual wings.

Yonderland Episode 3: 'Reformation' review

Yonderland, then, is managing to combine the highbrow with the lowbrow for a wide audience, and it's great to see a pre-watershed sitcom is doing this so well.

Yonderland review

Ultimately, Yonderland offers up something unique from the rest of the crop of sitcoms we've seen this year. It appeals to the whole family, has a great episodic story and most crucial of all - it's very very funny.

OK, so this fantasy family comedy was superb last week, but opening episodes are sweated over for weeks to achieve perfection. Does Yonderland have enough ideas to keep a series going? Based on this new instalment, the bad news for jealous rivals is yes, it does.

Debbie (Martha Howe-Douglas) happens on a monastery that has been smashed by ogres on the orders of pathetic overlord Negatus: the survivors are on the run but their order worships truth, so to stop them turning themselves in Debbie must teach them to lie. This simple premise is mined for every gag going, with lovely throwaway jokes all over the place. There's a smile in every scene. Someone's sweated over this for weeks as well.