How does Ianucci operate? Well, that's the question. I'd say it's by dislocating implicitness, by making the invisible that is our symbolic world visible, for just a moment. What appears is cultural contingency relativity of our perceptions. This is what appears when we dare to glimpse in the distorted mirror that the Armondo Iannucci Shows provide. Medieval mystic of numbers, a home for middle-aged men, the kitchen here is made of paper, thoughts on social inadequacy, knife attack reunions or the flight simulator. This is what makes it not just special but the best and most philosophical piece of satirical work of the last 20 years. A must see!If you dare!

It seems as though this series passed under the radar of just about everyone in the country when it was released five years ago. I loved this at the time - it was fantastically inventive and full of wonderfully surreal notions. I particularly liked the "Dead of Scotland" sketch where the Scottish dead have their own area of Heaven. The East End thug threatening the washing machine is great. But I just watched the DVD last night, which is the first time I've seen it in five years, and it doesn't seem quite as good anymore. Too many sketches seemed flat. "We're good at telly" and the drivel-talking barber quickly become annoying. Having said that, I am very picky when it comes to comedy and Armando Iannucci is one of the few people who can consistently raise the bar - the terrific "In the thick of it" is proof of this. Give this one a go. It's patchy, but it's streets ahead of most other stuff.