Miranda: Series 1

By far the highlight of the comedy schedules last year was the debut series of Miranda. In fact, it was the highlight of the television schedules, period. A BBC Two sitcom that added absolutely nothing to the genre, made no daring statements and seemed happy to wallow in its own studio-based antics.

Yet Miranda demonstrated that simple good old-fashioned jokes and funny characters can out-laugh and out-play every single-camera, teen-orientated, self-knowing, self-referential, realistic, cynical, ironical and edgy comedy on the planet.

On paper, it's not unlike It's Garry Shandling's Show with its asides and direct monologues to the audience (both studio and home) and the mundanery of everyday life for its lead. Although, as we so quickly learn, Miranda's life is anything but banal.

The highlight of the six episodes has to be the raucous yet fantastical episode, ‘Holiday', where Miranda takes a trip to her local hotel for a few days. She's told everyone she's off to Thailand, in an effort to prove her spontaneity, but finds the comfort of a shoe-buffer and the excitement of a trouser-press enough to satiate any thoughts of foreign shores.

But the unique selling point of Miranda is undoubtedly the cast, both guests and regular. Not in a long time has such a likeable - and there's nothing wrong with being liked! - bunch been put together. Of the guest stars, Peter Davison (who has previous when it comes to comedy in Sink Or Swim and the terrific A Very Peculiar Practice) pops up and excels as the old teacher come back to haunt Miranda with his sexy French tongue. Please be back in Series 2!

The regulars are a delight, with Tom Ellis (the ruggedly handsome bugger in Doctor Who's third series finale) playing the comedic straight guy with ease and affability - and never above himself, as it were. Particular praise must also go to Patricia Hodge (The Life And Loves Of A She-Devil) who manages to walk away with the show's best catch-phrases - "Such fun!"

Of course, Miranda Hart, the series' creator and star (and I mean star), should receive any plaudits on the go for reminding the audience that comedy can be fun, humble, without meaning and still be relevant and utterly essential.



Extras: The bonus content, however, is a different affair altogether and disappointing in the extreme. With less than 20 minutes of special features, this DVD is an insult to those who fork out their hard-earned cash for it, while those features that are included are just too short to get into. Most infuriatingly there are no commentaries - a digital crime in this day and age.



Released on DVD on 15th November 2010 by 4DVD.

> Buy the DVD on Amazon.

Reviewed by Cameron K McEwan.