Harry And Paul: Series 3 Episode 1

Sooner or later, something had to mark the death of sketch comedy - or at least the beginning of the end. Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, bless them, have rocked up to put it to bed with neither a bang nor a whimper, but with painful bewilderment - something akin to a botched colonic irrigation.

The sad thing is, the Bafta-winning duo are great performers and legends in their field. For many they represent the fey glee of childhood and the unpretentious swagger of the working class hero. But it's twenty years on. They're old and they're rich now, but their tune hasn't changed.

The sketches range from repetitive and confusing to bland non-starters, with rambling monotone back-and-forths instead of jokes and elaborate make-up jobs instead of enthusiasm. Although there's more of an onus on spoofing current TV shows and satirising social phenotypes, it only serves to muddy the singular surreality that once made them so broadly appealing.

If they were just doing what they loved then you could hardly blame them for sticking with it. But you get the chilling sense they know they're running on fumes and choking on a desperate plea for relevance. All the realistic rubber face masks in the world can't hide their dead eyes. They deserve more dignity than this.



Airs at 9.30pm on Tuesday 28th September 2010 on BBC Two.

Reviewed by Mike Stephenson.