Radio Times: Review by:; Jack Seale

Gary, this is a great lesson for any young sitcom writers out there. Watch how Bert Tyler-Moore and George Jeffrie set up two plot strands: rubbish sports writer Pete (Rafe Spall) gets a job in a chicken-processing factory; meanwhile, Pete sells an article to a tabloid, but it slags off a tennis player he ends up dating.

Look at the two independent stories moving on quickly – eyes on the ball at all times – before combining in the final scene. Lovely technique, great pace.

And see how the incompetent tennis player (Nathalie Cox) and Pete’s unstable editor (Brendan Patricks) become more exaggerated and more amusing as the episode goes on. Back of the net!

Spall’s the star player, though. Those little touches, like the high-pitched noise he makes in awkward moments? You can’t teach that. Champion.

About this programme

3/6. Sports journalist Pete Griffiths struggles to find work so he takes a job in a chicken-packing factory, but his prospects improve when a national newspaper accepts his article criticising Britain's seventh-best tennis player, Lottie Beaumont - whom he is currently dating. Comedy, guest starring Gok Wan, with Rafe Spall and Nathalie Cox.