Zapped

The woes of Brian Weaver (James Buckley) continue into a third series as his befuddled Earthling is now trapped in a “travelling Amazematorium” in the mad fantasy land of Munty, doing the bidding of a cruel and not uncamp ringmaster played by Steve Coogan. That it’s such a sharp return to form for this underrated, beguilingly inventive comedy is partly down to the decision by the writers to plonk perhaps its best character – Paul Kaye’s wizard Howell – at Brian’s David Brent-style workplace in suburban London.

Howell’s amoral mischief-making is always extremely funny, but his temporary transfer offers a useful corrective, a welcome handle on our own familiar world and a respite from potential weirdness weariness. Buckley is a brilliant foil for the mayhem – but as this show has gone on, his character is fast becoming part of the Munty furniture.