Number 9

[poliphilo]

 The BBC i-player has gifted its viewers with a number of box sets as a Christmas treat- and I've been binge-watching the three seasons of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton's dark comedy, Number 9.  The episodes stand alone and are all very different- not only in character and setting but comedy style. 1.1 is all sophistication and family skeletons while 1.2 is a beautifully paced, near-silent farce. Some of the darkness involves blood, some of it involves weirdness and some of it is just to do with human wickedness. There is generally a twist in the tail, production values are high and guest stars are of the calibre of Anne Reid, Tamsin Grieg, Gemma Arterton, Julian Rhind-Tutt and Timothy West.

My favourite episode thus far is 1.4- an Ortonesque examination of the opportunities that arise when a celebrity snuffs it on your premises.