I HAVE been eagerly awaiting the new series by the comedy duo David Mitchell and Robert Webb, 15 years after their last outing together. Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping (Channel 4, released 5 September, all episodes streaming now) reassuringly follows the format with which viewers will be familiar: short sketches and daft costuming, interspersed with the Writers’ Room: a meta-sketch that features Mitchell and Webb discussing their ideas with their fellow contributors.
The airport-security sketch was particularly funny, especially if you’ve ever had to navigate the — frankly terrifying — security checkpoint at Manchester Airport, which has to be on a par with how it feels to visit a maximum-security prison. The sweary Australian-drama skit was less amusing, but there was still plenty to make me laugh out loud.
The new faces on board for this series are the younger comics Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Lara Ricote, Stevie Martin, and Krystal Evans — an act of inclusion that is professionally generous on the part of Mitchell and Webb, as well as an attempt to appeal to a more youthful audience.
Sketch shows are prohibitively expensive to produce, and there is also much anxiety about whether the young will find this kind of comedy relatable. This seems like a waste of energy, since Generation Z mostly consume TikTok and YouTube rather than television. Those of us who grew up watching classics such as The Two Ronnies, The Fast Show, and Goodness Gracious Me still enjoy this kind of comedy and are grateful to see it continue.
The Girlfriend (Amazon Prime, released 10 September) is a six-part thriller directed by and starring Robin Wright. She is excellent throughout, giving a vivid and controlled performance, complete with an enviable wardrobe and a killer haircut, which may, or may not, be a clue to how the plot enfolds. She plays Laura, a super-wealthy, high-achieving career woman, with one son, Daniel (played by Laurie Davidson), with whom her character has a stifling and controlling relationship. This dynamic does not bode well when Daniel brings home his latest girlfriend, Cherry, played brilliantly by Olivia Cooke.
I liked how the drama was depicted through the dual perspectives of the two female leads, deliberately creating ambiguity for the viewer, who is left confused about where their sympathies might lie. Irksomely, though, the plot involves rehashing the trope of the jealous older woman, of which I, for one, am very weary.
There is also more than a hint of the kind of malevolent class resentment last seen in the film Saltburn, which I found predictable and tiresome. Clever writing overcomes the more obvious aspects of the plot, and, assisted by a snappy soundtrack, The Girlfriend feels fresh and creative. Like all good thrillers, it is stressful viewing, but definitely a must-watch.
