I know you'll probably stone me to death for this - then again,perhaps you won't - but I'm really enjoying Miranda Hart's self-titled sitcom.
When was the last time BBC2 put a comedy in an 830pm slot? I think that's what made me watch. Usually, all comedy is late night, mainly Channel 4 and dark and edgy or sweary and studenty.
Miranda is none of these things. It's a delightfully old-fashioned studio-bound sitcom about a great lump with a good heart who hasn't made much of her life but is happy enough with it, even though those around her think she could do better.
It's full of one-liners, asides to camera, silly boarding school jokes and the star herself, who makes me laugh just to look at her. And the 'You have been watching' as the end credits roll is just the icing on the cake. I don't think I've seen that since Oh Doctor Beeching! Good turn from Patricia Hodge as her mother, and Sally Phillips as a ghastly friend who's everything Miranda thinks she should be but can't.
It's rather refreshing to see this type of non-threatening, non-challenging show being such a hit, and it's got really good reviews. I think the time is right for a show that's aimed at everyone, rather craving the praise of The Guardian (although I think they liked it too).
So well done to Miranda. I met her at a party a few years back, but the person I was with was really rude to her so we had to move on. I saw her again at the same do last year but I never got to her. This year I'll be making a beeline.
