Tom Wrigglesworth

Sure, it has all the right elements of a storytelling show, from the jeopardy our hero finds himself in to the extracts from an accidentally found diary, which is just the sort of device that Wrigglesworth’s soundalike Daniel Kitson would employ. Yet everything feels too much like an artificial construct, even before they left for Nevada, and as the unfolding events get increasingly extreme, believability is stretched to breaking point – without crossing far enough to be an obvious fantasy.

Interacting nicely with the audience, Wrigglesworth is warmly funny when talking about the everyday. His authentic description of the Kyle show, for example, is wittily written and nicely told – even if his withering put-down to the smarmily patronising host is an old pub gag – while his affection for newfound friend May seems genuine. But take him out of that comfort zone of the familiar, and he’s on shakier ground as he puts plot and message-delivery above the funnies.

Wrigglesworth himself seems unhappy with the show’s filmed conclusion, but the truth is problem is more deep-rooted than that. A back-to-basics approach would definitely be recommended, not just for this story, but for his comedy in general.