Show Rating:

Back with the same mix of over-egged horror hyperbole, hammy overacting and just plain over-the-top silliness that won an unexpected Perrier nomination last year, the Garth Merenghi team have again produced an hour of brilliant spoofery that is as funny as it is ridiculous.

The winning formula has not been tampered with - the pompous, and woefully misplaced, self-importance of the author earnestly acting out a ploddingly incredible yarn held up to joyful ridicule.

Again the best humour comes from the subtle. A slight glance, a fractionally-mistimed cue there, a laboured use of language that just isn't quite right - such underplayed moments make the show. It's easy to act very badly, much harder to act just a little bit badly - but it's a skill all three of the talented cast seem to have perfected.

It does goes for the big gestures, too, with moments of outrageous slapstick that are undeniably funny - but just not in the same league as the finely-observed and brilliantly polished minutae that makes this show such a delight.