Mark Tavener (–2007)

This satirical comedy about the PR industry is good fun, but unfortunately rarely soars to the heights that feel like they should be just within its reach. The show consistently delivers, however, in any scene following Stephen Fry as the suave moral vacuum at the centre of the series, and almost all of the highlights where you see the show actually reach its full potential are focused on him. (This isn't a jab at the other actors, who are quite good, but rather the writing which gives him all the best stuff to do and say.) The series one episode where they briefly consider trying to find a positive spin on Nazis, for instance, was worth the cost of the box set all on its own. Cynical without being depressing, this is probably the series you'd want if you liked "The Thick of It", but just wished it could be more sitcom-esque, generally less bleak and a lot less stressful.… (mais)