Ambassadors

A fabulous satire of dubious diplomacy
Michael-Moran1A comedy set in an embassy, and not a Ferrero Rocher in sight. The entirely brilliant new sitcom Ambassadors (BBC Two, Wednesday at 9pm) eschews the easy laughs in favour of a wry look at realpolitik. There’s still scope for old-fashioned slapstick – for example, an evocation of the worst hangover in diplomatic history, but this is comedy for the sharper sort of mind. Sharper tongues, too. Some of the language in the script is a touch salty. But if I avoided all the TV shows with swearing in these days I’d be writing about Rastamouse every week.

Set in the British Embassy to a fictional former Soviet backwater, the show follows in a long tradition through Farrington of the FO and radio diplo-sitcoms such as Flying The Flag, all the way back to The Navy Lark spinoff, The Embassy Lark. But there are neat touches of modernity. This first episode sees the British mission to Tazbekistan coping with the arrest of a human rights activist at the same time as trying to promote an arms deal.

There really isn’t enough smart satire on British TV. The disappointing revival of Yes, Prime Minister showed it’s not as easy as it looks. As well as Peep Show double act David Mitchell and Robert Webb there’s strength in depth all the way in the cast list, with well-crafted roles for Keeley Hawes and Susan Lynch. This is only a short series, but I hope they’ll make more. It is what we’re best at.

NOT TO BE MISSED

Breathless (ITV, Thursday, 9pm)
A glossy, stylish new take on Emergency – Ward 10. Call The Midwife meets Mad Men.

Gogglebox (Channel 4, Wednesday, 10pm)
It seems like the silliest idea for a television show ever, but watching this cross-section of Britain watching TV is a barrel of fun.

Homeland (Channel 4, Sunday, 9pm)
This spy thriller gets sillier with every episode, but I can’t quite resist it.