Britain’s answer to Curb Your Enthusiasm has perhaps not surprisingly, been heavily influenced by the “paradigm shift” of the emergence of “The Office” that made everyday conversation funny, without the need for a canned laughter studio audience.

Embarrassment, social humiliation and exasperation are high on the agenda in Jack Dee’s sitcom, about a failed TV personality who tries to cobble bits and bobs of out not much at all. Teaming up with condescending American writing partner Marty, (Sean Power) the pair trundle through life hoping for their big break. This being Dee, if never really comes. Although the show doesn’t do anything particularly groundbreaking and does nothing to dispel the “myth” that Dee is a grumpy old sod in real life; it still remains a wonderfully entertaining show.

The cast are nigh on perfect and go about their daily business with subtlety and aplomb alike. Comparisons have been made to other sitcoms across the water such as “Seinfield” and “Curb Your Enthuiasm” as Dee looks to steal Larry David’s crown of understated situational comedy from him.

Jack Dee has made the step from stand up comedy to sitcom, a hurdle where many British comedians have failed at, such as Baddiel, Skinner, Rhona Cameron and Lee Mack. Dee is happy to share the limelight with his co-stars, something that goes against the grain of the stand -up psyche. It’s just as well he does, because his co-stars are absolutely terrific.

Series Four is due to land on British screen in late 2010