The Inbetweeners: Series 3 (2010)

Sadly, the 3rd series of The Inbetweeners seems to be the last, which is a shame as it has consistantly been utterly hilarious over its 18 episodes. It shouldn't be funny - it's crass, rude, full of foul language and characters doing idioitic things, but what makes it stand out is that it is (literally!) balls out funny, and oh so easy to relate to the 4 teenage leads, or at least to recognise the teenage condition.

Will's the geeky one, Simon tries too hard with girls, Neil is a few sandwiches short of a picnic, and Jay is just a little boy at heart who uses outrageous lies to try to be a big man with his friends. Increasingly over series 3, Jay became my favourite character, particularly as this series his mates were more likely to pick holes in his claims, and James Buckley was very good at letting Jay's innate vulnerability shine through. Simon (Joe Thomas) also had a sweet side, as well as a crushing ability to say exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time. 

Greg Davies, as the head of sixth form, towered over the lads and every line was a gold comedy nugget. The streams of profanity, and Jay's predeliction for calling lady's bits 'clunge' (a horrible yet hilarious word), portrayed an honesty for how teenage boys really speak, while also taking the piss. The third series was only marred, and in it's closing minutes too, by a disgusting vomiting scene. Now I can watch sex, violence and swearing, and I can cope with it, but I really dislike seeing people vomiting on screen, even for comic effect. I think it's a lazy way to get a cheap laugh, and it's never good if it happens while you're eating your tea. So other than that, this was a top comedy show, and if the purported movie version happens, I'll be buying a ticket!