BEST DARK comedy THE CLEANER

This blackest of black comedies earned the rare accolade of a Christmas special after just one series. High praise indeed considering its dark subject matter. It’s written by Taskmaster’s Greg Davies and is based on the German comedy Der Tatortreiniger.

Davies also stars as Paul

‘Wicky’

Wickstead (left), who has a rather unconventional job as a crimescene cleaner, turning up to restore order after a murder has been committed. You know, wiping up the blood, picking up the dismembered

body parts...

It’s a gruesome profession, but one that provides plenty of opportunity for dark laughs. The first series (available on BBC iplayer), boasted some impressive guest stars, including Helena Bonham Carter and David Mitchell, and as it returns for a second series, it’s Harriet Walter playing a pub owner whose young lover has been stabbed to death. It’s a case that soon has Wicky regretting his decision to give up drinking. Friday, 9.30pm, BBC1