BBC Enterprises, the semi-privatised arm of the nation’s broadcasting corporation, knows when it is onto a ‘good thing’ and releasing entire TV series onto DVD is a good means by which its executives can justify their annual bonuses! While not ‘mainstream’, i.e. BBC’s One or Two TV channels, having been run on BBC TV Three, ‘How Not To Live Your Life’ or HNTLYL, as it will be known henceforth, is one of those ‘test the market for suitability’ programmes, because there may be some issues that will clash with mainstream viewers’ sensitivities.

Truth is, HNTLYL is a brilliantly conceived comedy (like so many of the narrow-cast versions are) in which the leading artist, in this case Dan Clark, is also the writer. Whether he is just living out parts of his ‘real life’ in his creation remains to be confirmed but young-ish Mr Clark, playing a man in his mid-to-late 20s, is a typically neurotic, perpetually single bloke (and, yes, the humour is ever so slightly ‘blokey’), possessing an over-fertile imagination that leads his character to say what he believes in, or at least, what his head suggests is the status quo. Although largely creative, his brain seems to work through various scenarios, whenever he comes up against given situations, and he reacts accordingly, not always with the best outcome in mind, but usually to great comedic effect.

The scenes with his Nan are among the least sensitive and caring of any and his attitude towards Eddie, his Nan’s carer, is nothing less than cavalier. However, you will fall about, in fits of hysterics, on occasions through this entire six-part series. I should perhaps highlight that this is the second such series, although acquiring the first is not an essential to comprehending the second. The characters, most of them, are delightfully flawed and thus, in many ways, are just like you and me. There is a lot of ‘toilet humour’ and, some critics might suggest that the plot-lines are more than occasionally puerile, yet the concept of worrying that however bad things in life become, it could have only been much worse, is surprisingly concurrent with many of our existences.

Oh Lord! What does that say about me? I promise that you will find a lot to chuckle about in the two discs making up this Series Two offering and with EXTRAS that include behind the scenes activities, some quite bawdy and hilarious out-takes, the inevitable deleted scenes and audio commentaries, which can be amusing at times, it is packed with plenty to satisfy the souls and the back pockets of comedy fans. Strongly recommended.