AFTER 3 GREAT SERIES THIS GOES INTO A DITCH

-- OK BUT I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER REVIEWERS HERE IN SAYING SOME OF THE PLOT DO NOT FEEL RIGHT

I loved the first three series of this show very much - great comedy acting, some excruciating cringe worthy moments and many great laughs. However, I found this series often made me cringe for the wrong reasons- the script quality is poor and I really think they were low on ideas at times. The plot was often very unbelievable (dog eating anyone?) and not in an amusing way, some episodes were a struggle to watch to the end to be honest. Remember that I was a fan of previous series and wanted to like it. It has taken a nose dive - the fifth series is a little better.

After three almost flawless series, Series 4 of Peep Show demonstrates a slight dip in quality, but in the main still manages to stay head and shoulders above all its contemporaries. This series centres around the approaching marriage of Mark and Sophie, and Mark's increasing disillusionment and desperate attempts to extricate himself from the situation. This plot arc is perhaps allowed to dominate a little too much, which means that Jeremy is pushed into sidekick role too often and many of the brilliant recurring characters are under-used. Moreover, many of the episodes are set in a particular venue away from the flat, which makes some of the plots feel a little contrived and lacking in the surreal naturalism of earlier series. It's also the first series to feature a largely duff episode, "Conference", which feels like it's written by somebody else as everyone seems to be behaving largely out of character.

However, there are still plenty of positives. The series starts and ends with two cracking episodes, the first a brilliantly-realised visit to Sophie's parents (the "Happy Birthday" scene still makes me laugh out loud) and the last a surprisingly touching portrayal of Mark and Jeremy's relationship amidst the disaster of Mark's wedding day. Elsewhere, although it's a little hyperbolic, "Holiday" is very funny, including possibly the best scene in the whole series of Jeremy eating the "turkey leg" and while "Gym" wastes Rachel Blanchard's reappearance as Jeremy's estranged wife Nancy it's pretty solid otherwise. "Handyman" is so-so and finishes a bit abruptly, but it's not bad.

Series 4's main problem is that it follows three excellent series and so suffers slightly by comparison. However, it's still frequently laugh-out-loud funny (not something that can be said of many comedies these days) and anyone who's enjoyed the earlier series will enjoy this one too. What's more, I can't think of another comedy series that's still scoring such a high hit-rate in its 4th series.

As ever - the fourth series of Peep Show wheels between one idea an episode mediocrity and wildly funny brilliance. If anything thankfully this series veers more to the latter than the first three. It also includes a couple of real belters of episodes. The weekend at Sophies parents is hilarious - but the real gem is the canal boat stag weekend. One of the funniest things I've ever seen on television - but excruciating to watch. All in all - miles ahead of almost all of the comedy TV showing at the moment.

After the initial brilliance of the first few seasons and all the genuine hilarity you can get from hearing what is in the characters heads, one would expect that the comedy might wear down a bit as the viewer has become so used to this style now but no.

This season perhaps even tops the previous seasons on laughs as it speeds up the rather slow development of the two main characters and makes some big leaps in plots.

But it shows the brilliance of the writing that nothing is done unless it is rational for the character to do it even if it takes the stories into rather surreal areas, for example the stag party that jeremy and mark go on is possibly the outstanding episode of the season, if not the show.

Overall, a must have for fans of british comedy and certainly something people should invest in because I hear far too many people who have not given this amazing show a chance yet and that is unforgivable.