To Let - Pigeon Included

I'm not going to take this opportunity to moan about the state of linear TV but it's not entirely controversial to say that the gaps between decent programmes could be easily reduced by the re-introduction of the overnight shutdown and the reintroduction of a four channel maximum (ask your parents, kids).

Fortunately, though, for those of us who bask in the glory of better times, there is a plethora of incredible shows to fill the Flog It! and Pointless schedule gaps. Some are great and some are stone cold classics.

In the latter category is Stath Lets Flats, an often overlooked comedy written by Jamie Demetriou and comedy behemoth Robert Popper. If you don't know Robert Popper, well, shame on you. He's been involved in so many cult classics - from the Inbetweeners, to the sublime Friday Night Dinner, to Look Around You (inevitably, more on them in another ramble) - that it is borderline embarrassing.

Stath Lets Flats is, at its heart, the story of Greek-Cypriot Vasos' attempt to retire from his down-at-heel London letting agency. But it is also the story of his disappointing, inept, bumbling but loveable son Stath's attempts to take on the family business. The ensemble cast is perfect - his fellow letting agents, Al Roberts, Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Katy Wix, could not be more familiar to anyone who has ever had the misfortune of having to deal with a letting agent - while his (on-screen and off-screen) sister and her best friend (played by Natasia Demetriou and Ellie White respectively) play an endearing odd couple of BFFs whose comedy chemistry is perfect.

But it is Jamie Demetriou as Stath who steals every moment. It is difficult to really do justice to how useless and utterly unaware Stath is and how perfectly Demetriou plays it. His performance mixes linguistic shortcomings and a tragic self-belief with physical slapstick that is effortlessly masterful. Stath wants to please his dad, support his sister and be everyone's friend and he sorts of manages it - in a way that requires everyone around him to accept that he just won't ever manage it, but it's not for want of trying. After all, if life teaches us anything, it's that it's difficult not to love a puppy, even if it keeps shitting in the kitchen and using it as a skating rink.

If you haven't yet, you really need to watch Stath Lets Flats. If you have already, you need to watch it again. Do it now, just in case Stath actually manages to let a flat and ruin things.

Stath Lets Flats is available to watch on 4oD