It doesn’t often happen that a new sitcom is born perfectly formed. But such was the case with the BBC's 'Rev', an immaculate concept.

It featured the ideal sitcom protagonist: a very nice, very put-upon, shepherd of men whose decency is thwarted from all sides by the forces of mayhem and worse.

Though the Rev Adam Smallbone may seep wetness like an identikit Anglican padre, he also has a penchant for fags, booze and the local headmistress. And, unlike The Vicar of Dibley, he preaches to a multicultural inner-city flock.

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