Is Asylum about Julian Assange? Co-writer Peter Bowden doesn’t think so, tweeting: “You may see Assange. You're free to see Assange….But that's not what I wrote and you'd be wrong.” An email I received from the publicist, however, said that it “is based on the true stories of whistleblowers - including the likes of Julian Assange.” But let’s leave the debate to others and review the programme, written by Bowden and Thom Phipps and conceived by Kayvan (Fonejacker) Novak and producer Tom Thostrup.

First up and most importantly, Asylum is very funny. The sort-of-true set-up feels like it was made for sitcom rather than high drama. Whistleblower Daniel Hern (Ben Miller) is holed up in the storage room of the Embassy of fictional Central American country El Rico when suddenly he finds he has to share his cramped space with another fugitive, Ludo Backslash (played by another double act comic going solo, Dustin Demri-Burns from Cardinal Burns).

So far so Porridge. They even have a bunk bed like Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale in the classic prison sitcom. And they have a classic personality clash too – Hern is buttoned up and takes himself far too seriously, Backslash is an overgrown kid who lucked into the dotcom boom and was hanging out with Lady Gaga before being chased for illegal file-sharing.

The jokes in the first episode come from a mix of odd couple humour and politics. There is an Ealing Comedy vibe at the Banana Republic Embassy. Everyone seems to belong to the same family (Novak plays rich kid son Rafael) and the Ambassador has to keep changing the portrait of his glorious leader depending on who knocks at his door. Some of one-liners are obvious, but full marks for not succumbing to a Ferrero Rocher gag during an Embassy reception. 

Miller is on excellent form as the nervy activist who fears for his life. If the Americans get him he apparently faces the death penalty – though no expense will be spared on his final meal and he can choose his own method of execution. Burns is also very good, even if his character is of no fixed accent. Could be Welsh, could be Indian. Could be from the planet Zob for all I can tell. 

The plot also has a nice pop at journalists and lawyers, with the Guardian reporter being more interested in celebrity gossip than the cause Hern is fighting for and Hern's legal advisor being dimmer than a one watt bulb. It is hardly hard-hitting satire but a combination of committed performances and ridiculous over the top gags make it extremely watchable.

This is an odd show for BBC4 though. It is so broad it could almost be on BBC1 in the Count Arthur Strong slot. But I guess behind the jokes about internet porn and dodgy dictators there may be some serious things being said as this is part of the current Taking Liberties season. It’s just that I guess I’ll have to watch it again to spot them. Luckily I’d be quite happy to do that. 

Asylum, BBC4, Mondays from February 10.