Are sexual abuse and sex trafficking suitable subjects for comedy? My gut instinct would say no but the first episode of the second series of social worker comedy Damned somehow managed to incorporate these subjects and make serious points along with succesful jokes. The writers - Jo Brand, Morwenna Banks and Will Smith – and the cast – deserve full credit for going where few programmes fear to tread. Imagine Ken Loach collaborating with Ricky Gervais.
On the surface Damned could almost be The Office updated and relocated to Elm Heath Children’s Services. People doing what look like tedious desk jobs and having to rub along together, gossiping, sharing sweets on Fudge Friday. Cynical but caring Rose (Brand) has stepped in some shit twice on the way to work and has more shit to deal with once there. Almost as an aside there's a (v topical by coincidence) case of historic sexual abuse committed by a youth soccer coach. The victim is distressed but as it's historic and not ongoing Rose says it's a police matter and has to send him away sobbing.
The main storyline, however, is about a sex worker with kids. After a bit of classic comedy business when Al (Alan Davies) is mistaken for a potential customer ("hand job? blow job? anal £50") on a home visit businesslike jobsworth Martin (Kevin Eldon) escalates the case and before you know it the children have been taken from their mother. As I said, it doesn't feel like comedy, yet the enquiry is full of bleakly comedic lines, poking fun at political correctness, Brexit, prejudiced police officers, masculinity. Expertly written and performed.
The filming style is casual, as if we are earwigging on everyday conversations. It could be banal, but it really draws you in. It is like life only funnier and more brutal. Great performances all round from an ensemble that also includes Morwenna Banks playing against type as mousy Ingrid, Isy Suttie as dippy but well-meaning Nat, Lolly Adefope as jargon-spouting student social worker Mimi and Himesh Patel as Nitin, who takes an instant shine to Mimi that may not be entirely professional (Romesh Ranganathan played the character in the original one-off).
Damned is gently lefty political but it doesn't whack you over the head with a rolled up copy of the Guardian. Well, it may have done, but I was too busy laughing to notice it.
Damned, Wednesdays, C4, 10pm. Alan Davies is on The One Show on February 19.
