The brilliant news today that C4 has given the green light to a second series of Catastrophe coincided beautifully with me catching up with the second episode of the first series on 4oD. I was so delighted – by both the news and the second episode – I nearly did a little jig around the room.

Sometimes a series can quickly go off the boil with the second episode, having put all the hard graft into the first one, but not here. This week we meet the family of pregnant Sharon (Sharon Horgan) and Rob (Delaney). Sharon’s brother Fergal has such a cynical view of the world he makes Sharon seem like Mary Poppins, while Rob’s mum is played with monstrous charm by Carrie Fisher.

But to me this is really all about Rob and Sharon’s growing relationship. There is a huge amount of underlying warmth here, despite the fact that he scratches his balls in bed. Or maybe because he scratches his balls in bed. This puts the ball in screwball comedy. 

There is something frighteningly realistic about their romance. Maybe it is because of his itchy balls. This is a world where you sit in the street enjoying the wonderful view, but just when it looks like things might go all Richard Curtis on us a dog does a shit right in front of you. 

The big set-piece however, doesn’t involve a dog shitting, it involves a woman pissing by the Thames while Rob tries to propose to Sharon. This scene looks like it was filmed near the Royal Festival Hall where Michael Moloney did his stupid hopping thing in front of Juliet Stevenson in Truly Madly Deeply, but unlike that, this is a true picture of early middle-aged seduction in London.

You’ll have to watch for yourself to see Sharon’s answer. But let’s just say this is the finest, filthiest, most authentic, honest, grown-up romantic sitcom in years. There must be hundreds of writers out there kicking themselves that they didn’t have the balls to write it. And talking of balls, I’m itching for the next episode.

Watch Catastrophe on 4oD here.