My Beautiful Balloon

The very first time I saw Jack Dee acting it was on stage in a West End theatre playing the much put upon Yvan in a production of the greatly lauded show Art.

It had felt like a celebrity casting when I’d booked the tickets, a stand-up comedian ticking off another box on his Wish List; trod the boards in a fancy theatre – tick.

But actually he was good. Obviously got bitten by the acting bug, as after that he seemed to try on all kinds of characters, from the murderer in Silent Witness, to a turn alongside fellow comic-turned-actor Alan Davies in Jonathan Creek, pootling around like a cheerleader in a mall trying on all of the different outfits until he found the one liked the best. I think he’s found it.

Co-written by Mr Dee, Lead Balloon has been likened to the American sensation from Seinfeld writer Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm.

In as far as it’s about a grumpy socially awkward male who’s involved in the entertainment industry and married to a successful woman (and has a great ensemble cast), then it is.

But it just feels so much more British than that.

I ought to declare from the off that I have an irrational dislike for Curb…, despite being told by numerous people whose opinions I trust quite how fabulous it is.

Lead Balloon, however, I thoroughly enjoy. Jack Dee as Rick Spleen is so recognisable as the man who pushes it with his friends, deludes himself over how others might see him, thinks nothing of lying or taking advantage of his friends and family to get himself out of trouble – or simply to amuse himself – yet is still well worth going out for a drink with.

He’s your mate’s dad. The one your mate can’t stand but you think is ace.
The new series kicks off with Rick declaring he will write a novel, wife Mel being asked to be the subject of a Sunday Times’ At Home piece, and that leading somehow to Rick borrowing a pig to have as a show house pet.

It’s all about how Rick would like to be seen, which as an opening episode does wonders in explaining who he actually is.

There’s a fabulous montage of outfits as he tries to decide what he should be wearing for the interview (Rick quickly decides it’s about them being a power couple, easily ignoring the interest in Mel’s success).

Such a delight to see Jack Dee switch from Starsky And Hutch Boho to urban hoodie in the blink of an eye.

Of course, the real star in this opener is the pig. Which is why the episode is called Pig.

Poking fun at the now dated celebrity trend of unusual pets, this doesn’t feel like a fourth season show, more like a second as characters are known without being stale, rounded and interesting, and without resorting to ‘jump the shark’ for plotlines. It’s just a pig.

No sharks here at all. Not unless you count Rick. And no matter how he sees it, he’s really more of a sea urchin.

Lead Balloon, series 4, BBC2, Tuesday 31 May