More stylish absurdity with the Lottery (and award)-winning Braithwaites. This third series of spectacular family turmoil is set two months after the second, and although the reunited family is at relative peace, you won't be surprised that the harmony lasts about as long as a wine gum. Alison is knighted at Buckingham Palace for services to charity, but in one of several hilarious ground-swallowing moments, rebellious daughter Virginia pulls her trademark used-tissue face and announces she is going to be a father because her girlfriend Tamsin is pregnant. There's nothing quite like this soapy drama. It's well-driven by the female characters, and although the language may have taken a downward turn since last year, it successfully flits from farce to pathos and back again before you know it. Rich, for the time being.

The Braithwaites were stunned that the Eurolottery was taking Dame Alison to court because her underage daughter illegally bought her winning lottery ticket. But everyone reckons she'll get off if she lies about who bought the ticket. And, as her viperish daughter Virginia points out, she's very good at lying. However, the whole vile, selfish family falls to pieces when events take a surprising turn. This is a powerful, engrossing episode, although there's a fantasy sequence involving Virginia that jars rather than enhances. A heavily pregnant Alison takes the stand at the High Court after the press finds out that her under-age daughter bought the winning ticket.