Look at this picture here. 10 points for anyone who noticed that it was Julia Davis, more famous for being the loathsome Jill Farrell in Nighty Night.

Even though Nighty Night went off the boil a little, that’s not to say Davis’ has. In fact, her appearance in the Fanny Craddock drama, Fear of Fanny, may just have been a career high for the talented actress and writer.

Career high? From someone who has worked alongside Chris Morris in the sublime Jam? Someone who has worked on Big Train and I Am Not An Animal? Well, to be quite frank, yes. Instead of playing for gags (or as was often the case with Nighty Night – gagging), Davis revelled in the role of the overbearing and slightly disturbing Fanny Craddock.

In my review earlier in the year, I wrote that Davis has perfectly captured the "spirit of Fanny’s bullying demeanour. She is a monstrous, curt,
pill-popping, controlling disaster-waiting-to-happen who gives people
the sharp end of her tongue to anyone in (or out) of earshot." Which is pretty much spot on. The script of the one-off was brilliantly paced, and aside from all the acid tongued barbs, Davis was allowed to reveal a troubled private vulnerability which sat bubbling under her cracked facepaint, hiding amazing amounts of self loathing and doubt. Her longing
for a ‘real’ family and her continuing distrust of the world was brilliantly acted by the ever impressive actress. What was more stunning was the very fact that, even though we know Davis can act, this role enabled her to steal a scene with her eyes. Quite how you portray a tough, smiling women with sad dead eyes with such aplomb is quite beyond me.

With superb support from Mark Gatiss (who we know from the League of Gentlemen) as the long suffering (and doting) Johnny, and cameos from Britain’s young comedy scene, Fear of Fanny was one of the triumphs of the year, and one which makes me look forward to more roles like this from Julia Davis. [Mof Gimmers]