There’s no doubting that Channel 4 makes some very odd scheduling decisions. They buy up the quality imports that the US is churning out at the moment, and then seem to have no real system for whether they stick them on a Friday in the sitcom slot (Ugly Betty?!), mid-week on E4 (Reaper) or, well, anywhere they can be bothered to stick it (My Name Is Earl). So while it should be surprising that this new American sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, is being shown on Channel 4 on a Thursday rather than a Friday, in reality it’s not surprising at all.

The Big Bang Theory isn’t one of the sitcoms that we’ve heard particularly great things about over here, unlike, say 30 Rock, but Channel 4 are obviously expecting big things. It follows a couple of highly qualified, but socially backwards scientists in their twenties, as they try and reconcile their massive intellect with their inability to talk to a girl. The odd couple is a comedy cornerstone, and, when the rapport’s there, very rarely fails. Occasionally, it can create something really special. As long as the guys aren’t just portrayed as bog-standard, stereotypical science nerds, then this has potential.