If you’re from a small town you don’t let anyone take the piss out of it. Like slagging your mum, only you are allowed to do it. In the crevices of the countryside are great people with rare senses of humour. You complain about the lack of anything to do, always aware that pacing around like a caged cat in a zoo. However, the people are good. So often, TV misses this fact in favour of mere nose pulling to those unable to defend themselves… so step forward Hardy Bucks, championing the slackers of the wilds.

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Let’s be honest with ourselves here… new TV comedy is not in a great shape at the moment. Time and time again, the nation is relying on the old and established guard for laughs. It’s telling that there’s more excitement surrounding the return of Peep Show than some hip young gunslinger causing ripples in the TV puddle.

When you look at those coming through it really isn’t very surprising. Katy Brand, Star Stories and The TNT Show are lessons in misery, reeking of flipcharts and imagined Yoof humour, rather than gut-instinct and world weariness.

For new comedy, you’re more likely to find a belly laugh online, rather than the old method of flicking to Channel 4 or BBC Two.

As such, Hardy Bucks have become something of an obsession of mine, showing the current crop of shite how it’s really done. Shot through bleary, hungover/stoned eyed and those long, dragging endless days when you’ve no job or anything to do, these fine hardy bucks tread the line of dry, black comedy and the wistful dreams of books like The Giro Playboy and The Outsider (in the case of the latter, without the murdering of an Arab).

That’s why we need this show on the British boxes right now. It’s a hilarious look at life on benefits without once judging those that scratch an existence backed by a huge warmth and a critical look at the bust that followed the boom.

Each character is pant wettingly hilarious and someone you could well be mates with already (if you live in the real world that is). Hell, it might be you in the show. RTE have picked up the show and will invariably turn it into a cult classic.

Catch it online at the Hardy Bucks YouTube channel and then, cross every digit on your body that someone in TVland is bright enough to commission this so everyone can get a piece of it.

It’s about as perfect as comedy gets.