Inside No. 9 Cold Comfort (2014– ) Online

Andy takes a new job, a volunteer at comfort support line, a Samaritans style organisation that encourages active listening over counselling. Encouraged by colleague Liz and boss George all seems OK, until Andy becomes the victim of a stalker, Chloe.

This is one of the most original episodes, the writing is superb, it starts off as a safe, light comedy, then turns very dark and sinister, Andy's desk becomes a very claustrophobic environment.

Pemberton is outstanding, I think it's about his best performance in the series, he's sincere and wonderfully empathetic throughout. Shearsmith and Horrocks are great too, but this is very much the Pemberton show.

The multi screen layout is original too, all in all I think this is a brilliant episode 9/10

I feel like the ending could be so much more, right after the twist was when the disappointment started. Other than that this episode I really enjoyed, though again the layout of the episode could of been better taking advantage of the other cameras more instead of the major camera ??

This episode was okay however their was a few things that could be worked on to make this episode stellar.

After the previous episode's The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge's departure from the norm writers, stars Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton offer us another with Cold Comfort. Rather than the novelty with the former stories usual contemporary setting being substituted for a historical 17th Century Post English Revolutionary one, this latest offering confines itself predominantly within the offices of a Comfort Support Line. The neat yet simple premise revolves around Andy (Pemberton) commencing his first day as a volunteer with the centre. It's one that proves to be more than he bargained for when he receives two particular calls from separate callers one of which is a teenage girl, seemingly driven to the brink of suicide. As the day progresses events take a steadily sinister turn as he becomes convinced he's the victim of a hoax phone call, one that's going to take an even more sinister twist than he might ever have imagined.

Grim, chilling with a somewhat poignant edge Cold Comfort is a perfect example of when a for the majority of story, a confined environment is utilised to sublime effect. Wittily written with excellently realised characterisation amplified through the first rate performances from a wonderful small cast and tight direction, it's not hard to find yourself being sucked in to the drama as it unfolds. Steve Pemberton is ever reliable in the lead as the kindhearted protagonist attempting to cope with the pressures of his new job, not helped when things begin to go awry. He's Ably supported by Reece Shearsmith who gives a superbly cozy performance as his amiable supervisor George while further inspired support is on hand from veteran actress Jane Horrocks, giving an amusingly kooky portrayal of a fellow support worker. While there's a chilling air of uncertainty that permeates proceedings which we see via the p.o.v. shot of a computer monitor that Andy is sat in front of, it's deftly counter-balanced with some hilariously absurd humour as background events in the office run in parallel with the main narrative. A wonderful hook that gives the story it's lighter edge without compromising it's harsher one. A steadily growing sense of paranoia that becomes palpable as we're drawn in to the main leads plight which builds to it's neat pay-off, which while not the most shocking of denouements still left me pleasantly satisfied.

Although ultimately not one of the best of the stories that Pemberton and Shearsmith have yet to offer with opening episode La Couchette being my current favourite at the moment, Cold Comfort still makes for a great way to waste an enjoyable half hour of your time. Although not quite as clever as it thinks it is, with it's novel set-up failing to quite live up to the early promise it might have had. I still never the less look forward to next weeks offering with some enthusiasm.

Having once had a job where you gave advice on the phone I could relate to new boy Andy who is a new volunteer in a Samaritans type helpline.

It soon becomes apparent that the volunteers are just as dysfunctional as some of the callers and some of the callers are time wasters.

Andy is spooked by hoaxer Chloe a young woman who constantly calls in and claims to have taken some pills. Andy is also ignorant to the feelings of an elderly lady upset that her cat has died. Andy blames Chloe for the way he treated the elderly caller as he was spooked by Chloe's actions the first time she called.

Shearsmith and Pemberton directed this episode, they used a multi screen setting and it is cleverly done to deflect the audience as to who the hoax caller might be. They also add a further twist upon a twist.

The episode takes a darker turn the more it goes on but I just felt that the helpline had a terrible induction process.

I recently watched every episode to the most current one for the first time ever. Four series back to back. This one stood out the most for me.

It deals with so many characters; 'people', their emotions, how they react to others. What they care about or are ultimately looking for.

My only gripe is it took my three years to see it! And more use could have been made of the extra camera footage.

I liked it so much, this is my first ever IMDB review.

Recommended.