The Americans can keep Scrubs; we’ve got something better.

Channel 4 has always produced the goods when it has come to sitcoms, you need look no further than the recent success of the IT Crowd or beyond that the brilliant Black Books and iconic Father Ted.

So when in 2004 the channels comedy big-wigs signed up to an hour long hospital drama you can be forgiven for thinking they might have been getting something more similar to the BBC’s Saturday night snore-fest Casualty or even a UK version of US hit Scrubs. 

Two series and a Christmas special later though and Channel 4 is behind one of the most original and funny programmes to appear on television since the days of Faulty Towers.

Set in a fictional Greater London hospital and written by the people behind critically acclaimed sketch-show Smack the Pony, Green Wing revolves around its staff and their seemingly normal lives. The main focus is on Dr Caroline Todd (Tamsin Greig), the new girl who just can’t quite seem to fit in or more importantly work out which doctor she’d rather hook up with.

Her choices are heartthrob biker surgeon Mac (Julian Rhind-Tutt) or Swiss womanising anaesthetist Guy (Stephen Mangan) who have a love hate relationship that would have made Basil Fawlty and Manuel look like best friends.

It is the depth and quality of cast that make Green Wing such a comedy classic though and there are a dozen other people that make the main characters of the show what it is. This can be said for no more than pompous and neurotic radiologist Alan Statham, better known as comedy genius Mark Heap. His obsession with less than secret partner and head of human resources Joanna Clore (Pippa Haywood) provides many of the highlights throughout both series.

Joanna can barely stand to be in the same room as the dithering idiot Alan but her desperation to stay young is enough to make their relationship last before she ends it claiming she only went out with him because she was “bored”.

Indeed the whole show is based around romance but the real comedy factor comes from its satirical side. Sue White (Michelle Gomez), a Scottish staff liaison comes into her own in this respect, for example she can been seen riding a camel she bought in for a children’s petting zoo around the hospital as well as stripping to try and seduce Mac.

The show has an unusual camera style that came about due to filming taking place in a real hospital. Scenes are often slowed down or sped up so that surrounding activities can be used in conjunction with the story line. This method of production was the only criticism the show received when it was originally aired as it went onto win several awards including two BAFTA’s.

It’s hard to sum up what makes the show so good but if I were to put it down to one thing credit would have to go to the actors, each of whom brings their own unique comedy edge to their role. This combined with fantastic jokes built into the storyline makes it one of the best comedies for years. Like all of those before it, it knew when to call it quits going out on a high with a Christmas special this year.