Catherine Tate made her mark with a number of supporting roles (Big Train, Barking, TvGoHome and others) and a starring role in Wild West before graduating to this intriguing self-named series. Part simple comedy, part biting satire, the first series was patchy - as virtually all sketch shows are - but it served to underline Tate's versatility and dazzling aptitude for inhabiting the skin of a wide-ranging cast of characters of various ages. Best, initially, were Lauren Cooper, the modern-day teenage schoolgirl constantly troubled by current parlance (infecting the country with the catchphrase 'Am I bovvered?'), and Nan Taylor, the cockney granny who, while appearing to be pleasant, is actually a foul-mouthed racist. The show also introduced a heavily made-up Tate as an overtly effeminate man, Derek Faye, constantly outraged at everyone's assumption he is gay; Moo Shepherd, a hugely competitive Brummie dog trainer; Geordie Georgie, the office worker constantly haranguing her co-worker to support lunatic charity appeals; Margaret, a woman who reacts violently to common noises; Bernie, the man-mad and grossly incompetent Irish hospital nurse; Paul and Sam, a caricature Essex couple who find life's most inane moments of huge interest and importance; and Irene and Vern, a Jewish couple running a mobile motorway snack bar who regale a regular customer (guest star Brian Murphy) with unlikely stories of their celebrity patrons.Good, bad or indifferent?