The cast of Pulling get stuck into a kebab

THE fools at BBC Three cancelled this acerbic, Bafta-nominated comedy about three single 30-somethings after just two series, so if you could all please turn and blow raspberries in the direction of Broadcasting House that would be splendid.

Still, this one-off farewell is simply brilliant: a hilarious thrill for newcomers as well as the series’ loyal army of fans. Filthy, dark, and wincingly embarrassing, it glows with the malevolence of British Woman Irritated.

Just think, if Pulling had existed 10 years ago, we mightn’t have had to endure the sheer hell of Helen Baxendale’s mincing English rose in Friends.

So where are the girls now? Relieved of her ex-fiance Karl (Cavan Clerkin) who moved to Italy at the end of season two, Sharon Horgan’s Donna’s free-and-single lifestyle – and lust for posh freebies – has brought her Stephan (Tobias Menzies), a yuppie who likes to have sex on money and will only take her out if she pretends to be an escort.

A slimline Louise (Rebekah Staton) is back from travelling (“I had amoebic dysentery!” “Christ, Louise, how many amoebas did you eat?”) and reluctantly living in a bedsit with Greg, an amiable goon who rescued her from a mudslide.

And then there’s hard-case Karen (Tanya Franks), who’s ditched drugs and make-up for a selfish monster with a love of snooker (Paul Ritter).

All changes when she runs into her ex, Billy (Paul Kaye) who has devastating news that causes her to leap off the wagon; when Donna ditches Stephan to pursue Karl, back from Italy with a new woman; and when Louise can’t face a lifetime with a goon.

Cue the show’s trademark mix of darkness and slapstick, leading to a high point that juxtaposes shocking violence with one of the funniest revenge scenes in ages.

When it comes to cheering up women on TV, Gok Wan can spread himself only so thin – and not everything can be solved by a cheapo prom dress and matching shoes. We need more good TV, not more clothes. Try Pulling in the meantime. Boo, hiss, BBC Three