Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience

Rhod Gilbert is the King of Similes and the possible love-child of Dylan Moran and Paul O’Grady. Words cannot easily express the comedic talent of this man, nor is it a simple task to pinpoint his style of comedy without relying on a selection of direct quotes.

Work Experience is a show that sets a challenge and then sees it accomplished. During each episode, the comedian is made to learn all about a new profession for the first time and complete a trial run of that career choice. It sounds simple enough. But what Work Experience teaches Rhod, and the television audience, is that there are a great number highly underestimated and undervalued workers out there with incredibly arduous jobs. When the slightly odd format and incredibly deadpan comedy of Gilbert are combined, this makes for real entertainment.

Not only is the programme humorous, but it is also informative and eccentric, with stunning camera work (particularly evident in episode one: Fisherman). With such a massive amount of laughs and lessons crammed into half an hour, you’d think it would feel heavy or even boring, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

These mini documentaries leave you feeling educated, entertained and contented (the latter being down to Rhod Gilbert’s presence alone). It is light-hearted, friendly and often pretty stupid (again, down to Rhod) and is one of those programmes that feels so personable, it’s as if we are reading funny man’s own diary. He allows himself to be vulnerable and makes it clear when he is afraid or out of his comfort zone and that is something of great value and importance to me as a viewer.

To catch up on the latest series, visit BBC iPlayer