A dying barrister is looked after by his carer, but tonight something is coming that will test them both to the very end.

For the most part a two-hander between angry Webster (Derek Jacobi) and Bedford, this is a beautifully-performed chamber piece that at times reminded me of Shearsmith’s interaction with Ken Stott in their recent stage version of The Dresser. It’s bittersweet, it’s melancholy, and because it’s Inside No. 9, it’s not going to be what you initially think it is.

Jacobi is great as the angry old man, railing against the world as he waits to die, while Shearsmith shows a sensitivity in the way that Bedford plays to his palliative care patient’s vanities as he creeps closer to death. Steve Pemberton is mainly in the shadows as a lift attendant, his script with Shearsmith another winner in this strong season.

Verdict: I’m running out of superlatives to describe the cleverness of this year’s scripts, suffice to say that this will keep you guessing right up to the end. 8/10

Nick Joy