Quite probably the most outstanding 30 minutes of the year. Some may be put off this because they do not like League of Gentlemen, or the pair's style of comedy - but no worries as, well, this is not really comedy at all.
Basically follows a young woman through twelve days in her life over 12 years. Almost all of the action takes place in the same flat (indeed most takes place in the same room) - which is really the only connecting feature of Inside No 9, so no surprise there.
Pemberton and Shearsmith themselves barely feature in this - what we get instead if a tour de force by Sheridan Smith, whose character gradually begins to be aware that there is something wrong as the days go by, as does the viewer. Then the denouement hits - and a more gut-wrenching emotional end its hard to imagine.
What is even more impressive is that, even if you know the end, the programme works well on second or third viewings. Trivial unnoticed things suddenly become important.
Inside Number Nine is a very clever series, but this is beyond clever. This is astonishing. Watch and be amazed - and keep the tissues handy!