Bodily Harm (2002– ) DVD

Timothy Spall stars in this explosive dark comedy, first broadcast on Channel 4 in 2002, about a mild-mannered stockbroker's ferocious response to a perfect storm of grief, loss and betrayal.

Mitchel Greenfield (Spall) is a contented suburban family man, with a respectable job in the City. He loves his wife Mandy (Lesley Manville), dotes on his teenage daughter Nic (Sadie Thompson) and cares for his ageing parents Sidney (George Cole) and Sheila (Annette Crosbie).

But cracks are forming below the surface, and on the eve of his 44th birthday Mitchel loses his job, finds his wife in flagrante with a sleazy neighbour, and discovers his dad is dying of cancer. In a raw fug of anguish and fury, he is soon jabbering manically at strangers and threatening people with golf clubs.

The two-part drama, written by Tony Grounds (Our Girl) and directed by Joe Wright (Darkest Hour), is an affecting and ultimately life-affirming portrait of modern family life.

Spall has cornered the market in men on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He has the face of a man abandoned by the world. Guardian