MY HERO (BBC1) is a comedy where the title character is somewhat surplus to requirements. Health food shopkeeper George Sunday, played by Ardal O'Hanlon, is really an intergalactic hero from the planet Ultron who marries an Earthling and dashes off every so often to rescue people from volcanoes, floods and fires around his wife's home planet.

But the real stars are to be found in the humdrum doctor's surgery where George's wife Janet works -- egotistical TV doctor Piers Crispin, who cares more for publicity than his patients and bitter and twisted receptionist Mrs Raven (we never find out her first name, but it should be something like Drucilla or Morticia) played by the marvellous Geraldine McNulty.

Perhaps the Government should employ a few more Mrs Ravens to keep the waiting lists down as she dispenses her own acidic remedy to the problems she thinks are afflicting the patients. "I wonder if you could help me," said one straggly-haired female. "No, I don't do cosmetic surgery," the flicked-fringed firebrand snapped back.

If laughter is the best medicine maybe daft George and his hideous talking baby son should be banished to Ultron and let the real comedy characters come to the forefront.That would be an ideal prescription to kick-start the weekend.