A programme which could — very nearly — have been a serious documentary, brilliantly undercut by presenter Armando Iannucci’s absurdist presentation and investigative style. Taking as its starting-point the idea that there is just too much stuff all going on at once in today’s society, the series turned its attention on work, sex, money, rest and other matters central to human life, and carefully pointed out all the things that were wrong with them. In Excess was by no means a ‘spoof’; it merely gave reality a little gentle encouragement in ripping its own credibility to shreds.