Now in its second series, Mongrels is one of the funniest and most original shows currently appearing on our screens - but its dark humour divides opinion and even its most loyal fans often wonder what makes it such a hoot.
It's not immediately obvious why the cult comedy should hold such appeal: there are no big-name comedians in the show (unless you count the hapless celebs that generally meet their peril in cameo roles), but instead a metrosexual fox, self-obsessed Afghan hound and sociopathic pigeon are its unlikely protagonists: they are, of course, all puppets.
Comparisons are frequently made between Mongrels and Avenue Q, and it's fair to say that if you were a fan of the hit musical you're sure to like Mongrels, which is more of a low-rent, home-grown equivalent with just as much dark humour and musical comedy to enjoy in every episode. But the UK-centric setting makes the puppets' daily lives even funnier, as the dialogue is peppered with pop-culture references and knowing nods to current affairs, making the far-fetched events feel hilariously familiar.
The show's real strength, however, has got to be its willingness to nudge the boundaries of so many topics considered taboo by human-fronted TV shows, exploring them through the eyes of animals thrown together in a grotty pub backyard. We certainly seem more able to confront such controversial themes as under-age sex, racism and death when they're presented to us by fluffy animals, and the show is never funnier than when it's got its canine teeth round a thorny issue.
Check out the below video of Vince the fox expressing his dislike of immigrant chickens from season 1...
See Mongrels every Monday night at 10:30pm on BBC3 or on iPlayer catch-up