Inside No. 9 continues apace this week, and makes good on the promise to deliver something entirely fresh with each new episode. Divorcing themselves of the chance to rely on recurring characters and suchlike, the team work hard to produce something that’s truly special.

This second episode deals with the theft of a not-entirely blank painting that is presumably worth many thousands of pounds. It’s a neat nod to the long relationship between Shearsmith and Pemberton, since they appeared together in a production of Yasmina Reza’s ‘Art’ – which has as its focus a similar masterpiece – over ten years ago.

The piece of artistry on display here, however, is that the entire episode is played out in virtual silence, Shearsmith and Pemberton not speaking aloud during the robbery. This riff on ’Rififi’ is, simply put, a thing of beauty. It’s true that sometimes over-written dialogue can get in the way, but here we are presented with a number of richly drawn characters with complex backgrounds in an episode that has less words than this review.

Yeah, yeah, we know: ‘silent’ episodes have been done before, most notably with Buffy The Vampire Slayer. But, hush. What we’re loving about this series is that nobody needs to do it like this. The League Of Gentlemen‘s fan base might be relatively small, but they’re loyal and mighty: it would still be easy enough for the boys to coast. But one thing you won’t hear here is any degree of complacency. From the clever-clever casting of one of the guest stars to the even cleverer plotting that allows for huge punchlines to sail into view with nary a syllable of set-up, this is the sort of thing that gives one a pleasingly mixed feeling of delight and bitter jealousy.

Pray silence – for the kings.

Aired at 10pm on Wednesday 12 February 2014 on BBC Two.

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