BBC Three’s award-winning taste-questioning puppet comedy is back for a nine-part second series and it’s pretty much business as usual for the foul-mouthed bunch.

For the uninitiated, Mongrels is an “adult” version of The Muppet Show, if they got kicked out the theatre and left to rot on the streets. And if they were all vermin. And all have varying disturbing personal issues (which you could argue Kermit and his pals do).

The first episode on their return sees Nelson, an urbane fox, finding himself in the role of hitman after indulging an old friend in some tasteful euthanasia (with the help of lots of pillows). In the style of a Nazi Hunter, he is asked to track down some bad Beagles but this isn’t as easy as he thought it would be.

Destiny, literally the “bitch” of the gang (a female Afghan hound who shares remarkable similarities with reality “star” Stacey Solomon), is at the heart of most of the gags in this episode, however, as she joins a dog-walking service full of celebrity dogs.

Featured famous pooches belong to Kate Thornton, Miquita Oliver, Alexa Chung and Claudia Winkleman. High-class dogs, I think you’ll agree. But the bitches are thrown into a tizzy with the arrival of John Terry’s dog (sublime timing, it has to be said).

Destiny uses her charm to gain his attention and, when that fails, she resorts to a spot of violence – cue a delightful ode to domestic abuse from the canines in the style of Lily Allen’s LDN. After fifteen minutes or so of fairly tame Mongrels humour, it’s pleasing to see a return to some deliberately shocking material.

Whilst not an hilarious opening instalment for Series 2, Mongrels delivers in terms of reliable chuckles and 30 minutes of entertainment. Fans will be satiated, though newcomers may wonder what all the fuss is about.

Airs at 10.30pm on Monday 7th November 2011 on BBC Three.

> Buy the Series 1 DVD on Amazon.

Are you looking forward to Series 2? Let us know below…