The fact that Nick is, on the surface at any rate, perhaps the least interesting character of the current Skins generation shouldn’t necessarily warrant this being the most forgettable episode of Series 6 so far, but sadly this week’s outing is notably thin on plot.

Sean Teale is great to watch, and when Nick is popping up in other peoples’ stories he’s good fun as the show’s trying-too-hard nice guy, but this year he’s seemed more an extension of absent brother Matty than his own agent, having had very little interaction with former partners Mini or Liv.

Instead we’ve seen Nick develop feelings at the flick of a switch for his brother’s former girlfriend, Franky; feelings which will never be reciprocated… apart from when they are.

The main elements of this week’s story are the tribulations Nick faces in trying to get together two thousand pounds in cash to give to The Doctor; not a benevolent Time Lord, but rather an obviously shady underworld figure who claims he can get Matty out of wherever he’s been hiding all series and back home to an uncaring father and a group of friends who blame him for Grace’s death.

Alongside this selfless act, Nick also (after some guidance by Alex) beds both the very pretty but intensely tedious Carly (Antonia Clarke) and then the seemingly-unattainable Franky.

Speaking of Franky, this year’s run hasn’t been kind to her character either. Since settling on a sexuality and gender identity following her intriguing initial ambiguity, Franky has essentially overtaken Mini as Generation 3’s queen bitch, which is a real shame as she was one of the show’s all-time best creations.

Despite everyone doing well with what they have, especially Sean Teale, this sixth episode is really only about moving forward two pieces of plot, with Nick and Franky getting together and (thanks to the internet connection and webcam available in his unspecified hellhole) Matty finding out.

Aired at 10pm on Monday 27th February 2012 on E4.

> Order the Series 6 DVD on Amazon.

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> Christopher Jerden-Cooke is co-host of Doctor Who: The Eleventh Hour Podcast.