Confessions of an Alien Abductee

About four times a year, and rather to the chagrin of his wife, Simon has sex with an alien being he calls the Cat Queen. Marie suspects her DNA has been altered during an alien abduction. And Chantelle has been taken by ETs on thousands of occasions, often while chowing down on a KFC meal.

Thank goodness for the snappily named Anomalous Mind Management Abductee Contactee Helpline, logging their encounters and providing some support. It would be very easy to make fun of this trio, three of the thousand Brits who claim to be abucted by aliens every year. But – although some laughs are as unavoidable as they are big – Guy Gilbert’s doc wisely steers clear of this easy option, especially when it becomes apparent that their claims may be rooted in some deep personal trauma.

Is there life on Mars? We’re no nearer knowing after watching ‘Confessions…’, but as a low-key character study of British eccentricity (somehow, the idea of the same show being made in America is deeply unedifying) it has real charm and integrity. If they’re not hurting anyone and if it gives them comfort, good luck to them.