I missed the first couple of outings of this new sitcom on E4, and having watched it last night, I’m glad I did.

On paper, it should be good; Ashley Jensen’s in it, as is Jenna Elfman – the ditzy blonde from Dharma and Greg – but not even their comedic skills could drag this woefully obvious sitcom out of the realms of Just Plain Bad.

Unsurprisingly, US network CBS canned it fairly abruptly after viewing figures dropped rapidly off the scale. So if you are slightly deranged and actually like the show, don’t expect to see it through to its natural conclusion because it was euthanised before season two could be born.

But that’s really no shock is it? Canned laughter, jokes so obvious they actually hurt a little bit, and an utterly predictable storyline equate to a poor show. And the bin is the best place for it.

I would imagine too that in light of the awfulness that it is, Ashley Jensen’s kicking herself that she hooked up with a role in it. It’s quite a considerable blot on an otherwise textbook rise to fame.

Jenna Elfman is probably wishing she had a third leg so she can more comfortably kick her own backside, but in all honesty, her career wasn’t a shiny as Jensen’s anyway.

As to the other main protagonist, Jon Foster as Zack – the baby daddy – he barely ranks a mention, other than to point out his dreadfulness. If I had to sum up Foster’s portrayal of a twentyish student type, I’d say, overacted, purposeless and unconvincing. And they were just his good points.

However, to be fair to the actors, they can only hope to parlay the script they’re given into something meaningful and/or funny, and judging by last night’s offering, that’s akin to asking Herod to open a nursery. It simply isn’t doable, feasible or likely.

So, farewell Accidentally on Purpose, alas I knew you, albeit briefly. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.