The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

Amy Poehler tempers the sweetness slightly with an occasionally spiky voiceover – at one point, she credits Swedish efficiency to the availability of free healthcare, an unexpectedly socialist interlude – but this is feelgood TV designed to expand the heart.

Amy Poehler supplies a squeakily annoying and extremely American voice-over, which may be a comfort to US viewers but over here is definitely surplus to requirements. Tune out of Poehler’s narration, though, and this is an uplifting makeover show. The trio of presenters are sympathetic and supportive – like Stacey Solomon in the BBC’s Sort Your Life Out – but they’re also firm.

Gentle Art manages to be frank and funny with its clutterers without stooping into condescension. And the show has some great characters with which to work.

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning works because of its cast. Less of a home makeover show and more of a soul makeover, the show doesn’t have big “move that bus!” reveals, but the emotional reckoning the clients often have at the end of each episode is just as moving and satisfying.