Outside of the episode dedicated to him in the previous series, JJ's Asperger's Syndrome has been an excuse to have him to be very direct and essentially the male version of Pandora.

Just as Pandora acted as a side-kick for Effy, JJ was a sounding board and occasional catalyst in the battle between Cook and Freddie for Effy's affection. JJ wasn't even allowed his own love interest, having to settle for a brief bunk up with Emily which she described as "a one time charity event".

In series three, JJ's episode was about explaining his Asperger's Syndrome. This time he was allowed someone of his own to lust after but was still lumbered with trouble caused by Cook. Some things don't change.

It's pretty appropriate that JJ works with Thomas at a cash and carry that exclusively sells confectionery. If there's one description that applies to JJ, it's sweet and the episode opened with him showing how he can charm the ladies. Unfortunately the lady in question was a granny (played by the peerless Margaret John of Gavin & Stacey fame).

Meanwhile his relationship with his mother is predictably kooky – singing sexually explicit R&B together in their 2CV on the drive home and trading physics facts at the dinner table while JJ's father remains hidden behind his newspaper.

JJ's crush is Lara Lloyd, a pretty blonde with streaks in her hair (a category of fantasy figure slightly ruined by McFly), works at the Cash & Carry too and we're tipped off that she might be the one for JJ because she does Sudoku puzzles.

Back in his bedroom, JJ records James-T-Kirk-style captain's logs and clutches his ukelele. "If she smiles at me tomorrow," he repeats like a mantra. The next day, pushed by Thomas, he runs to ask Lara out only to come face-to-face with her talking to another guy.

The captain's log is forlorn: "Alien lifeform defined as Lara Lloyd, the most beautiful lifeform in this or any universe. Jonah Jones, a pathetic w*nker who will die alone in a flat full of pigeons that he calls his babies. Mission aborted."

There follows possibly the only masturbation scene ever to use George Formby's With My Little Ukulele In My Hand as its soundtrack. What did poor old George ever do to deserve that? Well, besides writing an entire canon of songs based on teeth-grindingly poor innuendo.

The next day, JJ, helpfully goaded into action by Thomas, finally plucks up the courage to ask Lara out, using the shop's loud speaker system in a nice bit of dramatic grandstanding. It all seems to be going rather well until Cook gets involved.

Cook, still on the lamb, has to leave Freddie's house and is dragged, hidden in a bag to JJ's. As has been the continual pattern for the last series and a half, JJ is once again the fall guy for the pretty boy and the total plank (who incidentally tries to smoke while in the bag).

Before the date we discover yet another bump in the course of true love. Lara has a baby (Albert) and that baby's dad (Liam) is still around. Unsurprisingly, Liam is not happy to turn up and discover JJ failing to change Albert's nappy.



Following Cook's advice JJ turns the date into a series of bad puns and inappropriate comments. Lara gets peanuts, JJ tells her "the average bar snack does test positive for up to 16 types of urine." JJ tries to run off, climbing out of the window but gets caught by Lara as he's gone into the ladies. The date ends there.

We see JJ walking down Friendship Road – the Skins writers being no strangers to heavy-handed allegory – before finding Lara sat at the bus stop and sitting down beside her. At this point, the super-sweet JJ that so charmed Emily in series three makes a reappearance and inevitably Lara is charmed too.

As is mandatory in Skins, Lara and JJ kiss and are immediately catapulted into a bedroom montage. If getting a shag as a slightly nerdy teenage boy was as easy as Skins makes it, teenage blokes the nation over would be a lot less morose.

JJ's next brilliant move is to take Lara to meet Naomi and Emily whose relationship has fractured even further after the revelation of Naomi's affair and Emily snogging another girl. It's awkward to say the least. As if meeting his friends was not enough, JJ then takes Lara (with poor old Albert along for the ride) to meet his mum and dad. JJ's mum manages to call Lara a slut.

Then Cook's advice pushes JJ in the wrong direction again: "You're a man aren't you? Find this Liam chap and have it out with him." JJ ends up tussling with Liam at the Cash & Carry and Lara dumps him. Once again, well done Cook.

JJ's method to make things up to Lara involves...his ukulele. How gosh darn Freudian. Backed by Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain her serenades her with, of all songs, True by Spandau Ballet. Now most right thinking people would have called the police at that point but Lara is seduced and the couple is reunited.

It seems Skins' writers feel capable of torturing Effy, putting Cook in prison and giving Freddie a girlfriend with the same issues as his mother but they can't face giving JJ the same kind of kicking. Maybe it's his puppy dog face or just that they realise he's been playing third wheel to the pretty boy and the plonker for too long.

Have a quick look at next week's episode below.