The Jonathan Ross Show

Jonathan Ross returned tonight with another roster of famous faces gracing his slightly nauseating ITV set and actually, it was good to have him back.

Sure, many viewers have concluded in his BBC absence that Graham Norton is actually the far funnier, warmer and less self-indulgent chat show host, but Ross is still a competent presenter within the format.

Besides which, he can still pull in some big names, as he proved on tonight's show.

First up was Professor Brian Cox, who charmed Ross and the audience alike with his scientific banter and use of something called a Van Der Graaf generator (best not to ask) to help give the eponymous host some extra oomph in his hair.

Slightly less charming - but as funny as ever - was comedian John Bishop, who regaled us with anecdotes from his involvement in Sport Relief, leading seamlessly on to the three young athletes who were next to stir things up on Ross' sofa.

It's too early in the year for us to have Olympic fatigue already - although we're close - so the presence of swimmer Francesca Halsall, heptathlete Louise Hazel and Taekwondo champion Jade Jones was welcome as the trio talked through their hopes to rake in the gold for Britain this summer and challenged Ross and his guests to some physical activity in the studio.

And to top it all off, rising US songstress Lana Del Ray appeared on the show and mesmerised everyone with That Voice and Those Lips.

As series launches go, this was a good'un.

The last time Ross shared a stage with Brian Cox it was during the latter's Night with the Stars show, in which he made Ross do elaborate maths on a blackboard in front of a celebrity audience at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Ross wailed it was "the worst thing that has happened to me as an adult", so he may look to have his revenge on Cox now.

Also on the guest list is Liverpool comic John Bishop and there's music from Lana Del Rey, the retro-glamour-puss whose debut Video Games was a sensation before it was released. Expect her to smoulder.

It's been business as usual for Jonathan Ross since he hopped channels last year - his mildly provocative patter and cheery sycophancy remained firmly intact. But the calibre of guests on his ITV shows has varied greatly, and tonight's new series opener has a rather lacklustre line-up. Comedian John Bishop and BBC science presenter Brian Cox pop up, but hotly tipped singer, the glamorous Lana Del Rey, provides the real interest.