Adil Ray

Adil Ray interview

TV Choice speaks to the show's creator and writer Adil Ray, who also plays Mr Khan...

It's not real but it's very funny. This spoof phone-in is hosted by (fictional) Gary Bellamy, devised and produced by Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse who also appear, amid a glittering talent line-up which includes Amelia Bullmore, Felix Dexter and Adil Ray in the gloriously comic array of pretend callers. It's hard to go back to the real world of phone-ins after this, so perfectly does it capture their manic levels of non-communication.

Returning for a second series, The Matt Lucas Awards is continuing to give out awards for all kinds of strange categories - and sadly it's still as bad as the first series.

This opening episode featured Ardal O'Hanlon, Robert Webb and Adil Ray, giving out awards in the categories of "Least compensable UK accent", "Most miserable day of the year", and the "Hidden talent award".

I say it's as bad as the first series - there have been a few changes. The musician David Arnold is no-where to be seen, and the awards are now given out by a panel of three judges. In this episode it was three Olympic bronze medallists.

But the second series has exactly the same problems as the first. It's way too gimmicky. In fact, with the inclusion of the judges you could argue that it's become even more gimmicky. You can tell it's tacky when you see Ardal O'Hanlon trying to sing Squeeze's "Up the Junction" in a Donald Duck voice, while dressed in a Donald Duck costume.

It's a huge shame; I really enjoyed the original radio version of the show, And The Winner Is...

There's something a bit odd about these spoof awards, which return for a second series. They are hosted by Matt Lucas, who awards prizes in "unrecognised comedy fields". It used to be on radio, and worked much better there; the TV format is gimmicky. Tonight's guests include Robert Webb, Ardal O'Hanlon and Adil Ray.

Little Britain's Matt Lucas returns to hand out another batch of tubby-tummied gold statuettes to celeb guests.

First on Lucas's sofa are Ardal O'Hanlon, Robert Webb and Adil Ray who take it in turns to nominate candidates for random categories.

Tonight's gongs, awarded by a trio of judges - Olympic bronze medallists Anthony Ogogo, Kate Walsh and Alex Danson - are for such achievements as Least Comprehensible UK Accent and Most Miserable Day Of The Year.

Lined up awkwardly on Matt Lucas's sofa, Robert Webb, Adil Ray and Ardal O'Hanlon look like guests at a bad party. Despite Lucas's sharp chatter, this returning panel show, in which guests suggest award winners in categories such as "most miserable day of the year", feels clunky and slow. The highlight is the award for best hidden talent, when Adil Ray reveals an uncanny ability to recognise 1980s cars just by hearing them rev. If only the rest of the show had more vroom vroom.

Matt Lucas mocks Sir Alex Ferguson's accent

On the opening show of the new series of The Matt Lucas Awards, Arsenal fan Lucas quips: "Let's have a listen to the old incomprehensible old sod in action!" after Fergie is nominated for the least comprehensible UK accent by Citizen Khan star Adil Ray.

Adil Ray interview

To coincide with the release of Citizen Khan on DVD, I spoke Mr Khan himself, Adil Ray, to discuss how Citizen Khan as we know it came about, what his influences were and some more general thoughts about his show.

Video: Writersroom interviews... Adil Ray

Adil talks to us about the writing process for the show, the challenges involved in representing a community on screen, and how he developed the Mr Khan character.

He responds to some of the reactions to the series and tells us about the sitcoms he's grown up with, and loved.