Alan Carr

Alan Carr's Police Academy Twitter campaign

Alan Carr wants to play Officer Laverne Hooks in the new Police Academy and, using #AlanCarrForHooks, kick-started a Twitter campaign to get him the part.

ITV and Sky 'interested in poaching Alan Carr'

ITV and Sky have outlined their interest in stand-up comedian Alan Carr, according to reports.

It's easier to define Alan Carr by what he isn't. He isn't quite Graham Norton, which means he's not hysterically shrill and often in Canary Wharf Waitrose. He isn't Justin Lee Collins, which means that he's not disliked on sight by 80 percent of the population. He isn't a great writer, but he has a warm persona which means that his stand-up is unthreatening and extremely popular. More importantly, he isn't egotistical so he's not a bad chat show host.

Chatty Man is over reliant on Norton-esque games (has anyone ever liked them? Ever?). It is at its best when Alan relaxes and natters with his guests, using the Kirsty Young method to unthreateningly coax some fairly good stuff out of them. All that is by the by, however as tonight's special guest is Ricky Gervais, who seems to be on a mission to become the most correctly despised person in Britain.

Alan Carr is so keen-as-mustard, so effervescently eager-to-please, he has rushed out this New Year's Eve special two days early. And it's a classy edition to round off the series: Carr is joined by the brightest twinkling star of this year's Christmas television, David Tennant, who will be discussing his performance in his final episodes of Doctor Who, though no doubt remaining resolutely tight-lipped on the plot details. Davina McCall also drops by to discuss the last-ever Celebrity Big Brother (coming soon - be warned) and music comes from Spandau Ballet.

Personally, I found Alan Carr's recent statement that gay men make the best chatshow hosts because they are "gossipy" rather annoying - not only because it relies on a particular stereotype, but also because it would imply that Graham Norton is better in the field than Jonathan Ross. For all his faults, Wossy still has the edge on that score. That said, the last series of Carr's show was often hilarious with the right guests. Whether Noel Fielding and Mariah Carey fit into that category, we'll have to wait and see.

Jason Byrne has the honour of providing half of the official comedy on 2 at the moment - Vic Reeves's panel show Does the Team Think? makes up the other 50% - though regular presenters Mark Radcliffe, Jonathan Ross and Alan Carr can all make you splutter into your cuppa. Byrne, though, is different: his show is proper stand-up, complete with audience interaction. There are a couple of silly sketches but the bulk of his half-hour is like being in a decent comedy club with a much-more-than-decent comedian. The lines are sharp but it's the atmosphere and delivery that make the show. This week's topic was food. Byrne asked if anyone had ever eaten something they shouldn't. "A tick!" came the bizarre answer. "You mean the insect?" asked Byrne. "Or maybe you stopped talking and meant to say 'tac' after that." Ace.

Chat will eat itself

So last night, Jonathan Ross, presenter of chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, was a guest on the chat show Alan Carr: Chatty Man...

Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins to go seperate ways

Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins are to end their telly partnership. Their hit show The Sunday Night Project will end after three years as Alan wants out.

Undoubtedly the biggest disappointment of the past week was Alan Carr: Chatty Man. Following in the footsteps of his Sunday Night Project co-host Justin Lee Collins' move to solo chat show host, Alan Carr's Channel 4 offering failed to live up to the weeks of hype surrounding it. Although better than his co-hosts ITV2 show, Alan Carr fails to capitalise on his guests despite attracting big named stars. The biggest problem is the show looks dated and misplaced trying to appeal to many age groups whilst alienating fans of the late night show both comedians started on.