Alan Carr

Independent Review

Though the format was beyond weak, the writing provided flashes of affectionate Brit wit.

Now here's a pun-loaded title if ever I heard one. This is a new introduction to Radio 2's regular Saturday lunchtime Comedy Hour. Sadly, it also sounds like another half-baked attempt to allow the BBC to air some of its comedy archives.

Archive comedy clips have never sounded so odd. Alan Carr interweaves segments from the BBC archives with his own fictional escapades. In this first show, he goes on a hen night that somehow ends up involving Les Dawson, Ross Noble, Michael McIntyre, a lamppost and plenty of cling film.

On the face of it, Tonightly's mix of topical gags, spoof characters and sketches does not seem entirely ground-breaking and indeed remarkably similar to its Channel 4 predecessor, The 11 O'Clock Show.

On first viewing, Tonightly is a lot safer than its predecessor, and grindingly familiar. Bloke does gags about news, bloke sits behind desk to introduce female co-host who does... more gags about news.

Whether the new talent on show becomes established in the way of its late-night Channel 4 predecessor, I'm not so sure. But hats off to Channel 4 for trying out a TV comedy show which features neither a panel show element - or Alan Carr.

In an hour, they packed in Ruby Wax's RSC reminiscences (she couldn't master the wench accent), a tribute to Richard Beckinsale, Neil Innes on Rutland Weekend TV (surely worth a repeat), a little bit about the over-rated Adrian Mole, Alan Carr's guide to Northampton, David Baddiel going back to school, Mel and Sue in Oxford, David Renwick's life on the Luton News and the evolution of Spitting Image. Great value for money!