Andy Murray (I)

My Heroes and heroines: Tim Key

Comic poet Tim Key talks about some of his personal heroes including Mike Leigh, Harold Lloyd and Andy Murray.

The comedy panel show will be addressing one of the very biggest questions in sport this week: Does Andy Murray have a sense of humour?

As series four begins, the tennis star takes his place on the red team where he shows off his unexpected talent as a rapper and also gets the chance to serve a tennis ball straight at James Corden's head. It's an attempt to recreate a William Tell-style stunt by Roger Federer that's been a massive viral hit on YouTube, so no pressure.

Also feeling the heat this week are panellists Freddie Flintoff, Kevin Bishop and Corden himself. They were given a masterclass in penalties from Matt Le Tissier and then got the chance to do it at Wembley at half time during the Manchester derby ­Community Shield game.

For Scouse comedian Bishop, taking a penalty in front of 80,000 Mancunians is no laughing matter.

A big guest straight off the bat for series four: Andy Murray, taking a break from tantalising losses in Grand Slam semis. In the last series, Tim Henman fired serves at the show's regulars. How can Murray top that? By picking up a microphone to reveal his talent for rapping, backed by regular host James Corden.

The show's also held onto star players John Bishop and Andrew Flintoff, along with Jamie Redknapp and Georgie Thompson. Other guests are comic Jason Manford, and Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier.

Comic Relief's mix of mirth and misery done to a turn

BBC show features appearances from Andy Murray, Kim Cattrall and Simon Callow - plus Ronnie Corbett hiding in the bushes.

Andy Murray tries to escape James Corden's clutches

With a major tennis tournament just a couple of weeks away, Andy Murray can't afford to have too many late nights. But try telling that to James Corden, who just didn't want to let his tennis friend go home too early.

The ailing government is spiralling into the abyss and Malcolm Tucker is both waving and drowning when he tries to charm a group of journalists. Though "charm" is an overstatement: "Journalists...one day you are writing for the papers, the next you are sleeping under them." It's typical Tucker bravado, but you can tell he's feeling insecure. There's a real sense of panic in the penultimate episode of Armando Iannucci's skin-piercing satire. Over at the Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship, Secretary of State Nicola Murray (Rebecca Front) is thrilled to have won the support of tennis ace Andy Murray for a healthy-eating campaign. But the arrival of Steve Fleming (a terrifying David Haig), Malcolm's bete noire and fellow spinner, pitches everyone into chaos. There's something almost frightening about The Thick of It when it's this intense. And when Fleming and Tucker have a titanic, foul-mouthed battle, be afraid.