Charlie Brooker

Charlie Brooker turns up his drollery-o-meter to 11 as he presents a history of some of TV's most jolting attempts to lull us into a false sense of insecurity, from early public information films warning against flying kites into pylons, through to dramas like Threads in the 1980s, a graphic depiction of nuclear annihilation, in which Britain is reduced to "a Plymouth-style wasteland". Between clips and sketches, Brooker's argument is that overexposure to such TV causes us to overestimate the amount of risk we actually face in everyday life.

Ruined? That can't be right, can it? Surely TV lights up, redeems and enriches our lives? Not according to shouty wit Charlie Brooker, whose Screenwipe and Newswipe series on BBC4 routinely lambast every other programme in the schedules. His elaborate rants are here sorted into themes, starting with "Fear", a look at the many ways dramas and news bulletins make the world seem more perilous than it is. He starts with the easy target of public information films ("Polish a floor and set a rug on it - you might as well set a man trap!") and moves on to wonderful clips of grisly old QED docs. It's enjoyably edgy, but next week's edition (on "Love") is much, much better.

In this new series, scabrous journalist Charlie Brooker blasts television's sensationalised vision of reality. Brooker tackles a different theme each week, kicking things off by examining how TV has used fear to keep viewers in check. It's a surreal mix of archive footage, sketches and interviews, with Brooker's savage commentary delivered at such speed it's difficult to keep up. Still, his wit cuts through, particularly when tearing into the BBC's Threads, a suitably grim Eightees drama about nuclear war.

One week in, there has so far been a mixed reception for 10 O'Clock Live, Channel 4's new satirical current affairs programme. Too slow, say some, lacking "bite", say others. Our principal complaint is this: as the show's only female host, can't Lauren Laverne be given more to do? She's whip-smart, funny, and she's the most experienced live broadcaster among them, yet she has been largely confined to providing the links between Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell's set "comedy" pieces. Come on Channel 4, she's better than that.

There was a debate about banking in 10 O'Clock Live, C4's new satire show which, as the title suggests, goes out live. David Mitchell noted that anger at the banks has gone "way beyond the irritation at the pens on strings". It was the best line in what turned out to be a non-event discussion, and one of the highlights of what felt very much like a trial-run hour.

Both Mitchell and Jimmy Carr, who coined the imperishable double-entendre "Johnson out, Balls in" to mark the shadow cabinet reshuffle, enjoyed successful first nights. That's chiefly because they had the strongest monologues and, as it stands, 10 O'Clock Live is over-leveraged on contractualised diatribe obligations.

Charlie Brooker's rant on the egregious Sarah Palin was a frenzied rush at a door that had been kicked off its hinges a long time ago, and all he managed to hit was a brick wall. Whereas the fourth member, Lauren Laverne, had to make do with a lame skit on another mouldy target, American news anchors, and came across as a rather fey Tina Fey. Even the more up-to-date material, such as the revolt in Tunisia, suffered from over-exposure, not least in the show itself, where it featured in two almost identical riffs on tourism.

Although you only launch once, these are very early days. The comedic chemistry and sense of live urgency will take a while to develop. It was not helped by the blank spaciousness of the set, which leaves the participants looking removed not just from the audience but external events. The show's key asset, though, is four talented performers. Last Thursday they each looked as if they desperately didn't want to be the one that failed. Either they make more overt use of that competition or increase the opportunities for collaboration. More dialogue, in other words, and less monologue.

A quick chat with Charlie Brooker

Charlie Brooker explains how TV sold us a dream that real life failed to deliver in his new BBC2 show How TV Ruined Your Life...

Not everyone might have been happy with what happened at the last election, but after the success of Channel 4's Alternative Election Night, the ubiquitous Jimmy Carr, David Mitchell, Charlie Brooker and Lauren Laverne have returned for this new weekly satirical show. Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the four will front separate sections of the show. Brooker will be looking back at the most topical stories of the week, Laverne will be reacting to audience feedback, Mitchell's duty is to fire up discussions, while Carr keeps it all together from his desk. Will Paxman be losing any sleep?

Jimmy Carr has said that Ofcom has set up a panic room in anticipation of this live hour of mirth on Channel 4 - a joke, ostensibly, though the evening will undoubtedly be juicy with Carr, David Mitchell, Charlie Brooker and Lauren Laverne at the helm. The same quartet hosted C4's excellent Alternative Election Night and it looks like more or less the same set-up: intelligent and funny chat with bright-spark guests discussing current affairs, plus interviews and topical comedy. Bring it on.

10 O'Clock Live, Channel 4, preview

David Mitchell, Lauren Laverne, Jimmy Carr and Charlie Brooker present a new live show with a satirical take on current events.

The brilliant election coverage afforded by David Mitchell, Lauren Laverne, Jimmy Carr and Charlie Brooker was viewed as such a success, they've decided to go ahead and sign them up for an hour a week of live topical comedy. It's bound to be hilarious.

Well, no, it isn't. Much as we like the four acts - alright, "like" is a bit strong for one or two - much as we acknowledge that the four main acts have some worth, we know that adding them together will be like making four decentish musicians into a rock supergroup and having them jam for a one-off Hall Of Fame appearance, i.e. a bit underwhelming. But despite our misgivings (not so much a misgiving as the certain knowledge it'll be rubbish), it's probably the kind of thing we should encourage. So, go on, team. Try to add up to the sum of your parts. That's all we ask.