Charlie Brooker

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.

The return of cuddly comedy

The nominations for Saturday's British Comedy Awards are full of comics you would happily introduce to your grandmother. How refreshing.

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...

Building on the success of their Alternative Election Night earlier this year, the comic quartet of Charlie Brooker, David Mitchell, Jimmy Carr and Lauren Laverne return for a new series of informative and amusing takes on news and current affairs - although left-wing views are sure to dominate. Joined by guests from the spheres of politics, science and culture, as well as a live studio audience, the show mixes jokes with interviews and debates.

If, back in May, you found yourself on the night of the general election, flicking between channels, you may have found that Channel 4's funny, free-fl owing take on events appealed more than the stern psephology on BBC, ITV and Sky. In fact, while it was on air, Alternative Election Night drew a bigger audience than ITV's election coverage, a feat that helped spawn this spiritual successor, a live show with a satirical take on current events, courtesy of David Mitchell, Lauren Laverne, Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and their guest interviewees. Expect some witheringly sharp wit as well as the odd car crash: as Carr points out, "It's an hour of live TV once a week on Channel 4. I heard Ofcom have set up a panic room. It might save everyone a lot of time and energy if I just apologise and resign now."

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.