Charlie Brooker

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.

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.

10 O'Clock Live is Channel 4's latest stab at a topical comedy show. Given the involvement of Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell, it might be less egregious than previous attempts.

Unfortunately, it also stars the facile Jimmy Carr and not-actually-a-comedian Lauren Laverne. My prediction: not half as challenging and sharp as it should be.

A six-part series from Charlie Brooker, exploring the fairground mirror British television holds up to reality, and how misguided it can be to treat the images you see on screen as a decent likeness.