David Stubbs (II)

Ben Elton performed his first live stand up in a decade in these Dave specials first shown in October. The so-called "Godfather Of Alternative" has become comedy's embarrassing Dad in recent years, what with We Will Rock You and all, but his routines on rebranding and body piercing in particular show that he's still driven by the same moral sense and sarcastic despair at modern life as ever. Jason Byrne and Canadian Tom Stade guest.

For its makers, Carpool certainly has budgetary virtues. Instead of going to the expense of hiring a studio and building a set, they simply send out Robert Llewellyn in his Toyota Prius to pick up celebrities, whom he is then filmed interviewing in his car. Cheap as chips. This week, it's the turn of Jason Byrne, en route from the airport, who waxes vaguely amusing about conspiracy theories. Jo Brand is the next passenger, getting to retell the story of how she once flunked an audition to play herself.

The second prequel to Only Fools and Horses, set in 1960/61, in which Nicholas Lyndhurst plays the cerebral criminal who, it turns out, fathered Rodney Trotter and reappears in the life of Del Boy's dear old mum for more repressed romance. The Inbetweeners' James Buckley stars as the young Del, flogging imported Buddy Holly singles at the market and engaging in multiple dalliances, including one with a young Indian girl. One suspects this will be an annual fixture - it's watchable but apart from a good gag about knitting saris, the mirth of OFAH has been replaced by post-Heartbeat 60s period eye candy.

This glorious series outdoes itself with each episode and tonight's is a tour de force, a lesson in the sitcom as men in confinement, with Mark and Jez spending much of it locked in a hallway. Mark is desperate to escape as he has to attend his son's christening; Jez, meanwhile, is determined to order pizza. Myriad highlights include Jez's insouciant disregard for the mathematics of permutation - "just try all the variations," he advises Mark, who can't quite remember a phone number off the top of his head.

A product of C4's Comedy Showcase, PhoneShop is set in the high street world of mobile phone sales and features a boss who fancies himself as a bit of a motivator. Immediate Office/David Brent comparisons spring to mind (indeed Gervais has a minor hand in this) but despite its improvised feel, there is a broad anti-realist, improbable tone. Most of the characters talk in the faux patois of the wannabe black, including, curiously, the black character. This, amid the spivvy salesmanship, becomes a pretty dominant motif; how funny you find it will determine how much you enjoy this series.