David Walliams

Billionaire Boy was a New Year's Day treat on BBC One. Adapted from the children's book of the same name by David Walliams, it told the story of Joe Spud, whose father becomes an billionaire overnight after inventing a new type of toilet roll.

It was very well done - funny, smart and entertaining in the best tradition of classic family comedy films such as Richie Rich or Home Alone, and packed with excellent lines: when Joe commits a minor misdemeanour in the Spuds' new mansion, his father responds with: "Go to your rooms!"

The cast were brilliant, especially Elliot Sprakes in the title role. Catherine Tate was hilarious as the celebrity hand model Sapphire Diamond, Rebecca Front and James Fleet were effortlessly funny as put-upon teachers at Ruffington school (motto: "Doing the best we can"), Warwick Davis was a butler and Walliams himself made an appearance as Mrs Trafe, the world's worst dinner lady, whose offerings included onion mousse, cold pilchard soup and kidney custard pie.

The youngster in Billionaire Boy was Joe Spud (Elliot Sprakes) whose poor existence is transformed when his father Len (John Thomson) invents a new type of toilet paper. Whilst Len wants to flaunt his new found wealth, Joe is keen to remain as normal as possible and therefore gets Davis, who plays himself, to enrol him in the local state school. Without his wealth to fall back on, Joe finds a friend who doesn't want him just for his money and also gets treated like just another kid. However, at home, Joe feels his relationship with his father deteriorating after Len begins romancing the gold-digging hand model Sapphire Diamond (Tate). Inevitably the kids at school eventually find out about Joe's identity and this revelation has big side effects for both his class teacher (Rebecca Front) and his relationship with his fellow pupils. I've previously been a fan of the now annual David Walliams adaptations and I was particularly taken with last year's Boy in the Dress, as it felt like it told a very personal story. However, in comparison, Billionaire Boy is a little bit paint-by-numbers for my liking as the central theme of 'money can't buy you happiness' is something that has been done better before. It was also hard to warm to Len, as we saw very little of him before he became a conceited billionaire and therefore I didn't really care when he lost his fortune at the end of the story. Luckily Billionaire Boy was saved by the lively central performance of Elliot Sprakes who was utterly convincing as a normal boy who was keen not to let his wealth change him. The supporting cast also helped add colour to the grotesque characters with Tate being a particular stand out as Sapphire Diamond and Walliams himself putting a memorable cameo as a school dinner lady. Overall, Billionaire Boy was a good way to while away an hour and was one of the only programmes on TV over Christmas that the whole family could watch together. On the other hand I can't help but being a little disappointed as in my opinion Billionaire Boy just didn't stack up against the other Walliams adaptations which have all been highlights of the previous three years' festive schedules.

Billionaire Boy earns praise

David Walliams' book adaptation Billionaire Boy was given high praise after its premiere on New Years Day.

The BBC once again adapts a David Walliams novel for the festive season. Walliams owes a great deal to Roald Dahl, and this is another tale of a forlorn child in a world of cruel and stupid adults. Elliot Sprakes stars as Joe, whose factory worker dad Len (John Thomson) becomes a billionaire after inventing a new type of toilet roll. But as his dad embraces the bling and a glamorous girlfriend (Catherine Tate), Joe yearns for a normal life and friends. Reliable family fun, with Walliams himself co-starring as a dinner lady.

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Here's one that will make you feel really old: it's 10 years since the final series of Little Britain aired on BBC One. The show that made David Walliams a bona-fide star served as a launchpad for a career that has seen him take on a judging role on Britain's Got Talent, undertake jaw-dropping charity work (his Thames swim remains a crowning glory), and become a successful children's author.

Now he's going back to his comedy roots with a one-off Christmas TV special. Titled Walliams & Friend, it sees the comedian return to the type of sketches that helped make his name - and his 'friend' is a very special guest indeed. It is, of course, the absolutely fabulous Joanna Lumley, who remains a brilliant comedic presence.

By its very nature sketch comedy is hit-or-miss, but Walliams & Friend is thankfully more of the former - from a hilariously terrible gameshow contestant played by Walliams, to a meeting between Joanna Lumley and her own personal team of, erm, other Joanna Lumleys.

And then there's the Bake Off sketch - you'll never look at Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry in the same way ever again.

The 40-minute special is daft fun - and likely to be even funnier after a few Christmas Eve sherries. Here's hoping for more Walliams & Friend episodes in the future with a different guest star each time.

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