Harvey Virdi

I did personally feel that this first show had an incredibly impressive line-up what with Daniel Radcliffe, Chevy Chase and Olivia Coleman. All three seemed pretty game for being part of The Kumars experience and were all up for hawking the products that Ashwin was trying to get rid of from the store downstairs. Coleman especially came across as a fantastic sport and really tried her best to make the show as funny as possible.

My main issue with the format itself is the way the talk show segments are structured. Whilst the sitcom element of the show is enjoyable, especially the meetings in the discount store, I don't feel that writers know exactly what they want from the interview portions. The questions often seem a bit muddled and the guests are often asked to recall moments from any part of their careers.

In addition, the programme just feels a little baggy, due to the fact that Sky have given it full hour. I felt that The Kumars was a perfect thirty minute comedy show but the fifteen minute extension makes it feel incredibly slow at times. Though I still enjoy Bhaskar and Syal's interplay with the guests, I'm not so sure about Harvey Virdi's addition to the cast, especially seeing as most of her jokes have something to do with her hilarious name.

I do feel that there is still a place for shows such as The Kumars but this latest incarnation of the comedy chat show needs to be better written and have at least ten minutes cut off its running time.

The Custard TV, 21st January 2014

Back after a seven-year absence, the Kumars return with some top-of-the-range acting talent dropping in on their downsized Hounslow home for a dysfunctional family grilling.

With Olivia Colman holding her own against an onslaught of inappropriate questions from Sanjeev (Sanjeev Bhaskar), Daniel Radcliffe getting his cheeks tweaked by Ummi (Meera Syal) and US comedian Chevy Chase quivering under the gaze of new landlady Hawney (Harvey Virdi) we're all set for the chuckles to pick up right where they left off.

Well, apart from the fact they're now on Sky, not the Beeb, so let's hope they haven't left too many of their old fans at home alone.

Carol Carter and Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Metro, 15th January 2014