James Corden

Radio Times review

For some of us The Wrong Mans was the unexpected TV treat of last year. The comedy thriller about two hapless nobodies caught in an international espionage plot could have wobbled in so many ways (not funny, not thrilling, not making sense) but it never put a foot wrong.

For that, all credit to writers/stars James Corden and Mathew Baynton, whose council postboy Phil and planning officer Sam were forever searching for the heroes inside themselves, facing up to rock-hard criminals and above all "rolling deep".

We might have guessed it wouldn't turn out smoothly for them. As this two-parter starts, they're holed up with new identities at a trucking firm in Texas, and pining for home. Well, Sam is - Phil has managed to convince a local girl he's a former pro-wrestler who did brain surgery on the side. But fate has more trouble in store, involving Mexican drug lords, Russian assassins and a terrific dig at Top Gear.

The Wrong Mans preview

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It's only fair to admit that I was quite biased against The Wrong Mans when it began last year. Not only did it have a stupid title (still not explained) but it starred and was co-written by James Corden. Once the well-liked breakout star/co-creator of Gavin and Stacey, his ego and ubiquity led to a backlash that saw him branded one of the most annoying men in Britain. But, much like this series' heroes, he made a miraculous escape, bouncing back with a highly entertaining, carefully thought-out comedy thriller.

As he's about to become the new host of a late-night American chat show, this two-part return of The Wrong Mans may be its last hurrah. It sees Corden's Phil living it up in the US, while pal Sam (co-writer Mathew Baynton) is less happy about what has followed their last accidental escapades with gangsters and spies.

The plot moves speedily, with the hapless pair quickly in yet more dangerous situations which they're completely unable to cope with. Realism goes out the window, but there's charming banter between the duo, who are given to reminiscing about their town's Christmas lights even when banged up in a high-security Texan jail.

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Without spoiling the opening to this new two-parter, our antiheroes Sam (Mathew Baynton) and Phil (James Corden) have relocated to warmer climes, and one of them is settling in better than the other. Whoever tried to kill them at the end of the last series is yet to be found but they need to get back to the UK. This is their thrilling, gorgeously shot, exceptionally funny journey home. A great Top Gear gag, Bertie Carvel's chameleon act ... there's so much to recommend it. Concludes tomorrow.

Not going out and reluctant to have a hootenanny chez Jools Holland? Never fear: Alan Carr is here to usher in the new year with you! They're at Channel 4 headquarters, so expect a good number of stars from the channel's stable as well as others (Jonathan Ross, Alesha Dixon and James Corden among them) to pop by for a series of party games and sketches. Live music comes from Tulisa and Professor Green, and the studio audience will be doing their best to provide a party atmosphere.

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