Jason Manford

Before the arrival of his guests tonight, the affable Welsh comic warms up his audience with his usual display of sharp wit and natural charm. Apart from some mischievous exchanges with his studio audience, including a mock-earnest argument with several of its members, there is little that differentiates this show's format from rival entertainment programmes. But the amusing, fast-paced interplay between this evening's chosen guests - Ronan Keating, Jason Manford and Neil Morrissey - proves engaging. The incorporation of live music is a fail-safe formula, although whether Brydon's singing voice adds much magic to the blend is debatable.

Jason Manford: Internet idiots

Now you know me, I like a laugh. And I do enjoy having a laugh with you lot on here, some of you are witty, some genuinely bonkers, a few of you are dead funny and most of you are respectful, thoughtful human beings and I am honoured that you have liked my page and my work over the years. But. Some of you are utterly horrendous.

Jason Manford hits out at 'internet idiots'

Jason Manford has hit out at "internet idiots" after insensitive comments were made towards Gary Barlow in reply to one of the comedian's Facebook statuses.

Jason Manford makes Sweeney Todd debut

Comedian Jason Manford performed before some familiar faces on Thursday in his new role as an Italian barber in West End musical Sweeney Todd.

Jimmy Carr can handle tax jokes, says Jason Manford

Jason Manford has claimed that Jimmy Carr will easily handle any future backlash against his controversial use of a tax shelter.

The Matt Lucas Awards is a whimsical panel show where celebrity guests put forward wacky nominations for invented gongs, in silly categories such as "Dreadful-est Football Song".

With the set resembling a pokey flat, the audience sat on couches and the appearance of tiresome everybloke Jason Manford, the first episode felt like the tortured ghost of Baddiel and Skinner's Fantasy Football League returning to haunt a deserted late-night timeslot (the dreadful football songs didn't help).

Despite the creaky gimmick, Lucas remained weirdly buoyant throughout, and there was some odd stuff in the margins. Former Bond composer David Arnold sat glumly at a keyboard positioned stage left, apparently essaying his very own Derek-style portrait of a lonely outsider. Just as Lucas and his drumkit often stole the show in Shooting Stars, so might Arnold become a breakout character, if anyone can be bothered staying up so late.

The Matt Lucas Awards is the radio adaptation of the BBC Radio 2 show And The Winner Is... in which Matt Lucas and his panel of guests - this week it was Jason Manford, Henning Wehn and Graeme Garden - present awards in unusual categories.

The main worry with any radio adaptation is will it carry off the transfer from radio to telly? By the looks of things I'd say that it's doubtful, which would be a huge shame because I'm a big fan of the radio show.

To me it seems that the TV version has strained too far from the original format. Let's start from the beginning with the opening titles. When I saw the original pilot that was on the BBC website some time ago (and which I've reviewed previously) there were some things I enjoyed, like the catchy "excruciating theme tune."

The song is good, but I can't stand the animated opening titles, which were just too cheesy. You don't need to mute your TV, but you do need a blind to cover the scene until the show properly starts. Also, a word of advice: don't put a character from a much more successful show (in this case Vicky Pollard) in the opening titles, reminding everyone that the older show was brilliant and this new show may well not be as funny...

Moving on to the actual show, the pilot was set in a ritzy studio while the series is set in a mock-up of what is supposed to by Lucas's flat. According to a blog by co-creator of the series Ashley Blaker, they thought the ritzy studio didn't work. But I don't think the flat works either. It comes across as a bit gimmicky for me.

Then you have certain awards in which the guests are made to do stupid activities, like drawing a nude model and having to sing terrible football songs while dressed up as the singers in question. It just gets more cheesy as the show goes along.

I hope the series improves, but to be honest I have my doubts. But if the BBC does decide to cancel it, I hope they don't get rid of it all together and it returns to the radio.

What is it with celebrities and their parents? First Sarah Millican uses her TV show to introduce the world to her dad and his words of wisdom, now Matt Lucas has roped in his mum Diana to provide the comic links for The Matt Lucas Awards.

Truth be told, Mrs Lucas proves good fun, and fits in rather well with the surroundings. Indeed, the show itself is as snug, cosy and comforting as a mother's embrace. If anything a little more edge would have been welcome.

The premise mimics traditional showbusiness award ceremonies, only with bizarre and previously neglected categories such as 'smuggest nation' and 'worst football song ever'. A panel of three celebrity guests are charged with providing the nominations and arguing their case, while host Lucas fires off non-stop quips before deciding on the winner.

It's a pleasant enough distraction, and inaugural guests Henning Wehn, Jason Manford and Graeme Garden proved good value, but The Matt Lucas Awards is clearly a show in the grips of an identity crisis.

The set - a studio-bound facsimile of Lucas' living room - is reminiscent of The Kumars At Number 42, while the format invariably invites comparisons to Room 101. The only truly original aspect of the programme - the designated performance corner where the celebrities indulge in costumed karaoke - is by far the least successful. I'm afraid it looked suspiciously like padding.

Which is the smuggest nation on Earth?

It's not me asking that question - well, it is, but not originally - but the host of a new show called The Matt Lucas Awards (BBC1, 10.35pm).

That host, though you may find this hard to believe, is Little Britain's Matt Lucas, who originally did a similar programme on Radio 2.

Each week he's joined by three guests - tonight it's Jason Manford, Graham Garden and German stand-up comic Henning Wehn - to debate the sort of award nominations which for obvious reasons don't get a look-in elsewhere.

Others under consideration include the most dreadful football song ever sung.

Matt Lucas's solo project, minus his comedy partner David Walliams, is the flip side to Room 101. Instead of nominating the worst things in various categories, his guests each week will be nominating the best - although sometimes, as tonight, they're giving awards to the worst too.

This show started life on radio in 2009 called And the Winner Is. They recorded an unbroadcast pilot last year which was staged to look like a glitzy award ceremony, but that felt too formal, and so they've taken the show in completely the other direction and it's now shot in a studio masquerading as Matt's front room. His mother's in it too, and it really is his mum - not just Matt in a wig.

It's a fun concept that ought to work - and it also deserves a Matt Lucas Award of its own for the Best Title Song For A Comedy Panel Show as well as Most Overqualified House Band. David Arnold, who's seated at the piano, didn't just write the theme tune for Little Britain and Come Fly With Me, he's most famous as the composer of the last five James Bonds.

The trouble in this first episode is the lack of chemistry between the guests. Jason Manford is a safe pair of hands on any panel show and Graeme Garden tries hard, but Henning Wehn - the self-styled German Ambassador for Comedy - is a bit of an acquired taste, and from the stony expression on Jason Manford's face, he doesn't get the joke either.