Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson in QI suicide 'joke' clanger

Jeremy Clarkson is back in trouble after a clip of him joking about suicide and killing dogs was posted online.

At this point I should say that not only have I never watched this programme before, but I've never watched or listened to any of Chris Moyles' shows (for that matter I've never listened to Radio 1). As a result I was somewhat hesitant at watching Chris Moyles' Quiz Night, but as there were no other new comedy programmes on I had to make do.

For those who have also never seen the show before, each edition features Moyles taking part in a quiz against three celebrity guests. The audience beforehand vote for who they think will win and those who pick the winner win a share of £1,000 (on this week's edition the money won by everyone equalled £21 each). The player who comes last has to sing out the show.

When I spotted the panel which consisted of Jason Manford, Jeremy Clarkson and opera singer Katherine Jenkins, I thought that as a panel it was okay, although I can't help but think that it sounds like Stewart Lee's idea of hell. Anyone who saw the first episode of his Comedy Vehicle will testify.

However, the other guests who appeared during the questions, including Britney Spears, Robbie Williams and the Sugababes, took it down to the level that I expected from Moyles - cheap and rubbish. This show isn't something that I'd watch again.

Jo Brand interview

Jo Brand on friendships with men, the charm of Jeremy Clarkson, and why she's not going to be Brucie.

Now back for its fourth series, the main question concerning Outnumbered is, 'Is it still funny after all this time?' The answer would appear to be 'Yes' - mind you, the fact that the first episode went out after My Family probably helped.

Eldest son Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey) is getting into a stage of typical teenage stroppiness, rallying against other members of the family and their attitudes, such as his mother Sue's (Claire Skinner) views of gay stereotypes; troublesome Ben (Daniel Roche) is refusing to wear his Wii safety cord and is under the belief that Jeremy Clarkson is gay; and curious Karen (Ramona Marquez) has an idea for stopping people stealing mobile phones by using bubonic plague.

The parents also have their own trouble, with father Pete (Hugh Dennis) quitting his job as a history teacher over a point of principle (and seemingly his own stupidity) and now working as a supply teacher, meaning Sue is working full time - and Karen is not happy about that. Pete is also having trouble with a eulogy at the funeral of his late gay uncle, which Sue finds amousing.

Outnumbered is still one of the best sitcoms around as far as I'm concerned. The semi-improvisation with the children is a joy to watch, especially when it comes to Karen. Let's hope it continues to keep the pace up.

Feud of the Week: Steve Coogan v Jeremy Clarkson

Coogan says that a lot of comedy is about judgment calls and clearly thinks that Clarkson's comic satnav has lost its direction.

The satirical news-based panel game has been running since 1990 and is now in its 40th series. The first guest host to face the crossfire from Paul Merton and Ian Hislop is the Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch; later in the series, Jeremy Clarkson and Martin Clunes will take the chair. The first guests to join them tonight are writer and presenter Victoria Coren and comedian Jon Richardson. We can also expect to see James Blunt, Nick Robinson and Ross Noble later in the series.

Actor, stand-up comedian, panel show host, singer, impressionist - with a CV like that, why would Rob Brydon want to add "chat show host"? Plenty of good prospects have fallen at the chat hurdle on BBC2, from Jeremy Clarkson to Danny Baker, but Brydon perhaps has one advantage. In 2004 he hosted a spoof chat show as his alter ego, the slightly hopeless Keith Barret, discussing relationships with celebrity couples. Tonight we'll find out if he can carry off the trick without having his tongue in his cheek. His guests include an old friend, David Walliams, and a hero - Tom Jones.

There are some editions of Ross's chat show when you half wish that instead of watching the host bounce one-liners off his guests, we could eavesdrop on the chit-chat in the green room. Tonight, for instance, I'd love to hear what Jeremy Clarkson, Peter Kay and Laurence Fishburne find to talk about as they loll in the chairs waiting to go on. Surely there's scope for a BBC3 spin-off show that would let us in on the behind-the-scenes fun and celebrity banter, possibly entitled Woss Going On? What we'll actually get is some alpha-male sparring in the studio between Ross and Clarkson, whose attempts to best each other have in the past made them sound like cocky teens trying to out-brag each other on the school bus. Still, it'll be worth seeing. Kay should lighten things up nicely while Fishburne, now heading up the all-conquering CSI franchise, brings genuine Hollywood star power.