Jim Shelley

James Corden has no excuse for this flabby sketch show. One of the sketches in Horne & Corden was based around the idea that a winning 4 X 100m relay team was ruined by the fact that James Corden was running the last leg. "That was disaster," sighed the commentator as Corden wobbled out of contention - a pretty fair summary of the show as it happens.

Several other sketches were based on this brilliant observation: James Corden is fat! (Who knew?!)

Out of the first eight sketches, he took his shirt off and wobbled his belly about in three. He and Horne resorted to flashing their backsides in another.

Corden has turned into one of those comics who think SHOUTING is all you need to be funny. As suggested by the Brit Awards disaster and his demonstrations of the robot on Comic Relief, Corden also seems to be labouring under the idea that he is the only comedian in the world who can dance.

As a fan of Gavin & Stacey it pains me to say it but in the three months since their Christmas special, far from amazing, Corden has just become irritating.

TV Dinners: How to make ... QI

1. Hurrah! Could life get any more yummy or fluffy, it's QI, lathers Stephen Fry - the show that will be nibbling the nipples of knowledge, fondling the buttocks of braininess, and cerebrally satiating itself on the G-spot of good humour.

This hour-long special is destined to become a classic - as James Corden and Mathew Horne confirm they'll be making another series.

The whole tone is perfect, crammed with great character acting and brilliantly observed humour, as the entire Barry contingent converge on Billericay.

The devil is in the detail - with the merits of Mint Baileys, EastEnders, Battleships, and talc all discussed. Watching Smithy singing along to Feed The World breaking into bouts of road rage is hilarious. While his attempts at coping with a future without Ness, his baby, and his best mate are genuinely touching.

Jim Shelley Review

From the awful, awkward, title to the tired, unambitious concept, this was dismal.

It crammed in so many songs, they were never all going to be funny whilst the second hour-long results show confirmed what a seriously indulgent exercise it all was.

It's one thing getting Pete Waterman, Nikki Chapman and Neil Fox to send themselves up but having a parody of The Pop Factor without a Simon Cowell figure was a major cop out by Kay.

Having said that, Marc Pickering's performance as Leon, I mean, R Wayne, was brilliant - particularly his version of Ebony and Ivory with his ventriloquist's dummy of Stevie Wonder. The cameos by Rick Astley, the Cheeky Girls, and Macca doing the themes from Blankety Blank and Home and Away were better than most of Extras.

The one moment of comedy genius was Michelle McMammoth look-a-like cum-transsexual Geraldine's medley merging seamlessly from Born To Run to Born Free to Free Nelson Mandela and Umbrella.

Jim Shelley Review

It's the last sketch of Little Britain USA and Bubbles de Vere displays the kind of sharp observation totally lacking in the 'comedy' up until then. I think it's very important to know when to stop, Bubbles confesses, having gambled - and lost - her dress, wig, and ruby-encrusted 'panties' on the roulette table.

I only wish Bubbles had thrown her ludicrous fat suit into the pot, too. With the losing streak David Walliams and Matt Lucas were on, that would have been the end of her, guaranteed.

Please someone kick the Bucket

TV critic Jim Shelley absolutely slams into this French and Saunders clip show, pointing out its many flaws in the process.

Trevor McDonald should stick to newsreading

News Knight he may be, but he holds that title for a reason. It's what he's best at!