Jim Davidson

Jim Davidson is given six-month road ban

Jim Davidson was yesterday banned from driving after totting up too many points.

This new ITV1 documentary sees Ronnie Corbett meeting up with some of his favourite comedians, past and present, while also looking back at key comedy moments.

As a result, this programme, on the whole, is not going to suit a die-hard comedy fan; because it covers lots of things that they will already know about, such as how The Two Ronnies came together, or the early radio history of Little Britain. This show is really more for the casual comedy observer who wants to learn more.

One thing that got me thinking, however, was that this first episode was all about comedy partnerships. However, Corbett didn't actually meet up with any double acts - just half of them, namely Miranda Hart, Stephen Merchant, David Mitchell, Matt Lucas and John Cleese (although admittedly there is a very good reason why Cleese's comedy partner was not on, seeing as how Graham Chapman has been dead for over 20 years).

If anything, this show seemed to be a comedian's version of Jim'll Fix It, with Corbett giving many of his comedians some exciting experiences. For example he allowed Miranda Hart to walk on to a stage where Morecambe and Wise had one of their greatest ever stage shows to the tune of "Bring Me Sunshine". Another segment saw Corbett getting Merchant a brand new tailor-made suit; another featured Corbett doing a Little Britain radio sketch, attempting to do Vicky Pollard - badly.

To be honest I was almost expecting Corbett to be sitting in his chair, holding a cigar and saying something along the lines of: "Now then, now then, I've got a letter from a Jim Davidson of London what says; 'Dear Ronnie, I haven't been on telly for years due to no-one liking my act because it is racist. So could you fix it for me to appear on your show?' Well, goodness gracious, unfortunately Ronnie Corbett's Comedy Britain does have a very tight budget, so Jim how would you like it if Ronnie fixed it for you to sing with the black and white minstrels?"

Having said all this I did like some of the archive clips that they showed, graphically onto any flat surface such as walls, clothing displays and theatre curtains. Some of them also featured clips I hadn't heard before such as one clip from The Goon Show which I found absolutely hilarious.

So, this show does contain the odd comedy laugh that you won't have heard of 50 times already, but other than that it is just a series of interviews and pleasant surprises.

Jim Davidson says BGT and Amanda Holden are a joke

Comic Jim Davidson has accused Britain's Got Talent of dumbing down telly - and blasted judge Amanda Holden for having no showbiz credentials.

Jim Davidson cancels theatre tour

Comedian Jim Davidson has cancelled his first play, Stand Up And Be Counted, after poor ticket sales.

Jim Davidson: reformed comedian returns from wilderness

Anyone witnessing comic Jim Davidson's return to the stage this month could be forgiven for thinking the 57-year-old was getting his comeuppance for the racist, sexist routine he trotted out before a shift in good taste saw him whisked off our screens nearly 20 years ago.

Video: Davidson returns with play but past haunts him

Jim Davidson, the man who went from shelf-stacker, window-cleaner and pub drummer to television host and fund-raiser for the Tory party, fell out of favour years ago.

It wasn't so much his face that didn't fit as his idea of what was funny.

Now he's written and co-stars in a play about a washed-up, racist comic who sees the light.

Mr Davidson spoke to the BBC's Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight.

A little conservative laughter, please

You may not approve of Jim Davidson, but his new play poses interesting questions about the dearth of rightwing standups.

Jim Davidson: 'If I could say sorry I would'

Jim Davidson has written a play about a bigoted, middle-aged comedian - and it's only loosely based on himself.

Jim Davidson launches rant against Bruce Forsyth

Comedian Jim Davidson has branded Bruce Forsyth a "miserable old b*****d", who is kept on by the BBC only to avoid accusations of ageism.

Surest way to kill comedy is pretend we're all the same

Jim Davidson, the unacceptable face of British comedy, is on a truth-and-reconciliation tour with a play he has written in which he co-stars with the black comedian Matt Blaize. Publicising it, he has apologised for any offence he may have caused in the past. John Cleese has recently revealed problems in America he had with a routine in which he tells a joke about the English, Germans, Australians and Americans before turning, to the embarrassment of most audiences, to Mexicans. The presenter of Top Gear, on the other hand, can cheerfully make nasty, unfunny Mexican jokes.