Jo Brand

He may be ubiquitous these days but Graham Norton's spiciness and sass, backed with smart ad-libbing skills, still make him a talk-show treat. Tonight the Telegraph columnist chats to actor Mark Wahlberg, in town with new action thriller Contraband, along with singer and actress Minnie Driver and comedian Jo Brand.

Perfecting the air kiss with Jo Brand

Jo Brand takes part in a "kissing workshop" in an effort to learn the etiquette of social kissing.

Interview: Jo Brand

Can the power of comedy alter Britain's increasingly grim political landscape? That was the question on everyone's lips as comedian Jo Brand offered her thoughts at David Miliband's annual lecture in South Shields.

This week the BBC attempted to re-launch Radio 4 chat show I've Never Seen Star Wars, where guests try out things they've never done before, for television. Why they needed to do so I don't know.

The TV version was first broadcast in 2009 on BBC Four with the host of the original radio version, Marcus Brigstocke, still hosting it. This new "pilot" was hosted by Jo Brand, and I do have to say that this edition does look better than the original series. The set is much crisper and cleaner, and they kept the original theme tune from the radio series rather the altered version from the first TV series. However, they still kept the annoying musical inserts between each item. They aren't needed and they end up just get up your nose.

The guest for this new edition was Stephen Fry. In this edition his first time experiences were his first ear piercing (an experience which gave a score of 8 out of 10), putting together flat-pack furniture (1 out of 10), watching Only Fools and Horses (9.5 out of 10) and boxing (10 out of 10). My favourite section was the furniture sequence, during which he sweat so profusely his skin looked like a waterfall. He looked like Lee Evans in the middle of a gig.

I've Never Seen Star Wars was an enjoyable show, but I still don't understand why they needed to replace Brigstocke with Brand. She was a decent enough host; but so is Brigstocke and I don't think there was any need for such a change...

Jo Brand to deliver South Shields Lecture in January

Stand-up Jo Brand will deliver the 2012 South Shields Lecture on Friday 20th January.

I've Never Seen Star Wars: 2011 special - review

A decent enough Christmas treat - and it's good to see this very versatile format has arrived in the mainstream. But it's slightly disconcerting to see it reformatted so drastically, and it's puzzling to consider why Jo Brand got the job ahead of Marcus Brigstocke.

This amusing long-running Radio 4 show - which invites celebrity guests to try activities completely new to them - first arrived on television back in 2009, presented by its radio host Marcus Brigstocke. Now, at the end of 2011, it returns with an overhaul. Jo Brand is installed in the presenter's chair and her first guest is Stephen Fry. He, rather gallantly, agrees to have his ear pierced, take a boxing lesson, watch his very first episode of Only Fools and Horses and attempt to assemble flat-packed furniture.

With Fridays being the unofficial stand-up night of the week (­seriously, check out tonight's telly - so much comedy there's not even room to swing a cat-sized reality show around), the award ceremony dedicated to all things funny sits among welcoming surroundings.

Jonathan Ross is on hosting duties so, as the show is live, we hope somebody at Channel 4 HQ has their quickest finger poised over the "bleep" button.

Those hoping to make winners' speeches include Miranda Hart, who deservedly won best new TV comedy and best comedy actress last year.

She's up for a ­whopping four awards this time, including the people's choice gong, which is voted for by us.

But the category's a toughie this year, with the marvellous Jo Brand and Sarah Millican also hoping to steal the honours. In our eyes, they all deserve to win.

The male awards aren't any easier to predict, with David Mitchell, Graham Norton and Jack Whitehall fighting to be named the nation's favourite male ­comedian (although, given the year he's had, John Bishop should have been up).

While all the names we've mentioned deserve their nominations, there are some categories where you get the impression one or two shows are just in there to make up the numbers.

But as this is comedy night and we're in such a jolly mood, we won't be so cruel as to name them.

Jonathan Ross presides as comedians and TV producers drink themselves wretched and honk and bellow over each other's speeches. Probable attendees include last year's victor Miranda Hart, and this year's nominees for the public vote, Jack Whitehall, David Mitchell, Sarah Millican, Jo Brand and Graham Norton. But best of all, it's live. That combination of booze and live broadcast is really the only reason for this in the first place.