John Crace

The Trip (BBC2) got a thumbs-down in its first week, with many unable to see the point of sending Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon up north to eat and drink themselves silly while trying to outdo one another with their impressions. Well . . . the point is that it's one of the funniest things on TV. Yes, it can get a bit too cute at times, but the blurring of real and scripted identities gives the comedy real edge. The highlight this week was Brydon asking Coogan how it felt to have a career in nosedive after massive success early on; Coogan's reply was that it was better than always having been a mediocrity. I'd say it took a lot of guts on both their parts to leave that in.

John Crace, The Guardian, 23rd November 2010

Where was Russell Brand on Jonathan Ross?

After a no-show on Ross's last ever BBC chat show, does this mean Russell Brand has put his bawdy days behind him?

John Crace, The Guardian, 13th July 2010

Private Eye proves the old jokes are the best

The success of the satirical magazine is largely down to its familiar humour.

John Crace, The Guardian, 14th February 2010