John Sergeant

The nation's favourite waltzer John Sergeant chairs debates on the 2012 Olympics, video games and the Rooneys, with guests Jimmy Carr and Charlie Higson. It starts slowly but soon warms up when the improvisation starts - love him or loathe him, Carr is awfully quick.

Reactions to this panel show range from 'it's hilarious' to 'it's rubbish'. Much depends on the guests rather than the subjects being debated (or being made fun of). But the one constant is John Sergeant, a steadying hand on the tiller.

Strictly Come Dancing just won't be the same without him. But as Dave's first, fitfully funny, homegrown panel game continues, Argumental finds John Sergeant back in his comfort zone with his two left feet tucked comfortably under a desk where they belong.

He twinkles genially while two teams, captained by Marcus Brigstocke and Rufus Hound, debate the hot potatoes of the day - sometimes changing sides mid-sentence.

A couple of topics that aren't on the agenda tonight, but they might like to keep up their sleeves for series two include: Is it OK for the most popular contestant on a reality ballroom series to quit just because he's rubbish?

And: Should a panel show featuring four comedians coming up with 'off-the-cuff' arguments, really have the need to credit seven gag writers?

It's an arguable point but without John Sergeant in the chair, Dave's Argumental would just be another supposedly spontaneous comedy panel game designed to keep the wolf from the doors of struggling comedians. But Sergeant's elevation from sharp political pundit to national cuddly toy thanks to his neo-Expressionist revision on the choreographic rulebook on Strictly Come Dancing has given Dave a surprising edge over its rivals.

OK, it's still an exercise in stand-ups striving to show how off the cuff they can be - come on guys, we all know most of it's scripted - but Sergeant's avuncular umpiring makes such a refreshing change from the snide Jimmy Carrs of this world. It's more of a warm belly laugh than the vindictive sneer that has become this genre's stock-in-trade.

He's already king of the repeat channels, but now our mate Dave could have a hit original panel game on his hands. The debate format means that there's a nice mix of prepared gags and funny improv, while having John Sergeant present is like resting the whole thing on a lovely velvet cushion.

Did anyone else also see Dave's new show Argumental last night and find it really a bit odd - like you'd gone round to John Sergeant's house at Christmas and everyone was drunk and playing at school debating club? Strange times.

From the moment host John Sergeant heehaws, you know this new panel show featuring regulars Marcus Brigstocke and Rufus Hound is a winner. The aim is to argue wittily and outrageously, as demonstrated by Dara O'Briain, who manages to compare Brigstocke to Mao Tse-tung.

Panel shows may be two-a-penny, but this witty celebration of the art of argument definitely has something. Comedians Rufus Hound and Marcus Brigstocke and their teams defend or denounce a given statement - the funnier and more outrageous their case the better. It's presented by John Sergeant (whose laugh alone makes it worth watching).