Johnny Vegas

Pretty soon, it seems, the only primetime programmes on ITV1 will be talent shows, celebrity challenges and soaps, with occasional dramas and news bulletins grudgingly thrown in to keep the regulators happy. This latest X Factor wannabe focuses on comedy, with host Jason Manford - no mean comedian himself - going out on the road with a gaggle (or should that be a giggle?) of ambitious stand-ups who feel certain they could be the next big thing in British comedy. From fresh-faced newbies to never-quite-made-it pros, the top 10 contestants have their ability to get audiences rolling in the aisles put to the test over six weeks, in which they tour the country to perform for a variety of tough crowds (hospital patients, squaddies, secondary school pupils and rugby players, among others). They'll also take on a range of other mirth-inducing challenges, each episode culminating with the judges - regulars Alan Davies and comedy critic Kate Copstick, plus guests including such well-known comics as Jo Brand, Johnny Vegas and Ross Noble - deciding who's made the cut. The final is a live show at the Hammersmith Apollo for a prize that's certainly not to be laughed at: £100,000 cash, a nationwide tour and a DVD.

Tonight, the contestants are in Liverpool, where they'll perform a gig in front of an all-female audience; the guest judge is Liverpudlian Jimmy Tarbuck.

Jo Brand, Johnny Vegas to judge ITV's Show Me The Funny

Jo Brand and Johnny Vegas are among the celebrities who have signed up to be guest judges on ITV1's new series Show Me The Funny.

Johnny Vegas: I never liked being centre of attention

How has Johnny Vegas done it? By 'it', I mean transformed himself from a failed priest and potter to sought-after comic actor and much-loved household name. As he says himself, he's "no great shakes in the looks department" and first made his name as a stand-up who specialised in being bitter and drunk and bellowing insults at audiences.

We're half way through Tony Pitts's blackly comic series, about a strange seaside place where odd people live. At three in the morning someone is screaming. It's the kind of thing that happens in Shedtown down by the bay, where dogs arrive as parcels in the post. It's a bit like Under Milk Wood with touches of Father Ted. And it's curiously addictive, the vivid, dreamlike script given life by a marvellous cast, including Suranne Jones, Ronni Ancona and Johnny Vegas as Colin (a thoughtful melancholic). Tonight: a puppet show about 9/11.

Video: Ideal fans celebrate with Cartoon Head flashmob

Johnny Vegas is a larger than life character - but his Ideal co-star Cartoon Head gave him a run for his money when 50 masked fans formed a flashmob.

The group wore mouse masks as they paraded and danced around Media City and the Lowry Outlet Mall in Salford.

Cartoon Head, who never speaks in the Salford-set comedy-drama, is a favourite character for many Ideal fans.

The 50th episode of the show goes out tonight at 10.30pm on BBC3.

Shedtown, a new programme from Johnny Vegas's production company, was far from ranty: a strange drama/comedy/soundscape, narrated by Maxine Peake, it took advantage of its 11pm slot to offer something much more dreamy and hilarious than the usual wait-for-the-laughter Radio 4 fare. It's about the final works trip for the staff of a failed museum. They go to the seaside. The jokes came in under the radar: "What can I get you?" asked the barmaid. "Peace of mind," said Barry. "I want a pint, me," said Dave. The barmaid talked them through the new menu, which included chicken catch-a-Tory.

Johnny Vegas to host shopping TV

Comic Johnny Vegas is going to become a real-life host of a shopping channel - as part of his new stage comedy.

An interview with Kevin Eldon

Big Train and Nighty Night star Kevin Eldon talks about his new play with Johnny Vegas, set around TV shopping channels.

Johnny Vegas's 'Ideal' returns with 630,000

Series seven of Johnny Vegas' sitcom Ideal debuted with almost 630,000 on Thursday evening, while Celebrity Juice remained popular on ITV2, according to the latest audience data.

While some of BBC3's other long-running sitcoms have been somewhat, well, awful, Ideal soldiers on, managing to be sometimes brilliant, oft-times puerile and always interesting. In the first episode Johnny Vegas is joined by guest stars - weirdly, the usually reticent and annoying Paul Weller comes across as quite playful and the ever lovely Kara Tointon (still wearing Strictly make-up) is her ever lovely self.

As for the plot, Moz wins back his Jenny but she's joined the police force, which makes things difficult. It's not perfect but you can't be too hard on something with full-on musical moments, some good jokes and some underplayed poignant drama too.