Jonathan Ross

Last year's specstacular saw Alan do impressions taking the mickey out of easy targets Cher Lloyd, the Beckhams and Wills and Kate.

This year he'll be getting up to more festive fooling around, party games and sketches with the help of his guest mates.

Former Radio 2 pal Melanie Sykes, Jonathan Ross, Jimmy Carr, Jack Whitehall, Christine Bleakley, Gok Wan and Bruno Mars join in the New Year fun.

Then there's Rylan Clark - one of the few guests who can make Alan look butch by comparison.

The line-up might not be as A-list as Graham Norton's, but this is exactly the kind of party you'd want to be invited to.

Jonathan Ross: I doubt I'll ever be knighted

At 52, Sachsgate ­scandal star Jonathan Ross says he hopes to become a dad again.

Sarah Millican's secret Santa

RT's regular columnist dishes out presents to her favourite comics, including Jonathan Ross, Jimmy Carr and Stephen Fry...

Effusive chat fountain Alan Carr invites the famous, including Jonathan Ross, Jimmy Carr, Rylan Clark and Bruno Mars, to his NYE celebration. Of all the staying-in options, this one sounds the most festive thing to have on in the background while you're working your way through bulk quantities of prosecco and peanuts. Then at ten to midnight Channel 4 turns itself into a nightclub. Charlie Sloth hosts six hours of DJ sets and shout-outs for the young and vigorous who are having house parties up and down the land.

Jonathan Ross keeps the hecklers in check as he hosts the annual comedy gongfest. And while there are some glaring omissions from the shortlist - notably Grandma's House and Fresh Meat - there's still plenty of fine talent jostling for the top spots, with Olympic comedy Twenty Twelve slugging it out with political satire The Thick Of It for Best Sitcom gold. But if there's any justice in the comedy world, then David Rawle should be a shoo-in for Best Breakthrough Actor with his peerless performance as 11-year-old Martin in Chris O'Dowd's Moone Boy.

I can't say I'm a big fan of award shows, but this can be an exception.

Well, I suppose I can ("I'm a big fan of award shows" - there, see, I've just done it), but I'd be lying, and lying is a waste of all our time. Rather like this opening paragraph.

On their day, however, the British Comedy Awards can be a lot less dismal than most of these back-slapping bashes, if only because the bitter rivalry and bitchiness of the comedy world can trigger some seriously caustic name-calling, not very effectively disguised as goodnatured gags.

As for who's likely to win what at tonight's do, hosted by Jonathan Ross, I couldn't really give a monkey's, but it's good to see some less obvious names creeping into contention, such as Sky1's excellent series Moone Boy.

As for the publicly voted King Of Comedy prize, I'm afraid Joe Pasquale has been snubbed yet again...

As television's best-lubricated and worst-mannered awards ceremony, the British Comedy Awards are often the most fun to watch. While boisterous comics make amusing thank you speeches or heckle each other, it can take all of Jonathan Ross's sangfroid to keep proceedings under control.

This year you could be forgiven for not having seen some of the most nominated programmes. For instance, not many tuned in to E4's beautifully acted sketch show Cardinal Burns, but it gets nods for three awards, and quite right, too. Sky Atlantic's little-watched Hunderby is up for two. Even BBC2's The Thick of It (three), while a triumph, was no ratings blockbuster.

Other shining comic talents include Harry Hill (for the farewell series of TV Burp) and the wondrous Olivia Colman, who gets not one but two nominations as best comedy actress. If she doesn't win for one of them, there should be a stewards' inquiry.

Jonathan Ross wins new series despite low ratings

A fourth series of The Jonathan Ross Show has been commissioned by ITV despite its winning fewer viewers than a party political broadcast by the Conservatives.

Since it was uploaded to YouTube on July 15 this year, Psy's video for his K-pop dance tune Gangnam Style has been viewed more than 620 million times - making it the second most-watched YouTube video ever. It has spawned countless spoofs, including ones featuring members of the US Naval Academy, Eton College and the Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei - all performing the now-famous dance. Tonight, Jonathan Ross welcomes Psy himself, who will explain his popularity, before performing his Korean-language hit. Damian Lewis, one of the stars of Homeland, also guests.

Jonathan Ross decorates his house for Halloween party

Every year he throws the mother of all Halloween parties for his showbiz pals and it looks like this year is no different. Jonathan Ross spent the day before his legendary party preparing for Wednesday night, as a team of builders and decorators got to work.