Jonathan Ross

Ever since Rod Hull and the terrifyingly blank-eyed Emu gave Michael Parkinson a mauling on his programme in 1976, chat show hosts have been understandably cagey about inviting puppets into their studios. Top marks for bravery, then, to Jonathan Ross, who welcomes Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy onto his sofa tonight. They'll be there, ostensibly, to discuss the forthcoming Muppets movie, but it'll be a small miracle if Ross manages to avoid at least a mild handbagging.

The balance of civility should be redressed by his other big-name guest of the night, Hugh Bonneville, who - in spite of having become one of Britain's best-known actors for his starring role in Downton Abbey - remains the picture of a modest English gentleman. He'll be talking, amongst other things, about the much-anticipated third series of Downton, which is set in the Twenties and is due to begin on ITV1 in September. Completing the line-up, the young comedian Jack Whitehall - whose cocksure manner and fondness for one-liners is reminiscent of a young Jonathan Ross - is given a chance to crack wise, and Sheffield-born indie rockers Arctic Monkeys provide the music.

Jonathan Ross Show strong again

The Jonathan Ross Show's prerecorded format meant it wasn't very topical - Seal had no chance to answer rumours about divorcing Heidi Klum, for example - but this was another watchable edition of the show.

Penguins give Jonathan Ross a problem

Jonathan Ross has a p-p-problem with two penguins on his show tonight - as they refuse to leave.

Jonathan Ross returned tonight with another roster of famous faces gracing his slightly nauseating ITV set and actually, it was good to have him back.

Sure, many viewers have concluded in his BBC absence that Graham Norton is actually the far funnier, warmer and less self-indulgent chat show host, but Ross is still a competent presenter within the format.

Besides which, he can still pull in some big names, as he proved on tonight's show.
First up was Professor Brian Cox, who charmed Ross and the audience alike with his scientific banter and use of something called a Van Der Graaf generator (best not to ask) to help give the eponymous host some extra oomph in his hair.

Slightly less charming - but as funny as ever - was comedian John Bishop, who regaled us with anecdotes from his involvement in Sport Relief, leading seamlessly on to the three young athletes who were next to stir things up on Ross' sofa.

It's too early in the year for us to have Olympic fatigue already - although we're close - so the presence of swimmer Francesca Halsall, heptathlete Louise Hazel and Taekwondo champion Jade Jones was welcome as the trio talked through their hopes to rake in the gold for Britain this summer and challenged Ross and his guests to some physical activity in the studio.

And to top it all off, rising US songstress Lana Del Ray appeared on the show and mesmerised everyone with That Voice and Those Lips.

As series launches go, this was a good'un.

It's been business as usual for Jonathan Ross since he hopped channels last year - his mildly provocative patter and cheery sycophancy remained firmly intact. But the calibre of guests on his ITV shows has varied greatly, and tonight's new series opener has a rather lacklustre line-up. Comedian John Bishop and BBC science presenter Brian Cox pop up, but hotly tipped singer, the glamorous Lana Del Rey, provides the real interest.

New Year's Eve is a tricky one for TV: lots of us stay in through necessity, bloating or an aversion to contrived parties, yet nobody's ever really cracked the question of what we want to watch.

The big channels stick with Big-Ben-and-fireworks jobs. Channel 4 doesn't try to compete at midnight, firing its big light-entertainment gun earlier (9pm) with Alan Carr's New Year Specstacular. Jonathan Ross, Kirstie Allsopp, and Heston Blumenthal are among the likeable Carr's comic foils, with music from JLS and the Ting Tings.

Bespectacled funnyman Carr hosts a party-themed special, with guests including Jonathan Ross, comedian Micky Flanagan, and Strictly's Alesha Dixon, who proved herself fond of a tipple when she appeared on Carr's chat show a few weeks ago and later apologised for a string of indiscreet comments. Also popping up are Channel 4 colleagues Heston Blumenthal, Gok Wan and Kirstie Allsopp, while there's live music from JLS and The Ting Tings. We're promised themed sketches including a Royal Wedding spoof with Carr and David Walliams as the newlyweds.

Jonathan Ross 'gutted' after Tim Minchin song is cut

Jonathan Ross has said he is 'really gutted' after comedian Tim Minchin was axed from the Christmas edition of The Jonathan Ross Show.

Tim Minchin's banned tune and 5 more of his songs

Scared of upsetting Christians, ITV have cut Tim Minchin's song from tomorrow's Jonathan Ross show. So here it is alongside five more crackers from his collection...