Jonathan Ross

Drawing a respectable 4.3 million viewers in its first episode, Jonathan Ross's new show has precisely the same format as his old one, minus the Four Poofs and a Piano. You can hardly blame ITV for not tinkering too much, though: even when Ross was in the grips of "Sachsgate", his show managed to attract decent audiences. Tonight the loud-mouthed presenter welcomes Stephen Fry, comedian Peter Kay and Australian actor Hugh Jackman, who'll be discussing his new big-budget sci-fi movie, Real Steel.

Jonathan Ross loses 1m viewers

Jonathan Ross lost more than one million viewers for the second episode of his ITV show.

The Jonathan Ross Show review

Frankly, no matter how good Jonathan Ross can still be, or what high-caliber guests he books in the future, his show's format feels dull.

The Jonathan Ross Show was given a fairly low key launch last week given that it was the long-awaited return of a British talk show staple, and followed suit with a similarly muted episode.
Sarah Jessica Parker was candid and Adele as booming as ever but the line-up felt a little lacklustre for an opener.

This was rectified tonight however with an entertaining, albeit slightly random group of guests perching on the Jonathan Ross sofa.
Benedict Cumberbatch talked John Le Carre novels while The Saturdays were a little less prosaic with their insights into the pop industry, but Alan Carr proved the most interesting booking. An odd choice to invite a clear rival onto the show though perhaps, especially since the bespeckled comedian, along with Graham Norton, is arguably surpassing Ross in the talk show stakes at the moment.

With Friday Night With...'s pre-Jools Holland slot the BBC vehicle often saw some good live music and it was pleasing to see that this is to be kept up on ITV, with tonight's performance coming from legendary funksters The Red Hot Chili Peppers, sans departed guitarist John Frusciante.

Not the second coming, just business as usual for Ross

It was the chin that gave him away. Jonathan Ross, who since his departure from the BBC following the Sachsgate affair has been advertising his devil-may-care, unemployed status with flip-flops and a goatee, stepped on to the set fully shod and shorn of all facial hair.

Business as usual for Jonathan Ross

Thank God he's got rid of that goatee. But happily that was the only trademark he scrapped for the all-new Jonathan Ross Show.

The Jonathan Ross Show review

There's a part of Ross that knows he must one day morph into an old-fashioned fromagey US show host channelling Frankie Howerd.

Jonathan Ross sticks to familiar formula for new show

Apart from the commercial breaks, there was not much difference between the new Jonathan Ross show and the old.

Jonathan Ross pulls in 4.3m viewers to debut ITV1 show

Jonathan Ross drew a respectable 4.3m viewers for the debut of his new ITV1 chat show, initial figures show.

I've always been a Wossy supporter. Friday Night... was great fun, and his Saturday morning Radio 2 show was superb until Sachsgate meant the Beeb stopped it going out live. What's the point if there isn't that little element of danger? Boring. So I'm very glad indeed he's back on the telly - but Jonathan Ross on ITV1? It feels odd, doesn't it? Although he does seem to enjoy saying "we'll be back after these messages", like he's some American TV anchor from the 1950s...

There are some superficial changes to the format (neither the 4 Poofs nor their piano have made it to ITV) but basically this is the same Jonathan Ross chat show we're used to, and if you liked it before and can stand the adverts, you'll still like it. He was funny, he made a few slightly naughty comments, he fawned over his guests. It was business as usual. Welcome back.