Liza Tarbuck

Every version of Blockbusters there's ever been

As a new version of Blockbusters hosted by Dara O Briain arrives, we revisit the gameshow's previous incarnations...

Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster are the co-hosts of this alternative gameshow in which comedians are awarded points for their solutions to crazy hypothetical situations. A strong first episode features schoolmates Tom Allen and Rob Beckett alongside Jessica Knappett and Liza Tarbuck.

TV review: Hypothetical, Dave

The scoring system here makes Mornington Crescent seem perfectly logical.

Review: Hypothetical

This probably won't be such a mega-hit as Taskmaster, but everything Acaster touches tends to turn to gold, so it's easy to see this becoming an audience favourite.

Upstart Crow: A Crow Christmas Carol review

Sentiment and enjoyable silliness.

DVD review: Upstart Crow Series 3

The final episode is surprisingly, beautifully and wonderfully poignant.

TV preview: Upstart Crow, Series Three, BBC2

David Mitchell returns as aspiring playwright/superstar William Shakespeare in Ben Elton's return-to-form sitcom. I say return-to-form with a couple of caveats.

Taskmaster, which started as a comedy routine at the Edinburgh Fringe, has become the most popular show in Dave's admittedly short and unspectacular history -- such a success that another three series have been commissioned. That's good news for anyone who can't get enough of stand-ups and comic actors creating art with whipped cream or hurling dolls into trees.

It works because the five contestants, who this time include one-liner king Tim Vine and sitcom stalwart Liza Tarbuck, happily submit to the show's sadistic style. Watching them make fools of themselves is quite entertaining: seeing presenter Greg Davies mock and sneer at their efforts can be shamefully funny.

Creator of the concept, and butt of Greg's harshest jibes, is Alex Horne, who also oversees all the tasks. He understands the importance of a rigid format, and each episode follows a precise rhythm. It's possible to gauge almost to the second when he will make a self-conscious quip, or a jangling piano will introduce a clip to introduce the next task.

Eventually the format will become stale, changes will be introduced, and the whole thing will fall apart. For now, we can wallow in telly that manages to be inane, spiteful and hilarious at the same time.

Taskmaster: TV's best comedy is back, bigger and better

The best comedy of 2017 is back - bigger and better than ever.

The daft panel show returns for a sixth series, with Greg Davies and Alex Horne doling out challenges both inane and insane. Alice Levine, Liza Tarbuck, Russell Howard, Tim Vine and Asim "Chabuddy G" Chaudhry are their victims, taking on lemons, wheelbarrows and orienteering in this opening episode.