Mark Watson

Do you think Rob Brydon is telling the truth when he assures us that when panellists read statements off their cards, they're seeing them for the very first time?

Or is that a lie as well? That thought might have occurred to you a few times already as all the participants turn out to be surprisingly capable of spinning a believable yarn around the most unlikely of subjects. So either the show is fibbing about the rules or Britain's celebs are actually a far more devious bunch than we give them credit for.

Tonight, no-nonsense Dragon Deborah Meaden insists that she once called in an exorcist after spooky goings-on in her home, Patrick Kielty claims an extraordinary meeting with Muhammad Ali, stand-up comic Mark Watson relives a childhood trauma, Bernard Cribbins holds up his hands to car theft. Worryingly, we're inclined to believe every word they say.

Team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack are on especially fine form tonight.

This new series of small screen stand-up kicks off with a superb performance from Mark Watson, a rising star on the British comedy circuit. As a new dad, Mark's got plenty of material to work with and does an admirable job of warming up the crowd for his comedy cohorts Andrew Lawrence and Alun Cochrane.

Manford will have tough time juggling One Show & comedy

Manford will be rushed by motorbike from BBC Television Centre to the Hammersmith Apollo, writes Mark Lawson.

It's August: you may have noticed from the cute pictures of animals and coverage of the Edinburgh Festival plastered across the media. Fred MacAulay is broadcasting his radio show direct from one of the many venues for the next two weeks, offering a daily pick of the fringe. Largely focused on comedy, MacAulay & Co brings listeners a mixture of stand-up and interviews, with a surprisingly large number of guests. It's a real fringe experience - some acts are a bit disappointing but there are so many that if you don't like one, another will be along in a minute. Wednesday's show proved to be the best so far with Doc Brown, Mark Watson and Glyes Brandreth. Other highlights include Sarah Millican on Monday and Sean Hughes on Tuesday. As an extra treat, fellow Scottish comic Susan Calman joins Fred every day too.

Edinburgh Festival 2010: Celebrity Choice - Mark Watson

Performers at this year's Festival pick their favourite acts. The picker for this article is Mark Watson.

Mark Watson: I have mixed feelings about Mock The Week

"So, of course, I want to be in shows like Mock The Week, I think they're good, but at the same time, I often feel a bit threatened by them."

Mark Watson: The trouble with optimism

Ever since he found out Father Christmas didn't exist, the comedian Mark Watson has been a pessimist. Then in February - on his 30th birthday, as he became a dad for the first time - he decided to turn over a new, optimistic leaf. But can you really overhaul life-long personality traits?

Mark Watson 'not worried' about comedy critics

Stand-up comic Mark Watson has claimed that he is not worried about being criticised for going on a reality TV show.

For this two-hour bonanza in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, Channel 4 recently assembled 24 of Britain's best comedians to perform in front of a live audience at the O2 arena in London. So - deep breath - Jack Dee, Andy Parsons, David Mitchell, Fonejacker, Jack Whitehall, Jo Brand, James Corden, Jason Manford, John Bishop, Kevin Bridges, Kevin Eldon, Lee Evans, Mark Watson, Michael McIntyre, Noel Fielding, Patrick Kielty, Rich Hall, Rob Brydon, Ruth Jones, Sean Lock, Catherine Tate and Shappi Khorsandi take turns on stage to make it the biggest live stand-up show in British history. If that's not enough for you, Alan Carr and Bill Bailey perform with Stomp and Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Johnny Depp provide additional sketches.

Great Ormond Street Hospital is the recipient of this fundraising gala - the biggest live stand-up concert in UK history. And they couldn't have asked for more from the roster of stars who each donated five minutes last week at London's O2 Arena. Some hefty editing will be needed to get this show down to the two-hour running time it's been allotted and if the rude bits from Jonathan Ross and Mark Watson end up on the cutting room floor, then they may survive in the DVD which goes on sale on April 26.

Among those who'll definitely make the cut are, in no particular order, Michael McIntyre, Jack Dee, Bill Bailey, Kevin Eldon, Jason Manford, Jo Brand, Sean Lock and Noel Fielding.

The evening opens with a raucous dance number from Stomp and closes with a legendary performance from Lee Evans, looking the grand old man of stand-up in every sense.