Noel Fielding

Another series of music-based panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks began this week. It's the 26th series, and it has to be said it's starting to show...

Although they still have Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding onside, producers are still sticking with guest hosts. This week's host was Katy Burke - who did an OK job - but the panellists are, like always, a mixed bunch. Sarah Millican is usually always reliable, but then you had Fazer from N-Dubz, who I think was only called on because he was the only member of the band who had not appeared on the show before...

Another guest on this episode was Olympian long jumper Greg Rutherford, whose contribution was somewhat dubious. While Burke managed to get some good one-liners from him, I thought that the round entitled "Name that Ginger" was slightly tasteless.

The "Identity Parade". was also problematic. Usually the round features band members - but they must be struggling to find anyone new because instead the line-ups consisted of the now grown-up baby on Nirvana's Nevermind album, and someone's super-fan...

Hopefully this was just a blip, but I can't help but feel that it's time to for Never Mind the Buzzcocks to either shape up or stop.

Series 26, episode one: team captains Noel Fielding and Phill Jupitus are back in their chairs for more rude pop-based quizzing. In the presenter's seat - still without a regular occupant since the peerless Simon Amstell resigned - is Kathy Burke. Her excellent comedy Walking and Talking showed she knows and loves her pop music, at least if it was released in 1979. Among the guests are Fazer from N-Dubz and surprise Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford.

Noel Fielding - portrait of the artist

The Mighty Boosh star explains how he started out in comedy - by dressing up as Jesus, jumping from a cross and dancing to Mick Jagger.

Six to watch: comedy guest stars

A look at guest stars on comedy shows. Includes Minnie Driver appearing on Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge, Noel Fielding on The IT Crowd and Kate O'Mara in Ab Fab.

Noel Fielding is a coward

Noel Fielding couldn't be a grown up about the whole affair. Instead he decided to tweet a number of derogatory tweets about me and my appearance.

Noel Fielding interview

An in-depth interview with Noel Fielding.

The top 100 people in comedy 80 - 61

The Top 100 continues the countdown of the most influential people in comedy, with some big names such as Noel Fielding, Simon Pegg, Rob Brydon and Jack Whitehall hitting the list between 80 - 61...

The life and career of Spike Milligan has been incredibly well-documented over the years. We know about the scars left by war, the misanthropy, the depression and the freaky and original humour. It's hard to argue that this John Sergeant-helmed doc adds very much to the world's sum of Milligan-knowledge but it's watchable enough all the same. Sergeant, in news that won't be particularly surprising to Strictly fans, began his career as a comedian. He's always been in awe of Milligan and here, he visits a few of Spike's old haunts and chats to the likes of Michael Palin, Noel Fielding and Esther Rantzen. Finally, he plays The Goon Show to a classroom of modern kids to see if Milligan's comedy stylings still cut the mustard. And cheeringly, it seems that they do.

The hilarious Secret Policeman's Ball is back to mark Amnesty ­International's 50th anniversary.

Recorded last Sunday at Radio City Music Hall in New York, it's the first time the gala event has been held outside the UK since John Cleese and his friends brought together musicians and ­comedians for the first show in 1976.

It might also be the first time that Coldplay and professional hecklers Statler and Waldorf, from The Muppets, have appeared on the same bill.

The all star-cast also features comics from both sides of the Atlantic, including David Walliams, Ben Stiller, Eddie Izzard, Russell Brand, Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Carr, Noel Fielding and Jack Whitehall, with music from Mumford & Sons.

The Secret Policeman's Ball: behind the scenes - video

Amnesty International goes behind the scenes at The Secret Policeman's Ball at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Russell Brand talks about his tattoo, while other performers, including Paul Rudd, Eddie Izzard and Noel Fielding, talk about what human rights mean to them.