Patrick Kielty

Deborah Meaden from Dragons' Den strikes me as a hard-hearted rationalist, a no-nonsense type. Would she really be the sort of person to call in an exorcist because the furniture in her house moved around in the night? That's what she asks us to believe as a panellist taking part in tonight's truth-twisting japes and, as always, you're torn: is she clumsily embroidering a lie she has just read off the card or is she deliberately fumbling the telling of a true story? The same dilemma presents itself when Patrick Kielty's anecdote about once punching Muhammad Ali unfolds rather unconvincingly and when David Mitchell explains how he used a calculator to talk to Captain Kirk during episodes of Star Trek. It's horribly plausible.

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.

Patrick Kielty steps out with statuesque blonde

Most men would be happy to be seen with a gorgeous and willowy blonde on their arm. But for some reason, Patrick Kielty didn't look too impressed to be caught on camera as he was snapped out with his girlfriend in London last night.

Patrick Kielty MCs more topical, edgy humour tonight from Rich Hall, Jack Whitehall, Andi Osho and Kevin Bridges. And another masochistic celebrity guest braves The Chair - the 21st century equivalent of the stocks. Except, instead of being pelted with rotten fruit and veg, they're subjected to a tsunami of verbal abuse that stops just short of having their head pushed down the toilet.

This week it's Peter Shilton, who'll be hoping for an easier ride than Lembit Opik got last week. Don't be fooled by Kielty's blandly angelic appearance. This isn't the same Patrick Kielty who fronted Fame Academy, Love Island and The National Lottery's Big Ticket. The Patrick Kielty on this show is his ruder, cruder and utterly merciless identical evil twin.

Patrick Kielty hosts a spikey new stand-up show that is not, we repeat - NOT, anything like Mock The Week. Each week stand up comedians provide a satirical view on the week's news in the show which is recorded in front of a live studio audience (we repeat - not like Mock The Week). Oh wait a minute there's weekly celebrity appearances. Told you. Nothing like Mock The Week.

Good to see more topical stand-up on telly... this time Patrick Kielty is at the helm, with a regular team of stand-ups, including veteran Rich Hall plus rising stars Jack Whitehall, Andi Osho and Kevin Bridges, riffing off the week's news and subjecting celebrity guests to a roasting in front of a live audience at Koko in Camden. Hopefully the late-night slot means no taboo is left untouched.

Strangely, tvBite is forever sticking up for Patrick Kielty. Yes, he's not the greatest stand-up ever - but honestly, he's one of the nicest men in showbiz. He told us on the phone that this show will be genuinely edgy and great post-pub entertainment. Hmmm. Rich Hall is a regular, which is a good sign. But so is Jack Whitehall, which really, really isn't. He promised that "people like Jerry Sadowitz" would get guest spots too, though we'll believe that when we see it.

Forget picture rounds, point scoring and clever puns - this blisteringly funny comedy goes straight for the jugular with a team of stand-ups letting rip on the news and sailing as close to the wind as the lawyers allow.

The most extraordinary segment sees host Patrick Kielty verbally cremating Lembit Opik, who is this week's guest in a spot called 'The Chair'.

For what must be the longest two minutes in Opik's life he's abused by Kielty, who probably can't believe he's not being hit. Opik meekly takes it but then 'The Chair' is the only seat he's likely to be offered for the forseeable.

Also appearing are Jack Whitehall, Rich Hall, Kevin Bridges, Andi Osho and Brendon Burns. On the strength of this first show, SUFTW makes HIGNFY look like a doddery old uncle.

Patrick Kielty: My brush with the IRA

Patrick Kielty, 39, is hosting new comedy show Stand Up For The Week...

Patrick Kielty on C4's new topical show

"Ignore the press release about it being no-holds barred," its host Patrick Kielty says casually. "If you say you're going to be outrageous, the typical reaction is, 'Yeah? How f***ing outrageous?'. We're out to be funny, not to shock."