Peter Kay

You can't spoof the unspoofable. Peter Kay's show was a complete mess - a laboured, unfunny spoof that could have made the same point in a brief sketch but went on for two hours.

It did poke fun at the self-importance of these formulaic programmes and their bombastic enthusiasm for unremarkable acts who are essentially cruise-ship entertainers, but even Kay himself as Geraldine, an enormous transvestite who lives to sing, failed to land a real blow.

The problem is that The X-Factor and its ilk are infinitely more ridiculous than this send-up, but then how would you satirise Jordan or Jade Goody or Damien Hirst or Roman Abramovich? Modern culture is unsatirisable partly because no comic exaggeration is possible and partly because for satire to work at all it requires some modest capacity for shame in the world it is mocking.

Ally Ross Rants

A greedy, self-indulgent, not-all-that-funny advert for Peter Kay, who might well take the mickey out of The X Factor's rip-off phone lines but he's also clearly not above taking the p*** out of viewers, who voted with their remote controls on this one. Over half of the six million audience deserted, mid-show.

Well, what can you say - it's split the nation, pretty much like the subject matter, but Britain's Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice was an absolute triumph for Peter Kay and Channel 4 on Sunday evening. A triumph.

Peter Kay's spoof reality show a ratings hit

Peter Kay's spoof reality show attracted Channel 4's biggest audience of the year so far.

Peter Kay's Pop Factor was a pure delight

The fact that 5.5 million people tuned in (Channel 4's best ratings of the year), means that I was not the only one who enjoyed Kay's exceptionally well-observed skewering of the reality talent format. So imagine my surprise when about 50% of the office confessed that they hated it.

TV Insider Blog

The Peter Kay X Factor spoof did incredibly well last night - 6.1m viewers on C4? Superb numbers there. And as a big fan of Mr Kay (more in the consistently funny sitcom Phoenix Nights than his nice-but-trad stand-up act) I was waiting with baited breath for it. The first hour was one of the biggest disappointments of the year for me. They forgot to put any jokes in.

This is Peter Kay's first major new work on TV for four years in which he spoofs - you guessed it - reality talent shows with characteristic accuracy and affection. Cat Deeley presents a 'live final' of an X-Factor-style extravaganza and it's down to three finalists - R Wayne, foursome 2 Up 2 Down, and Geraldine, played by Kay himself. The judges are Neil Fox, Nicki Chapman and Pete Waterman, and the results follow straight after a documentary about his record-breaking 2002 stand-up tour. If you are doing something else on Sunday night, you probably shouldn't be.

Behind The Scenes Photos

Some photos of Peter Kay recording the show.

Peter Kay's first new TV comedy work for four years has been heavily trailed by Channel 4, and who can blame them? I still think Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere was a brutal misfire for the popular (and undeniably brilliant) comic actor, but hopefully this will bring him back to comedy greatness. The explosion of reality talent shows might be an easy target for satire, but Kay, steeped in popular TV culture, should be able to get something from the show. Kay is Geraldine, a finalist on a talent show, hosted by Cat Deeley and judged by Pete Waterman, Nicki Chapman and Neil Fox. But is Geraldine keeping a deep, dark secret, and will 'she' win out in the end?

Strictly come spoofing

Since Peter Kay became one of the hottest talents on television, through Phoenix Nights and standup, there has been understandable excitement about where he might go next on TV. It turns out that he has chosen to go for TV: the tongue-busting title of his new Channel 4 show, broadcast this Sunday, is Peter Kay's Britain's Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Strictly on Ice - a highly evolved satire on reality TV.

Using genuine personnel from wannabe programmes (presenter Cat Deeley, judges Nicki Chapman and Pete Waterman), Kay has devised a competition between fictional contestants, including Kay himself in drag as big-hearted chanteuse Geraldine. For extra realism, the send-ups will be broadcast in two parts on the same night: an early evening heat and a late-night results show.