Rob Brydon

It is perhaps not the host's career priority, but BBC2's The Rob Brydon Show has quietly grown into one of TV's best chat shows. I particularly enjoyed his latest guest Prof Brian Cox's anecdote about Kate Moss approaching him at a party to ask about particle physics. Not the kind of particles Kate has been known to find out about at parties, of course.

Two regular features should be adopted forthwith by other chat shows. The first is getting the studio audience to chip in with questions. Tonight a fan asks popstar-turned-physicist Brian Cox the ticklish "Which are better - pop groupies or science groupies?" and gets an unequivocal answer.

Another innovation is, of course, Brydon's fondness for the loosely strung sing-song, led this week by Kelly Jones of Stereophonics on acoustic guitar as Brydon bellows through Pretty Woman - with help from Ray Winstone. But before that, there's Brydon's banter with his audience members, including a man literally born in a toilet: "I'm glad we've flushed you out..."

How Rob Brydon learnt to play nice

Rob Brydon was once as anxiety-ridden and drawn to darkness as the next comedian. Today, he's a light entertainment fixture and cheeriness personified. What went wrong?

Rob Brydon needs no excuse to break into song, which he engineers tonight by inviting fellow Welshman Tom Jones onto his chat show. Thrusting a guitar into Sir Tom's hands, Brydon joins him in a rousing version of Elvis's A Mess of Blues. Interviews with actress Emilia Fox and wildlife expert Steve Backshall make up the rest of the half hour.

The beauty of Rob Brydon as a chat show host is that without seemingly trying too hard or forcing the pace he manages to put a smile on your face. And boy, can he play a crowd. Even before his guests have arrived tonight, he picks a comedy argument with a woman in the audience who is in a wheelchair, and it comes across as sharp, good-natured - and very funny.

Then the revolving bookcase delivers Ronan Keating, Jason Manford and Neil Morrissey by turns, and once they're all on the leather sofa the chemistry works a treat. Plus, of course, everybody gets to sing.

Another half hour of frothy fun with the inimitable Mr Rob Brydon, comprising a naughty natter with South Shields comedian Sarah Millican, who talks about her rise to stardom having only attended a comedy club for the first time aged 29. There's also a lesson in elegance with cross-dressing artist Grayson Perry, and a romantic gesture from musician Newton Faulkner.

The Rob Brydon Show review - Episode 3.2

I haven't any real qualms about The Rob Brydon Show this week - I never do, to be honest. It's a nice little show, and I think I speak on the behalf of everyone when I say that I don't miss the stand-up section.

Julia Davis interview

Nighty Night creator Julia Davis tells Metro about the inspiration behind her characters, working with Rob Brydon and her new Sky Atlantic sitcom Hunderby.

Affable Rob Brydon's light-hearted chat show is pleasant enough but has little to distinguish it from others of its kind. Tonight he's joined by Barbara Windsor who shares a delightful Amy Winehouse anecdote and has fun sending-up her EastEnders alias Peggy Mitchell's banshee-like behaviour. Chef Heston Blumenthal also drops by to discuss barbecuing etiquette and sleek doo-wop band The Overtones provide the music.

The Rob Brydon Show review - Episode 3.1

Real, real credit to Rob Brydon for managing to inject all the humour he could into what - if it had been left to Alex James - would have been a very dull and boring interview.