Rob Brydon

When Rob Brydon launched this chat show last year, he said he was interested only in interviewing guests whose work he respected. That may sound like the kind of hot air any obsequious chat show host would spout, but in Brydon's case it may actually be true: among his guests in his two series to date have been Bruce Forsyth, Tom Jones, Ronnie Corbett and Terry Wogan, all of whom Brydon is well known to admire. Tonight's guest is another lifelong favourite of Brydon's, and indeed of most people in Britain who enjoy comedy: the majestic Dame Edna Everage, who's still going strong at... well, it wouldn't do to mention a lady's age, now, would it? There will also be a song from Will Young, and some stand-up from the startlingly young Phil Wang. We're sure Dame Edna will have the good taste not to draw attention to that surname.

Comedy Britain proved that Barker was the funny one

Ronnie Corbett's Comedy Britain saw the comedian cavort with David Walliams, Ken Dodd and Rob Brydon, but once again it failed to raise a laugh.

Ronnie's brand of humour might not be to everyone's taste, but as one half of one of Britain's greatest comedy duos, he is entitled to a little introspection in his old age. In the concluding episode of his two-part series, the legendary comedian cavorts with fellow comics Harry Hill, David Walliams and Rob Brydon in an effort to understand what inspired them to carve out a career making people laugh.

The second half of the diminutive veteran's fluffy history of comedy sees him snoop round Harry Hill's unique prop store - see if you can spot stuff used in TV Burp. Next Corbett takes afternoon tea with David Walliams and his mother. Cue copious talk of cross-dressing. He also joins Rob Brydon for a round of golf, visits Dara O'Briain's favourite comedy club and takes a ferry across the Mersey with Ken Dodd. Finally, Corbett retells one of his most loved, free-wheeling monologues from the chair made famous in The Two Ronnies - and gets touchingly dewy-eyed over the memories it brings back of former partner-in-mirth Ronnie Barker.

No chat show audience screams louder than Alan's.

Did you hear them shrieking for One Direction last week? They went mental. So you might need ear plugs tonight as Alan cracks open the drinks cabinet one last time to welcome The Inbetweeners and Justin Timberlake for the final show of the series.

Justin's co-star Mila Kunis from his new rom-com Friends With Benefits will be joining him on the sofa too and there's music from fabulous Jessie J.

Over on the BBC, Rob Brydon's guests tonight are Bruce Forsyth and Sophie Ellis Bextor. No offence, Rob, but Alan's totally aced it this week.

What makes a good chatshow host?

Rob Brydon is back on our screens with a second series - are you watching, and what are your favourite talkshow moments?

When Rob Brydon says: "Time now for some music," you may be forgiven for thinking, as opposed to what, exactly?

It's only week two of his new chat show series and he's ­shamelessly grabbed every chance he can get to grab the mic and show off his crooning.

That No 1 Comic Relief single must have gone to his head.

But seriously, Rob, why not just apply to go on The X Factor? We won't think any less of you.

This week, his talking guest is Bill Bailey, who made a career out of combining music and comedy. One duet (yes, there's more than one) involves cowbells and Elvis. Bell-vis, anyone?

There's yet another duet with his other guest, British soul diva Beverley Knight (who's got stories about meeting the Queen and Prince) while Australian comic Celia Pacquola gets to have the stage all to herself.

Two very funny female comics in two weeks? That's one trend we do approve of.

Rob Brydon's cheerful dismantling of the chat-show format continues. After a chinwag with the audience, culminating in a couple being presented with a tin of biscuits for their anniversary, Brydon welcomes Bill Bailey. He's not plugging anything, and Brydon barely interviews him at all before moving on to musical japes: a punked-up show tune, a fantastic Elvis cover with Bailey on Swiss cowbells and, later, a massive horn. In between all that are light but likeable stand-up comic Celia Pacquola, and the persistent Beverley Knight, who has a new covers album to promote, and somehow looks just as good as she did when her first LP came out 16 years ago. Her duet with Brydon at first seems to be one of the most embarrassing TV moments of the decade, but don't worry, there's a gag coming. Finally, Knight blasts out Cuddly Toy by Roachford. Tune!

'Rob Brydon Show' pips Alan Carr's 'Chatty Man'

Rob Brydon's talkshow was more popular than Alan Carr's on Friday night, but could not match its first series opener, according to the latest overnight data.

The Rob Brydon Show is in the chat show B-team

The Rob Brydon Show was a beige piece of television that this week featured Matt Lucas, a ventriloquist and indie-borers The Script.