Robin Williams (I)

Now this could be interesting: Robin Williams is a guest tonight and he is a notoriously loose cannon. Undoubtedly he's a clever and witty comedian, but he finds it hard to turn himself off. So will Williams be "on" when he takes his place on the Norton sofa? He shares the limelight here with busy young Elijah Wood (recently on BBC3 in the very odd US comedy Wilfred) and with our own Jennifer Saunders, who returns to TV screens at Christmas with an Absolutely Fabulous special.

Tonight's chat-show guests are American comedian-actor Robin Williams and actor Elijah Wood (yes, they have a film out - the animated penguin comedy Happy Feet Two), plus Jennifer Saunders, who has recovered from breast cancer and is working on new episodes of Absolutely Fabulous to mark the sitcom's 20th anniversary next year. Music comes from JLS.

Jonathan Ross takes on exuberant comedian and actor Robin Williams this week. It's been a while since Williams has carried a hit film, but his quick wit and improvisational flair should make him the perfect chat-show guest. Model and entrepreneur Elle Macpherson, the new host of Britain's Next Top Model, also joins Ross. Australian musician and comic Tim Minchin completes the line-up.

He might not find the arrival of his bus pass terribly funny, but as the Prince of Wales celebrates his 60th birthday, at least he can have a chortle at the stellar comedy line-up amassed here in his honour. The Prince's pulling power has not only lured reclusive comedy greats John Cleese and Rowan Atkinson onto the live stage for this one-off show, but has also enticed the brilliant Robin Williams across the pond to do his first British stand-up gig in over 25 years. And why not - Sir Robin Williams does have a certain ring to it.

He's always loved a good chuckle, has our Charlie - aka HRH The Prince of Wales.

So this comedy spectacular, recorded earlier this week, was the best possible way for the heir to the throne to celebrate his 60th birthday (other than for his mum to shift over and let him run the country for a day, and I was never convinced that was going to happen).

Also designed to help raise awareness of (and money for) The Prince's Trust, it features some all-time comedy greats, a number of whom are stepping onto a British stage (the New Wimbledon Theatre, to be precise) for the first time in yonks.

John Cleese, for example, is our Master of Ceremonies, while those performing stand-up and sketches include Robin Williams, Rowan Atkinson and Joan Rivers.

Williams top turn at Charles show

Robin Williams has made a triumphant return to the British stage for Prince Charles's 60th birthday comedy show.