Romesh Ranganathan

Penultimate episode of the sitcom starring self-deprecating comic Josh Widdicombe as a fictive version of himself. Despite a shaky start, it has slowly moved away from sub-Peep Show flatshare gags, and tonight's outing is its funniest yet. Landlord Geoff (Jack Dee) has let out his flat for London fashion week, and packed Josh, Kate and Owen off to Clacton. Unfortunately for the friends, he's tagging along, too, with an awkward nephew and an unlikely proposition for Josh. The Chuckle Brothers and Romesh Ranganathan guest star.

Romesh Ranganathan on getting embarrassed by his mum

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan very reluctantly agreed when his mum asked him to explore his Sri Lankan roots for new BBC Three show Asian Provocateur. So, much to Romesh's regret, we gave him and mum Shanthi a call to see what makes their relationship so special...

Romesh Ranganathan interview

For his new BBC3 series, the London-based comedian went to Sri Lanka to explore his roots and basically sweat a lot. Here are six things he 'learned'.

Taskmaster is the kind of Dave thing that shouldn't quite work but is actually wildly stupid fun. Mainly thanks to Alex Horne, late of so much splendid radio, and Greg Davies, and regulars such as Frank Skinner and Romesh Ranganathan. And eating a watermelon in a minute, and having to paint a horse while riding a horse and other activities that would have been unsuited to, say, Queen Victoria's funeral. A winner.

Radio Times review

As a civilisation, we're starting to realise that asking questions about news or trivia from behind a desk isn't the best way to wring semi-improvised laughs out of moderately popular comedians. Far wiser to make them do something less restrictive, where the thing itself is funny before anyone starts. So we come to this fun new jolly, where titular Taskmaster Greg Davies - flanked by the show's creator Alex Horne - awards comics marks for eating as much watermelon as they can in a minute, emptying a bathtub without pulling the plug out, or painting a horse while riding a horse.

The comfortingly familiar guests are Frank Skinner, Josh Widdicombe, Roisin Conaty, Romesh Ranganathan and Tim Key. Skinner is a good weathervane, since he's been around far too long to bother laughing politely at unfunny jokes. Here, he laughs a lot.

Romesh Ranganathan to film Sri Lanka travel series

BBC Three is sending stand-up comedian Romesh Ranganathan to Sri Lanka to connect with his roots for a six part series called Romesh's Return Ticket.

Stand-ups pick the best comedy clubs

Keith Farnan, Carl Hutchinson, Kerry Godliman, Romesh Ranganathan, Richard Herring, Phil Wang, Chris Turner, Lucy Beaumont, Katie Mulgrew, Phil Nichol, Ahir Shah, Juliet Meyers, Tiff Stevenson, Rachel Parris, Stephen K Amos and Andrew Maxwell name their favourite comedy clubs.

How fabulous to have an episode of Have I Got News For You, filmed as election news was still coming in (Friday, BBC1). With all the demob feeling of "EastEnders go to Marbella", this had a real frisson of the improvised. There was a certain catharsis to be had hearing Ian Hislop officially voicing what everyone had been talking about all day: "Everyone said it was unpredictable. Because they'd got it wrong."

And the live quality really added something: "Can I just tell you something? It is the end of Farage." "Can we stop for a minute? Nick Clegg has resigned." Line of the night went to Romesh Ranganathan, on the failure of Mori and the like: "Farage has been banging on about not trusting the Poles for ages ..." And is there any reason why Jo Brand shouldn't be the permanent host?

The same privileged old guard, the unchanging rituals, the forced smiles and occasional moments of genuine delight: yes, the enduring satirical panel show and the general election were clearly made for each other. Still, in the runup to the election, the media has been filled with political behaviour even more ludicrous than usual, all of which should be fecund ground for Paul Merton and Ian Hislop. Jo Brand hosts tonight, while comedian Romesh Ranganathan and newsreader Jon Snow help uncover the truths behind the manifesto promises.