Ross Noble

Norton will surely enjoy having not one but two pop princesses on his sofa tonight: Katy Perry, who will be infinitely more interesting if she talks about her antics with anarchic ex Russell Brand, plus Cheryl Cole, who performs latest track Call My Name. Jollying things up with quick-thinking is comic Ross Noble.

The host's two female guests tonight have a lot in common - from their dazzling white teeth, to their tabloid omnipresence, to their dubious tastes in men. And they're both pop singers. Cheryl Cole and Katy Perry certainly offer plenty of juicy material for The Telegraph agony uncle. Cole will be plugging her new single, while possibly deflecting questions about her short-lived stint as a judge on the US X Factor, while Perry has a new tour coming up. Joining them on the sofa is comedian Ross Noble.

Growly Alastair Campbell, former Downing Street director of communications and strategy, diarist, Burnley supporter and ebullient Tweeter, chairs for the first time. So expect lots of needling from Ian Hislop, who'll doubtless have something to say about Campbell's appearances before the Leveson Inquiry (he's the first of tonight's Leveson alumni; Steve Coogan turns up on Graham Norton).

But the big question is will Campbell have the skill to rein in guest panellist, big, loud hirsute Ross Noble, who tends to overwhelm any panel show he's on if he's not kept in order? Returning to the show is Lord Sugar's flint-eyed right-hand man, and Countdown host, Nick Hewer.

The provenance of this episode is quite as interesting as anything Stephen Fry has on his cue cards. It was pulled from the schedules last December after Jeremy Clarkson, one of its guest panellists, made his much-derided comments about public sector strike action. The furore surrounding Clarkson has died down enough to show the episode (and to allow him to guest-host tonight's Have I Got News For You), and he joins Alan Davies, Ross Noble and Dara O'Briain to answer questions about idleness.

Disabled comic Lee Ridley stands up for Ross Noble

Today I read a story regarding comedian Ross Noble who has been criticised for taking the piss out of a disabled audience member's laugh. I honestly do not even know how to start to explain how stupid this whole thing is! In fact, I'm not sure why it's even news!?

Germaine Greer takes a pop at computer pop-ups (she has no idea what they are) and fun runs, but reveals she's so out of touch with public opinion she gets heckled. Just as well comedian Ross Noble and pop star turned businesswoman Jamelia have more of a common touch as they aim health & safety and txt spk at Frank Skinner's sparkly chute of oblivion. But they're all upstaged by a stonking turn from folk street dancers Time Gentlemen Please!

Four episodes in and the panel format is working so well it's hard to remember Room 101 in its previous incarnation. Frank Skinner's consummate ease with a one-liner helps. And it's Skinner's quick-witted to-and-fro with Ross Noble that propels the show as the panel discuss Noble's beefs with folk dancing and health and safety measures: "The reason we have danger is to get rid of idiots," claims Noble.

Also up for dissection are Jamelia's dislike of text speak and Germaine Greer's hatred of computer pop-ups and fun runs: "Why don't they just write a cheque?" she asks. We think she has a point, but will Skinner agree?

Free-wheeling Geordie comic Ross Noble, award-winning R&B singer Jamelia and the academic and journalist Germaine Greer are Frank Skinner's guests on tonight'' edition of this long-running comedy show. They give good value for money, campaigning for a wide range of items to be sent to their doom in Room 101 - including health and safety, actors, text speak and folk dancing.

The celebrity booker's net trawls and catches Ross Noble, Jamelia and Germaine Greer - who might just be the first recipient of a Room 101 audience heckle. A bland heckle, but for a couple of vaguely seditious seconds it wobbles the cosy carapace. As does host Frank Skinner's unexpectedly serious and prolonged defence of English folk dancing in the face of Noble's lame and obvious put-downs. That said, Noble's observation of recumbent cycling seems pretty spot-on: "Handy, cos you're already in the coffin position."

A special edition of the show as it hits its 45th birthday. "Am I really that old?" asks 88-year-old host Nicholas Parsons, thinking back to when the series started in 1967, and has to answer himself with an honest "Yes".

Well, old it might be but it's lost none of its wit and edge. Ross Noble is particularly hilarious here - although not very good at scoring actual points.