Ruth Jones (I)

Remember what 50-year-old Mary Bale threw into a wheelie bin, briefly bagging her the title of most hated woman in Britain? And ten points and a moulding turkey leg to anyone who can name the lady Gordon Brown dubbed "ignorant" during his doomed election campaign? Jimmy Carr knows, but do the celebrities whose agents have signed them up to be interrogated on his daft end of year quiz? These include Jonathan Ross, Ruth Jones, Alan Carr and Michael McIntyre. But Channel 4 haven't yet let slip who the A-list question-setters are - previous guest coups included Bono, Ricky Gervais and Quentin Tarantino. Let's hope the celebs have been devouring the tabloids all year on the off chance that they're called upon to regurgitate it with an amusing trim, for a generous fee, naturally.

There's no Gavin & Stacey this Christmas, but as a consolation we are offered up this new mix of chat, music and sketch comedy from the sitcom's co-creator Ruth Jones, aka Nessa. Her guests will include Ricky Gervais (without whom, it seems, no chat show is complete), Miranda Hart (of BBC Two's Miranda) and pop crooner Will Young.

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Like most comedy writers, I've tried to get a sitcom on television. And, like most comedy writers, I've failed (although older viewers can find a show I co-wrote, The Junkies, on YouTube). Naturally, this makes me bitter about those who've succeeded where I haven't.

So I was very much looking forward to hating BBC4's new comedy The Great Outdoors, written by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Black Books, Hyperdrive).

But much to my distress, The Great Outdoors is brilliant. Not only is it the best comedy on TV right now - not difficult as we're in a midsummer trough of trash as usual - but it has the makings of a classic.

The almost actionless adventures of a walking club might not sound thrilling. But The Great Outdoors' genius is to unfold the lives of the members over several episodes, rather than lumber them with weak dialogue and willy jokes.

This week I was moved by the plight of Bob the walk leader (played by Mark Heap, the only man to star in both Brass Eye and Lark Rise To Candleford) and the stirrings of his affection for Christine (Ruth Jones).

Heap and Jones are great but the entire cast work together and every scene - every line - combines to make this something rather special.

Rats. Now I'll have to find something new to hate.

The final instalment of Ruth Jones' promising comedy sees the rivalry between characters Bob and Christine come to a head in a hike along the south coast. It's a clash that's been building throughout this specially commissioned series and one that will be full of the tragi-comic material that's made the show a joy to watch over the last few weeks.

Comedians ribbing each other about far-fetched tales - it's what Friday-night telly was made for. And this week's gathering of deceivers and doubters may be the sharpest yet. Joining chalk-and-cheese team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack are Ruth Jones (of Gavin & Stacey fame), Jason Manford (The One Show) and comedians Jack Dee and Peter Serafinowicz. In short, every one's a winner. Tonight's best round involves a mystery guest called Ian. The question is, did he save Jones's tortoise from death, sell batteries to David Mitchell via eBay, or get attacked by schoolchildren alongside Manford? Finding out is a blast. Plus there's a new round where host Rob Brydon has a go at fooling the teams himself. But did he really once steal Catherine Zeta-Jones's dinner money?

Full marks to whoever booked the panellists on tonight's Would I Lie To You?. It's a solid gold line-up this week. Joining David Mitchell, Lee Mack and Rob Brydon are Ruth Jones, Jason Manford, Jack Dee and Peter Serafinowicz - taking a break from what is practically a full-time job of filling the Twitter-verse with surreal one-liners.

This week they're all bringing their best poker faces to some very tall tales involving Ray Charles, a tortoise, a human sausage, a cheese and onion sandwich, Lee Mack's life expectancy, and David Mitchell's battery-buying habits.

And Rob Brydon's getting in on the act as well with his own true or false questions - did he really once steal Catherine Zeta-Jones' lunch money?

This three-part comedy follows the hikes, heartaches, friendships and rivalries of a misfit rambling club. Last night's opener saw newcomer Christine, played by the always-excellent Ruth Jones, joining them from north Devon. She arrived equipped for every eventuality, including a stash of emergency flares, a cagoule with breathable vents and a jumbo box of cereal bars.

Her outspoken manner and constant rejoinders that "this wasn't how they did things in Barnstaple" soon rubbed group leader Bob (Green Wing's Mark Heap) up the wrong way. "She's like Ranulph Fiennes on HRT," he muttered bitterly to right-hand man Tom.

Meanwhile, Bob's daughter Hazel was battling the unwanted attentions of toothy teenager Victor and Tom was revelling in his newfound unemployment. "I've been out of work before, but I really want to make a go of it this time," he told Christine.

Bob's long-term ambition is to create the biggest rambling club in the Chilterns. Unfortunately, his rubbish jokes and tendency to dictate the conversational topics mile by mile ("OK, mile one topic: dinner with a Beatle... living or dead, which wife and what's the menu?") mean new members keep falling by the wayside.

The laugh-out loud moments may have been few and far between, but we reckon this gentle adventure is definitely worth keeping up with for the next mile or two.