Tom Cruise

This animated version of Gervais's fantastic podcasts - which also features quick-witted Stephen Merchant and Karl 'head like a f**king orange' Pilkington - returns for a third series. And this opener is one of the most hilarious episodes yet, focusing primarily on Karl's attempt to sell his latest movie idea to a pair of fictional film execs, personified by Gervais and Merchant. For those of you who enjoyed Pilkington's idea for a bizarre sci-fi romance starring Clive Owen (or is that 'Clive Warren'?), just wait until you hear the pitch for Bryan's Brain starring none other than Tom Cruise. This writer genuinely shed tears of laughter.

Wossy's back for his second series on ITV - beginning tonight but normally on Saturdays - and he's got another star-studded line-up with which to lure viewers. Tom Cruise brings the Hollywood glamour, while the stars of teen film The Inbetweeners provide the comedy. Most, however, will be tuning in for any titbits about the Downton Abbey Christmas special from the drama's aristocratic sisters, played by Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael and Michelle Dockery.

Video - Simon Pegg on Mission: Impossible

Simon Pegg has joked that his combat training ahead of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol prepared him for "running down some steps".

The comedian stars in the fourth film in the action franchise, which sees Tom Cruise reprise his role as Ethan Hunt.

Simon plays fellow IMF agent Benji Dunn, a technical expert who joins the field team.

"I did fight training and weapons training. It's great to be paid to work out," he said in an interview with BBC Breakfast.

"I ran down some steps. It sounds easy but I had to do it 15 times."

A few surprises: the petite lady with a tattoo in the audience front row is not, as host Rob Brydon guesses, a beautician. Meanwhile, according to occasional Hollywood-botherer Matt Lucas, Tom Cruise is even shorter than we think. But how short? "One foot." U2 suppport act the Script and ventriloquist/monkey-wrangler Nina Conti complete the guestlist for this welcome second series. It doesn't get any cuddlier.

Brydon's personalised chat show returns for a second run. It was entertaining last year in part because virtually all the guests were his friends, a shortcut he presumably can't use for ever. He does tonight though, chatting easily with Matt Lucas (Brydon worked on and appeared in Little Britain) about comedy, musical theatre and exactly how tall Tom Cruise is. They take the mickey and riff off each other in a way that most host/guest combinations never could. Brydon's opening banter with the studio audience is an offhand hoot as well. Brydon likes to jam with his musical guests, which has previously provided some unexpected spine-tinglers, but tonight's band is insipid talk-show scourge the Script. Brydon attempts an odd mime routine as they plod through a David Bowie cover, then lets them play their own song later on. The stand-up guest is Nina Conti, who's been doing her lo-fi ventriloquist routine for years, and should have it honed by now.