10 O'Clock Live

10 O'Clock Live review

Overall, 10 O'Clock Live started its run with a confident first step, but more variety to the features would be appreciated.

10 O'Clock Live review

Some of the gags were sharp, particularly when you consider how up-to-the-minute the subject matter can be. The show kicked off with material on the Alan Johnson story - something which had only come out in the news a couple of hours previously.

So far, 10 O'Clock Live just talks down to the kids

The current affairs satirical show left me feeling patronised, and confused about what its so-called young perspective means.

10 o'Clock Live: So What Did We Think?

10 O'Clock Live should comfortably recover from this initial backlash (which seems to have been over-hyped in a similar way to the show itself), but execs should have realised the importance of letting a show of this nature find it's feet and more importantly - it's chemistry - naturally. Essentially, given the players involved, this series should be too good to fail but they do need to do sort out the tempo.

10 O'Clock Live: A review now the dust has settled

Arguably (and it's an argument I'd make), the best bits were when the four presenters just sat around and chatted for a bit. They're all naturally funny, clever people - that's the point - so just free up a bit more time for them to show it, and this could turn into something great.

Building on the success of their Alternative Election Night earlier this year, the comic quartet of Charlie Brooker, David Mitchell, Jimmy Carr and Lauren Laverne return for a new series of informative and amusing takes on news and current affairs - although left-wing views are sure to dominate. Joined by guests from the spheres of politics, science and culture, as well as a live studio audience, the show mixes jokes with interviews and debates.

If, back in May, you found yourself on the night of the general election, flicking between channels, you may have found that Channel 4's funny, free-fl owing take on events appealed more than the stern psephology on BBC, ITV and Sky. In fact, while it was on air, Alternative Election Night drew a bigger audience than ITV's election coverage, a feat that helped spawn this spiritual successor, a live show with a satirical take on current events, courtesy of David Mitchell, Lauren Laverne, Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and their guest interviewees. Expect some witheringly sharp wit as well as the odd car crash: as Carr points out, "It's an hour of live TV once a week on Channel 4. I heard Ofcom have set up a panic room. It might save everyone a lot of time and energy if I just apologise and resign now."

Not everyone might have been happy with what happened at the last election, but after the success of Channel 4's Alternative Election Night, the ubiquitous Jimmy Carr, David Mitchell, Charlie Brooker and Lauren Laverne have returned for this new weekly satirical show. Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the four will front separate sections of the show. Brooker will be looking back at the most topical stories of the week, Laverne will be reacting to audience feedback, Mitchell's duty is to fire up discussions, while Carr keeps it all together from his desk. Will Paxman be losing any sleep?

Jimmy Carr has said that Ofcom has set up a panic room in anticipation of this live hour of mirth on Channel 4 - a joke, ostensibly, though the evening will undoubtedly be juicy with Carr, David Mitchell, Charlie Brooker and Lauren Laverne at the helm. The same quartet hosted C4's excellent Alternative Election Night and it looks like more or less the same set-up: intelligent and funny chat with bright-spark guests discussing current affairs, plus interviews and topical comedy. Bring it on.

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