10 O'Clock Live

10 O'Clock Live, Channel 4, preview

David Mitchell, Lauren Laverne, Jimmy Carr and Charlie Brooker present a new live show with a satirical take on current events.

The brilliant election coverage afforded by David Mitchell, Lauren Laverne, Jimmy Carr and Charlie Brooker was viewed as such a success, they've decided to go ahead and sign them up for an hour a week of live topical comedy. It's bound to be hilarious.

Well, no, it isn't. Much as we like the four acts - alright, "like" is a bit strong for one or two - much as we acknowledge that the four main acts have some worth, we know that adding them together will be like making four decentish musicians into a rock supergroup and having them jam for a one-off Hall Of Fame appearance, i.e. a bit underwhelming. But despite our misgivings (not so much a misgiving as the certain knowledge it'll be rubbish), it's probably the kind of thing we should encourage. So, go on, team. Try to add up to the sum of your parts. That's all we ask.

10 O'Clock Live - review

Ten O'Clock Live isn't yet The Daily Show, but this was a highly promising, confident debut.

Mitchell joins Brooker to grill politicians in new show

Channel 4 hopes 10 O'Clock Live could become the British equivalent of The Daily Show.

10 O'Clock Live: where satire becomes serious

When ministers receive an invitation to appear on a new, live, satirical comedy show on Channel 4, it's understandable if alarm bells start ringing.

David Mitchell: I wanted to be a wizard, then PM

David Mitchell describes himself.

10 O'Clock Live is Channel 4's latest stab at a topical comedy show. Given the involvement of Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell, it might be less egregious than previous attempts.

Unfortunately, it also stars the facile Jimmy Carr and not-actually-a-comedian Lauren Laverne. My prediction: not half as challenging and sharp as it should be.

David Mitchell interview

David Mitchell says: "Ironically I only agreed to do the live election show because it was a one-off. I thought if it was a disaster I could just quickly put it behind me. But it strikes me now as a natural and obvious comedy thing to be doing."

David Mitchell, 10 O'Clock Live - interview

David Mitchell says of 10 O'Clock Live... "it's different from anything I've done before, because you can't write jokes for it."

David Mitchell, Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and Lauren Laverne team up to produce a live, topical "comedy and current affairs" show. Think Newsnight with a steady laugh-track. Adrian Chiles is doing something similar for ITV in That Sunday Night Show but this is probably the one to watch.