A League Of Their Own

The makers of A League Of Their Own have got the title spot on. It stands alone, and seems proud to do so, as the crudest, crassest, most depressing programme on TV, although I haven't watched BBC Three recently so stand to be corrected. On last week's show there were jokes - using the term in same sense that Jedward call themselves singers - about giving Arsène Wenger oral sex, giggling about men kissing, Heather Mills having one leg and a comedian shouting "fucking posh fish" at a tank of fish (as opposed to randomly turning on the underwater upper classes).

There is another problem with the show. It's rubbish. Here's a joke from James Corden on what Phil Taylor likes to have for dinner: "Double eggs, treble chips then finish on a double ice cream." "I'm only joking," said Corden, helpfully, at one point. Corden appears to be turning into Ricky Gervais playing James Corden. Maybe the whole thing is a Corden in-joke, The Office of the comedy quiz world. There has to be something to explain its excruciating awfulness.

James Corden used to be in a boyband

James Corden is hiding a hilarious secret. The roly-poly comedian used to be in a boyband called Insatiable.

While its antecedent, They Think It's All Over, managed to show the surprisingly sharp side of sporting figures such as David Gower and Steve Davis, A League Of Their Own merely plays down to expectations. Team captains Andrew Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp, though likable enough, aren't terribly interesting, leaving the burden of entertainment on James Corden and his interchangeable support staff of panel-show comics, which, for this fourth series, includes Jack Whitehall, Jason Manford and Lee Mack.

The comedy panel show will be addressing one of the very biggest questions in sport this week: Does Andy Murray have a sense of humour?

As series four begins, the tennis star takes his place on the red team where he shows off his unexpected talent as a rapper and also gets the chance to serve a tennis ball straight at James Corden's head. It's an attempt to recreate a William Tell-style stunt by Roger Federer that's been a massive viral hit on YouTube, so no pressure.

Also feeling the heat this week are panellists Freddie Flintoff, Kevin Bishop and Corden himself. They were given a masterclass in penalties from Matt Le Tissier and then got the chance to do it at Wembley at half time during the Manchester derby ­Community Shield game.

For Scouse comedian Bishop, taking a penalty in front of 80,000 Mancunians is no laughing matter.

A big guest straight off the bat for series four: Andy Murray, taking a break from tantalising losses in Grand Slam semis. In the last series, Tim Henman fired serves at the show's regulars. How can Murray top that? By picking up a microphone to reveal his talent for rapping, backed by regular host James Corden.

The show's also held onto star players John Bishop and Andrew Flintoff, along with Jamie Redknapp and Georgie Thompson. Other guests are comic Jason Manford, and Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier.

James Corden's 'League Of Their Own' nets 490k

James Corden's A League Of Their Own was Sky1's most watched broadcast on Friday night, according to the latest audience data.

Host James Corden and regulars Georgie Thompson, Freddie ­Flintoff, John Bishop and Jamie Redknapp return with a new series of the sports-based panel show.

This week's guests are the brilliant Jimmy Carr and darts player Phil "The Power" Taylor. Although due to funnyman John monopolising the screen time, if it wasn't for a section of the show being dedicated to darts you might not realise Phil was even there. Not that we're complaining - ­everything that comes out of John's mouth is comedy gold. The show is now, at one hour, "bigger and longer" than before. And, says James, "it might even be better".

We'd have to agree. I''s just gag after gag, many of them at the expense of one Mr Redknapp.

There's even a "smash it", although not followed by the expected shot of Jamie (perhaps he didn't ­appreciate being the butt of that joke).

As well as laughing, you'll learn some interesting facts, including how many Didier Drogba air fresheners have been sold, why tennis ace Roger Federer's attempts at merchandising are even tackier than that, how ­comedians are stronger than ­footballers, and that if Benidorm's Madge should ever lose her mobility scooter she should probably check Freddie's garage.

A third series of the sports quiz that makes A Question of Sport look square and stilted. Not that A Question of Sport needs any help. The banter feels a lot closer to how sportspeople really talk - letting them swear is a good start - but it's the stunts and games that make it. Highlights of last year's run included series regulars Andrew Flintoff and Georgie Thompson answering quick questions for as long as their team-mate Jimmy Carr could bear to sit in an ice bath, and Phillips Idowu leaping over all five other panellists, plus host James Corden, Evel Kneivel-style. Of course it isn't funny all the time, and moving to hour-long episodes seems risky, but the moments when it flies are worth waiting for.

They are too. In the league of "less entertaining than slamming your genitals in a car door", they're on their own.

Cruel jokes aren't funny except setting Redknapp ablaze

A League Of Their Own host James Corden has told he hates cruel jokes - unless they involve setting fire to Jamie Redknapp.