Bremner, Bird & Fortune: The Last Show Before The Recovery

The three satirists continue to cast their jaundiced eyes over the recent financial meltdown and the failings of new Labour with a rage that hasn't been seen since the sleazy fag end of the last Conservative Government under John Major. Some of Bremner's impersonations, particularly Tony Blair and Ken Clarke, are almost uncanny, and there is a series of wonderful George Parr interviews between Bird and Fortune, especially those with John Bird as a smooth and unscrupulous banker. But the surprise star turn in the show is Gillian Tett, who - as assistant editor of the Financial Times - gives an entirely straight interview with Bremner about the early-warning signs of crisis. It's when you stop laughing that you realise she was being serious.

Rory Bremner interview

For the moment, budget cuts mean Bremner is recording themed specials rather than the topical series that needs weekly recording time. People say nobody saw the financial crisis coming but he has sketches going back to 1996 in which John Bird and John Fortune lampooned the whole City culture.

Impressionist Rory Bremner and his regular collaborators John Bird and John Fortune have, arguably, become the kings of biting topical satirical comedy. And in this new three-part series, everything is fair game. MPs and their expenses, the current financial disaster and Gordon Brown's much-derided grin in the video he recently released on YouTube get the skewering they so richly deserve.

Rory Bremner and pals lampoon the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Russell Brand in a new series of the sketch show. What with the PM's manic YouTube grin, the meltdown of Britain's banking system, a couple of twerps making abusive phone calls to Manuel off Fawlty Towers and greedy MPs buying Whiskas with our hard-earned wages (eight out of 10 voters said their cats were utterly disgusted), you can't say Rory and the two Johns will be short of material for this three-parter. Superbly written and performed, this is subtitled The Last Show Before the Recovery. Oh, if only that were true.

Rory Bremner lampoons Russell Brand

Rory Bremner becomes Russell Brand, cheekily grinning by a microphone and looking uncannily like the long-haired comedian as he made his prank calls to Andrew Sachs, in his new show.

A new three-part series from Rory Bremner, John Bird and John Fortune focuses first on the economic recovery, or lack of it, as well as looking askance at Gordon Brown's frightening smile and the "Sachsgate" affair. This was recorded in advance of the full horror of the MPs' expenses scandal; that will no doubt be explored in future weeks.