iCandy

There was good: Liam Hourican's mimicry of Louis Theroux, interviewing Hitler in his bunker ("I'd never met the most hated man in history before, but I hoped we'd get along") and Peter Stringfellow - a spot-on vocal imitation as the legendary lothario teaching young hoodies a thing or two ("I give them a steak and a dance, and they turn into gentlemen"). There was bad: a TV life coach who used to be a mobster. And then there was ugly: the Mancunian driving instructor whose moods swing faster than you can hit the dashboard. Hourican has talent - but he needs help with the writing.

The venerable try-out series returns with two quite funny sketch show pilots. The first, iCandy, comes from Irish comic Liam Hourican, whose Louis Theroux impression is a gem. This Louis's Weird Weekend involves meeting Adolf Hitler in his bunker ("I kinda feel like you're hectoring me now, Adolf"). Other characters include a mouthy, string-vested Irish PM ("Oi'll fight every man that wants!") and a community-minded Peter Stringfellow. Hourican is a talent to watch.

A slick but predictably hit-and-miss sketch show starring Liam Hourican. The script and ideas need honing but some astutely observed sketches, particularly one where Louis Theroux meets Adolf Hitler for an irreverent 'Weird Weekend', suggest the Irish newbie has promise.

Liam Hourican's sketch show iCandy takes a while to warm up, with spoofs on Louis Theroux and Peter Stringfellow feeling less parodic than the real-life versions.

The Comedy Lab strand showcases up-and-coming comic talent, allowing comedians the chance to experiment and the right to fail. But, my goodness, it's a hit-and-miss affair. You would be well advised to give iCandy a wide birth.

There are two solutions to the problem of insufficient TV comedy. You either remake classics like Reginald Perrin. Or you try and do the honourable thing, like C4's Comedy Lab, and experiment. This, then, is the start of a week-long strand of double bills. iCandy is a sketch show starring impressionist Liam Hourican, which undoubtedly peaks with his Louis Theroux-Meets-Hitler ("I'd never met the most hated man in history before, but I hoped we'd get along ... ").

iCandy is actually a second bite of the cherry for Irish comedian Liam Hourican - you might have seen him in a similar outing called Ape back in 2007.

His Peter Stringfellow character from that series is back again, as well as some more sketches which offer something to offend just about everybody - including a belligerent Irish PM and a meeting between Louis Theroux and Hitler.

iCandy review

To get noticed with a sketch show, given how successful they've been over the past decade or so, you really need to come up with something special. iCandy, in spite of the computer menu glue that holds it together very effectively, isn't funny enough to break out of the crowd. Liam Hourican, however, may well prove to be.

iCandy stars Liam Hourican as several characters. Most of them are bland and forgettable but one or two look like they might have some sort of longevity.

The highlight of Hourican's show is the Irish Prime Minister whom he portrays as a vest wearing, caravan owning eejit who wants to fight President Obama. You might feel a bit guilty for laughing at the sketch when you realise how racist it is, but don't feel too bad because it's the funniest thing in the show.

Hourican struggles to write punchlines for his characters, which means they're just left hanging in the air by the time the show's over. And as much as the Irish jokes might be politically incorrect, it's not half as cringeworthy as the uncomfortable Michael Jackson gag the show ends with. Is it too soon?