Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier

Viewers upset over censorship of Ultimate Worrier

Fans have expressed their frustration that many four-letter words were obscured in Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier when it returned to Dave last night. The show aired after the 10pm watershed - and immediately after Taskmaster, which did not have its language censored.

This whimsical show, built in the neurotic but sharp-witted image of its host, returns for a second series. Given that Richardson has made a career out of being a fusspot, it probably shouldn't be a surprise that the format has been tweaked. The panel discussing their anxieties has expanded from two to three - kicking off with Joe Wilkinson, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and, bravely, Richardson's wife, Lucy Beaumont - and there is a new "Worry Lab" area to allow for extra slapstick.

Ultimate Worrier (Dave channel) is stand-up comedian Jon Richardson's attempt to spin a panel game out of life's little niggles.

Guests Suzi Ruffell and Josh Widdicombe joined him to fuss over trivial anxieties: how do cats cope with being bullied by bigger pets, is it possible to own too many underpants, and can creepy toys bought on holiday really be possessed by evil spirits?

Panel shows about nonsense work best when there's an element of competition, and that is lacking here. Jon encouraged his guests to rank their worries as red, amber or soothing green - but really, who cares?

The one segment that concerned me was about dishwashers. Jon claimed he frets when plates and cutlery are loaded incorrectly.

But he urged viewers to arrange the knives and forks with their points upwards. That's lethal -- if you slip while the dishwasher door is open, you'll end up like a pincushion. Now there's a real worry.

A new series in which the fretful comedian indulges his litany of anxieties. His concerns are manifold (from haunted puppets to sleep talking) and, joined by fellow comics Suzi Ruffell and Josh Widdicombe, he hopes to discuss and therefore exorcise some of them.

Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier preview

Overall, it's an entertaining passer of time, which is all that a panel show really needs to be, but with an extra edge thanks to Richardson's proud fastidiousness. He's a man on a mission to ensure every dishwasher is correctly loaded, and he's going to use this nationwide TV platform to preach that gospel.

What does Jon Richardson worry about?

Answer: everything. But, as the stand-up explains to RadioTimes.com, it's mainly the dishwasher...

Preview - Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier

It's basically Room 101 but for topics that worry/bother you rather than things that boil your piss.