Michael McIntyre's Big Show

Michael McIntyre: new king of Saturday night. Who knew?

McIntyre may be a floppy-haired berk who has built a career out of listing things people do, but his cheeky Big Show is the best weekend variety telly in years.

Can Michael McIntyre swipe Ant & Dec's Saturday crown?

It could never be described as cool or cutting-edge, but it does what it does pretty well - much like its host.

The refreshingly naive extravaganza returns, with its pranks and games expanded to the point that star turns from Ellie Goulding and the cast of School Of Rock feel like needless intrusions. McIntyre ribbing a teen about his posey Instagrams, or texting Olly Murs's contacts, is happy fun, devoid of cynicism and enhanced by the host's improv skills. Plus, the finale - with a fireman singing a Les Mis number - is worth 10 X Factors.

Michael McIntyre interview

I think everyone wants to know why I look like this!' Michael McIntyre says people are intrigued by his face.

I know the comedian Michael McIntyre is the ultimate "Marmite" personality, but if you're one of the people who loathes his jolly, jumpy schtick, you might still find some entertainment here. This is the new series of his loud, innocent, good-natured show, which mixes the host's trademark comedy with celebrity guests and musical numbers. McIntyre bounds on stage to deliver his hyper-puppy stand-up routine and uses the topic of summer picnics and warm Coke as an excuse to throw himself to the floor.

But he soon recedes and you are able to catch your breath, or maybe stop grinding your teeth, for this is an old-fashioned Saturday night variety show and he'll not be allowed to hog the limelight. Mercifully, he's made to give way to the likes of Olly Murs and Ellie Goulding, and a performance from the cast of the musical School of Rock. Even the awkward talk-to-the-audience segments are a joyful relief, as they provide respite from McIntyre's desperate urgings that we all whoop and laugh.

The big Saturday nights in are back, with the return of Michael McIntyre's Big Show to the BBC. Considered one of Britain's best stand-up comedians, McIntyre certainly knows how to get a crowd.

Maybe I've got a bit of a cold coming on. Maybe I'm under the weather. Maybe I'm just miserable, but I had to grab the remote control when this show started and put the volume down - and down and down again. Am I just a grumpy killjoy, or is tonight's show especially loud, flashy and hysterical? I could hardly cope. From the opening moment when McIntyre runs out on stage with his top hat, through the "mind magic" of Colin Cloud, the high jinks of footballer Robbie Savage, and the melodious warblings of Katherine Jenkins as she sings Heroes, the whole show seemed like a sparkly assault on the senses. I put the volume down low, took some paracetamol, and then managed to cope better.

This show is so full of puppyish energy and fizzy enthusiasm that it suits Saturday night TV perfectly, and those who like to get merry with a few vodkas before heading out on the town might find this a perfect substitute for the booze because it certainly makes you giddy and fantastically keen to get out the door.

More live wittering to look forward to as McIntyre continues to flog his variety show, this week roping in Peter Jones from Dragons' Den to play his Send To All game, in which the comedian sends a text to Jones's entire contacts book to reap hilarious results. Elsewhere, there's "extreme flamenco" from fusion dance troupe Los Vivancos, music from Rod Stewart and James Morrison, pranks on members of the public and standup from Romesh Ranganathan.