Stand Up For The Week

Stand Up For The Week 1.1 review

Overall, Stand Up For The Week is tough to fault because it's just pure standup comedy and the turnaround of guests and news will undoubtedly keep it fresh. It doesn't offer much in the way of unique elements (unless you count the fact there's a video-screen behind the comedians, which they can use to show things visually), and I suppose breakout success will only come if it manages to find a comedian, or two, who somehow capture the zeitgeist.

Patrick Kielty hosts a spikey new stand-up show that is not, we repeat - NOT, anything like Mock The Week. Each week stand up comedians provide a satirical view on the week's news in the show which is recorded in front of a live studio audience (we repeat - not like Mock The Week). Oh wait a minute there's weekly celebrity appearances. Told you. Nothing like Mock The Week.

Good to see more topical stand-up on telly... this time Patrick Kielty is at the helm, with a regular team of stand-ups, including veteran Rich Hall plus rising stars Jack Whitehall, Andi Osho and Kevin Bridges, riffing off the week's news and subjecting celebrity guests to a roasting in front of a live audience at Koko in Camden. Hopefully the late-night slot means no taboo is left untouched.

Strangely, tvBite is forever sticking up for Patrick Kielty. Yes, he's not the greatest stand-up ever - but honestly, he's one of the nicest men in showbiz. He told us on the phone that this show will be genuinely edgy and great post-pub entertainment. Hmmm. Rich Hall is a regular, which is a good sign. But so is Jack Whitehall, which really, really isn't. He promised that "people like Jerry Sadowitz" would get guest spots too, though we'll believe that when we see it.

Forget picture rounds, point scoring and clever puns - this blisteringly funny comedy goes straight for the jugular with a team of stand-ups letting rip on the news and sailing as close to the wind as the lawyers allow.

The most extraordinary segment sees host Patrick Kielty verbally cremating Lembit Opik, who is this week's guest in a spot called 'The Chair'.

For what must be the longest two minutes in Opik's life he's abused by Kielty, who probably can't believe he's not being hit. Opik meekly takes it but then 'The Chair' is the only seat he's likely to be offered for the forseeable.

Also appearing are Jack Whitehall, Rich Hall, Kevin Bridges, Andi Osho and Brendon Burns. On the strength of this first show, SUFTW makes HIGNFY look like a doddery old uncle.

Patrick Kielty: My brush with the IRA

Patrick Kielty, 39, is hosting new comedy show Stand Up For The Week...

Patrick Kielty on C4's new topical show

"Ignore the press release about it being no-holds barred," its host Patrick Kielty says casually. "If you say you're going to be outrageous, the typical reaction is, 'Yeah? How f***ing outrageous?'. We're out to be funny, not to shock."

TV funnyman Jack Whitehall caught taking drugs

It looks like the coke's on you, Jack (and it's nothing to laugh about).

Patrick Kielty: There is a lot of pressure on us comics

Patrick Kielty says "Of course, the pressure is on with Stand Up For The Week. This will be a proper review of the week and it's scary for everyone because we can't prep it, rehearse it and polish it."

C4 lines up topical standup show with by Patrick Kielty

Six-part series Stand Up For The Week to air on Friday nights with regular standups including Rich Hall and Jack Whitehall.