The Jonathan Ross Show

The formidable, funny Emma Thompson joins Ross for a chat tonight, presumably to discuss her work-in-progress Effie. Thompson, who won an Academy Award for her Sense and Sensibility screenplay, has taken up her pen again to bring to life the disastrous marriage of Victorian art critic/thinker John Ruskin and his young bride Effie Gray.

Actress and former child star Brooke Shields also makes herself comfortable on the Ross sofa, along with Mr Saturday Night himself, Paddy McGuinness. Music is provided by Florence and the Machine and Petr Spatina.

Jonathan Ross returned tonight with another roster of famous faces gracing his slightly nauseating ITV set and actually, it was good to have him back.

Sure, many viewers have concluded in his BBC absence that Graham Norton is actually the far funnier, warmer and less self-indulgent chat show host, but Ross is still a competent presenter within the format.

Besides which, he can still pull in some big names, as he proved on tonight's show.
First up was Professor Brian Cox, who charmed Ross and the audience alike with his scientific banter and use of something called a Van Der Graaf generator (best not to ask) to help give the eponymous host some extra oomph in his hair.

Slightly less charming - but as funny as ever - was comedian John Bishop, who regaled us with anecdotes from his involvement in Sport Relief, leading seamlessly on to the three young athletes who were next to stir things up on Ross' sofa.

It's too early in the year for us to have Olympic fatigue already - although we're close - so the presence of swimmer Francesca Halsall, heptathlete Louise Hazel and Taekwondo champion Jade Jones was welcome as the trio talked through their hopes to rake in the gold for Britain this summer and challenged Ross and his guests to some physical activity in the studio.

And to top it all off, rising US songstress Lana Del Ray appeared on the show and mesmerised everyone with That Voice and Those Lips.

As series launches go, this was a good'un.

The last time Ross shared a stage with Brian Cox it was during the latter's Night with the Stars show, in which he made Ross do elaborate maths on a blackboard in front of a celebrity audience at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Ross wailed it was "the worst thing that has happened to me as an adult", so he may look to have his revenge on Cox now.

Also on the guest list is Liverpool comic John Bishop and there's music from Lana Del Rey, the retro-glamour-puss whose debut Video Games was a sensation before it was released. Expect her to smoulder.

It's been business as usual for Jonathan Ross since he hopped channels last year - his mildly provocative patter and cheery sycophancy remained firmly intact. But the calibre of guests on his ITV shows has varied greatly, and tonight's new series opener has a rather lacklustre line-up. Comedian John Bishop and BBC science presenter Brian Cox pop up, but hotly tipped singer, the glamorous Lana Del Rey, provides the real interest.

Jonathan Ross 'gutted' after Tim Minchin song is cut

Jonathan Ross has said he is 'really gutted' after comedian Tim Minchin was axed from the Christmas edition of The Jonathan Ross Show.

Tim Minchin fumes over song cut

Tim Minchin has lashed out at ITV after his performance was cut from Jonathan Ross's Christmas special.

ITV cut Tim Minchin's song from Jonathan Ross Show

Watch the performance that you won't see on the chat show.

Wossy's back for his second series on ITV - beginning tonight but normally on Saturdays - and he's got another star-studded line-up with which to lure viewers. Tom Cruise brings the Hollywood glamour, while the stars of teen film The Inbetweeners provide the comedy. Most, however, will be tuning in for any titbits about the Downton Abbey Christmas special from the drama's aristocratic sisters, played by Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael and Michelle Dockery.

Tim Minchin's banned tune and 5 more of his songs

Scared of upsetting Christians, ITV have cut Tim Minchin's song from tomorrow's Jonathan Ross show. So here it is alongside five more crackers from his collection...