The Last Leg

C4 strikes gold by seeing Paralympics funny side

Disability is treated as delicately off-limits by mainstream TV, but The Last Leg: Live from Rio has gone where others fear to tread.

On the penultimate day of this year's Paralympic Games, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker bring their japes to an end with an unofficial closing ceremony. So far it's been a warm and inclusive accompaniment to the competition, with the #isitok hashtag leading to some taboo-busting conversation. Tonight they're joined by athletes including swimmer-turned-cyclist Sarah Storey and discus pro Dan Greaves.

Signed adverts during The Last Leg went down a storm

Viewers tuning into The Last Leg's latest broadcast from Rio on Friday night had another treat in store, in the shape of an ad break filled with sign language.

Deaf actor to sign ad break on Channel 4's The Last Leg

The seven adverts will be signed by David Ellington, a deaf actor and artist.

Before the Paralympic opening ceremony - oddly uncaptivating Brazilian music and dance, saved by the disabled pianist João Carlos Martins and (again) the stadium's digital floor - there was much delight to be had in The Last Leg: Live from Rio, in which Channel 4 trumped in two hours the BBC's recent 17 or whatever weeks of coverage by being in possession of 1) a tiny budget; 2) a refreshing lack of deference; and 3) a grown-up sense of humour.

Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdecombe had great gags, winning gags, about disability and even about the flight over to Rio: ribald laughter about leg-room, and hand-space in the overhead lockers, and the fact that it was the safest plane that had ever flown - "we had all the shooters". Clare Balding, who has had a deserved couple of weeks back in Britain to check her bank account - don't get me wrong, she's lovely and deserves every tin groat - looked, on The Last Leg sofa, both shocked and delighted. Almost as if she might be allowed, in the next 10 days, to talk not about heroes or legends, but just about humans.

Further Paralympics roundup fun from Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe. Day three sees wheelchair sprinter "Hurricane" Hannah Cockcroft start the defence of her two 2012 gold medals by competing in the T34 100m, as well as medal hopes in swimming, shooting and judo. Commenting on all that and other news from the Games are powerlifter Ali Jawad, sprinter Jonnie Peacock and comic actor Stephen Mangan.

Returning to its raison d'etre - the comedy chatshow was introduced for the Paralympics in 2012 - Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker assemble for the 2016 games ahead of the opening ceremony at the Maracanã stadium. As well as looking ahead to this year's event, they'll look back at some of the 2012 highlights with Clare Balding, Sophie Morgan and Breaking Bad's RJ Mitte.

An open letter to The Last Leg

#isitok that I don't feel superhuman?

Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker continue their eighth series. Last week they had their plates overflowing, after the EU referendum result, so this week's instalment will doubtless be dealing with the fallout/relief, depending on how our nation of economic experts has decided to determine our collective future. Additionally, viewers can get stuff off their chests using the #isitok hashtag too, always something of an added bonus.