Walliams & Friend

Nothing but a collection of very unfunny jokes from someone who should have given up sketch shows years ago. Some may call it an old fashioned sketch show but I would describe it in less glowing terms and at best dated rubbish. Walliams and his 'B'list celebrities create a cringeworthy spectacle best avoided.

In structural terms, WALLIAMS AND FRIEND is an old-fashioned sketch show of the kind found in Eighties comedies such as THE TWO RONNIES and THE MIKE YARWOOD SHOW. Designed to show off the versatility of the star, it proves that he possesses comic talent, especially in cross-gender roles.

Some of the sketches are funnier than others; I especially enjoyed a spoof of THE GREAT British BAKE-OFF where Walliams (as Paul Hollywood) and guest Joanna Lumley (as Mary Berry) indulge in a lewd exchange of pleasantries involving the names of cakes and buns. I also liked Walliams's parody newsreader sketch reminiscent of Ronnie Barker at his best.

Joanna Lumley has great fun playing a variety of roles, including a sketch where she lectures a group of Lumley clones in how to behave in Lumleyesque fashion.

It's a very up and down comedy series, some of the sketches are hugely funny and some are painful. The fact that Walliams is so popular means he can entice all manner of stars to appear alongside him, the episodes with Joanna Lumley and Jack Whitehall I think are among the funniest, but the Harry Enfield episode is the best of the lot. Some would argue some of the sketches feel a little dated, but throughout I'm reminded of the humour of Catherine Tate, Webb & Mitchell, etc but, still in his own unique style.

I love the thought of Chris Ellison locked up with the Chuckle Brothers, that was great, but Harry Enfield's Queen Elizabeth is hilarious, 'who does one think one is?'

Hopefully back for more. 7/10

There was an unlikely one off pairing at Christmas 1989 when Bruce Forsyth and Ronnie Corbett teamed up for a comedy special.

This brings into mind something similar as Walliams has had a supposed falling out with comedy partner Matt Lucas.

Walliams & Friend includes Joanna Lumley who appears in lots of sketches with him here. There is the nerdy fan who pesters Ms Lumley for a cheeky selfie, the rather racy Bake Off judges with added double entendres and the chavvy fake tan workers.

There is little of the bad taste humour from Little Britain that we associate Walliams with. It is more mainstream but apart from a few mild chuckles there was little comedy.

This must be one of the worst sketch shows ever created, dated is an understatement and quite frankly an overly generous description. The laughter track was added as nobody living or dead could find any part of this funny. Seriously cringeworthy from start to finish, I cannot confirm this as I could not last the course, this first ten minutes was enough . Dental torture and waterboarding would be more fun than this apology of a programme.

Clearly David Walliams cannot cut it on his own which doesn't explain his overindulgent, self satisfying ego in this or indeed in life.