Bo' Selecta!

Is there any sense in asking why Michael Jackson has been reincarnated as a profane version of his eighties self or why Southampton-born Craig David has a Yorkshire accent or why Michael Douglas sounds like Woody Allen? Is there any point even in pondering why the Transylvanian born Avid sounds Portugese? Of course not, the point of Bo' Selecta is not accurate impressions but of twisting celebrities into grotesques of themselves. That said some of the voices are brilliant, especially Kelly Osbournes oscillating mid-Atlantic accent. Fun also is Avid's obsession with the D-list micro-celebrities that clutter the small screen (the Big Brother contestant being the most perfect example). If there is something wrong with this series is that it's a bit reliant on the scatological content to pad out moment's of surreal genius. Michael Jackson sky-diving dressed as Peter Pan while Martin Bashir ran about on the ground fretting about feeding his baby was a particular highlight.

Bo Selecta is notable for a number of reasons. It doesn't conform to standard 'set-up, punchline' routines. It's the raw, random nonsense most young men have in their heads. It's the basic things you laugh at when drunk or with a group of mates. 99% of it revolves around sex. Most of the sketches seem to be thought up on set just before they are filmed, although repeating cathphrases is also a large part of the show. There is atleast one laugh-out-loud scene per episode, but too much of it is so, so basic - a man in a rubber mask shouting obscenities - that it wears out it's welcome fast. Worth seeing atleast once just to wonder how such a weak premise has become so popular (in the UK).

Avid merrion is the creation of Leigh Francis, a gifted comedian. Avid first appeared in adverts for Big Brother last year, and built up a cult following soon after. Bo' Selecta! is Avid's first show, and it's crude, juvenile and cheap, yet very very funny. The best bits of the show are with Avid Merrion and his celebrity stalking activities; British R'n'B sensation Craig David, who is now from Leeds, is incontinent and has kestrel called Kes; his Michael Jackson, which is nothing like the real Jacko - he is hyperactive, ladens every sentence with profanity ect. And last but not least: Bedtime with the Bear. This is Francis dressed as a little bear, children's TV-style, yet with a distinctly adult twist! First time I saw his "tail" I had the giggles for the next couple of days. It's not all perfect though - The Week in Bits by Jordan's/Jodie Marsh's T*ts, Ricky Jervais, Mel B and Marilyn Manson are pretty darn unfunny most of the time.. Either way, I like it at the moment, but as I'm only 18 I'm still in it's target audience. Give it a few years and we'll see...

Comedian Leigh Francis satirises celebrities and celebrity culture. The show is hosted by Avid Merrion, a celebrity stalker. There's also Michael Jackson, Craig David, The Osbournes, Mel B, Britney Spears, Posh and Becks, to name bit a few, plus a host of temporary, generic celebrities and hangers-on.

A series that pokes fun at celebrities and does so in absurdist fashion. Absurd in that the personalities and mannerisms (and often even appearances!) of the celebs aren't necessarily based on their actual traits. Michael Jackson is a foul-mouthed jive-talking alpha type who does Jackass-type stunts, Craig David walks around with a bird of prey on his arm and has a strong Yorkshire accent, Britney Spears is lager-drinking slag who also has a strong Northern accent, Ozzy Osbourne has incredibly long arms (and is unintelligible - some traits are true-to-life).

This all makes for some hilarious moments without actually having a go at the stars themselves, as the traits they're imbued with are so ridiculous it would be stupid to think that's actually meant to be them.

Holding this all together is Avid Merrion, essentially the host of the show. His antics show up the insanity of fandom and the lengths some people go to.

It is a bit hit and miss though. You do need to know some of the minor celebrities in order to figure out the gag and some are so local and temporary that unless you're an avid watcher of British TV in the early-2000s you won't get who they are or what is being parodied. This isn't always a problem: the vacuousness and genericness of celebrities is highlighted: it doesn't matter what they do as they're pretty much like the next one.

The show also ran out of steam after two seasons. Season 3 felt formulaic and flat: all the best gags had been used and Francis was now just retreading the same old stuff.

Season ratings: S1&2 8/10, S3 6/10.

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

Avid Merrion,a jarring,creepy individual who makes it seem like Transylvania should be proud to boast The Cheeky Girls amongst it's national heritage,is the man behind the growingly popular and therefore,as ever in this day and age or so it would seem,unbelievably crap Bo' Selecta!,a crass,vulgar and ultimately rather pathetic no laughs fest,with crass costume designs and inaccurate,unfaithful parodies of certain celebrity figures.Take Merrion's take on Michael Jackson,for instance.He sends him up in the costume he wore in his Beat It video,as though the last 20 years have never happened or something.No Martin Bashir related jokes here,that's for sure.And yeah right,he's some gentle,publicity shy figure who goes strutting around with a foul mouth,calling everyone it would seem a motherf****r,and being generally strangely more deprived of intelligence than he is in real life.This is also a one joke that gets weared thin very quickly,and seems to get overused due to a lack of,it would seem,imagination on the writer's parts.

And then there's the Craig David parody.I mean,come on.You only need to see him in an interview to see how humble and,especially for someone of his age,well spoken the guy is.Why,then,is he lampooned as some kind of common northerner who's into bird fancying?

It's a bit of a shame because had the personalities been a bit better researched,this might have rised slightly above the ranks of dire.Take Alistair McGowan's Big Impression,for instance.That worked,and was funny,because it perfectly parodied the celebrity figures it was taking the mick out of,and did,in fact,do it to a tee.

As it is,it's just a non event,rarely,if ever,funny,with tired,frequently recycled gags,produced by a man with an off putting fascination with a fickle,superficial culture of celebrity and just goes to show the depths certain Channel 4 programming will plummet to.*