will2000uk

Roald Dahl knew as much as anyone that kids love things a bit darker, a bit more menacing. Nick Park seems far removed from Dahl, but the truth is the dark has always been there, it's just people haven't bothered to look.

Matter Of Loaf And Death was great BECAUSE it pushed the boundaries. It would be so easy to coast and take Sony's Yankee dollar. But Nick Park isn't like that.

I admire him because this is his creation and he always seems to come up with something surprise him. The clever film references, the delightful puns (Citizen Canine!) all well handled.

And seriously, didn't anyone else find Fluffie's relationship with Gromit sweet? Or perhaps I'm getting sentimental in my old age.

Anyhoo, I loved it.

It's amazing how quickly an incident get blown out of proportion. It's a shame then that this means many people are missing out on a fine programme due to ignorance and prejudice.

While Russell Brand is often portrayed as a sex maniac, this often contrasts with intellectual musings and razor sharp comic timing. If you haven't read My Booky Wook, you won't be aware of the struggle he has got to this point.

Then again (as witnessed here) he's not afraid to poke fun at himself. Reading from a school report about his "unusual haircut" and "showing off" he retorts "That's my career!"

As for the show itself, it sounds quite generic- host makes quips about old TV clips. Clive James, James Carr, Jo Brand and endless others have made this a genre, before Harry Hill effectively put his stamp on it.

Russell Brand effectively interweaves the clips within a routine on numerous subjects eg family or pets. He veers from wild energy to bemusement to outright incredulity. His power comes from his unpredictability, making each episode both baffling and hilarious.

Seriously, give Ponderland a chance and you'll see why he deserves his success.