Sean Lock is much more than just a panel show pundit

Expect a perfect mix of quasi-surrealism, blokey bonhomie and stunning punchlines.

Review: Alex Horne presents The Horne Section

The show probably won't change the face of the universe, but there's really no harm in getting yourself a bit of Horne on Sunday evenings.

Comics team up for The Soft Play Area

The infant-friendly comedy show will run for as part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

Glasgow International Comedy Festival line-up

Jimmy Carr, Al Murray and Lucy Porter are some of the famous faces attending.

Interview: Chris Addison

The baby-faced comic is in Scotland for the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. He talks about The Thick of It, The Look of Love and returning to stand-up

On Channel 4's opening night in 1982, Ian McKellen starred in Walter, a drama about a man with learning difficulties who tries to make his way in a cruel world filled with suspicion and derision. In Derek (Channel 4, Wed, 10pm), Ricky Gervais stars as a man with learning difficulties who tries to make his way in a cruel world filled with suspicion and derision. And has Karl Pilkington a best friend.

The contrast couldn't be more stark. Whereas the future knight and Lord of the Rings star simply was Walter, Derek is The Office boy with a greasy haircut, bad knitwear and facial tics. The cynical might view Derek as Gervais making a grovelling apology for 'Mong-gate' when he threw a word around on Twitter in late 2011 which attracted the ire of the Daily Mail (obviously), Susan Boyle and MENCAP. Except the writing of Derek was well under way by then ahead of its pilot episode last spring.

Like the overwhelming majority of modern comics, Gervais' heart is solidly in the right place but the brain has a tendency to force a foot deep into his mouth from time to time. Taking risks and making an inevitable mistake or ten is part of the comedian's job description. Here, though, Gervais has gone almost entirely in the opposite direction. Soundtracked by Einaudi, Derek is overstuffed with manipulative schmaltz, and so sickly-sweet that it requires you to undergo an emergency filling just by switching it on.

Shunning the pratfalls of the pilot, Derek is now a conscience-driven series in which besuited health executives visit the care home where the eponymous 49-year-old works, callously poking around to see where cuts should be made or whose jobs can be exterminated. Oddjob man Dougie (Pilkington) is one obvious candidate for the chop, while the delicate situation is not helped by the inexplicable presence of a sleazy waster Kev (David Earl). He brings a certain David Brentness to proceedings, replacing tugging on his tie with slugging on an endless stream of Special Brew while attempting to force himself onto any female (whether old, obese or other) unfortunate enough to cross his awful path.

Gervais' triumphs here are to show that the previously irritating Pilkington is actually half-a-decent actor and to write a beautiful lead role for Kerry Godliman as the stoic care home leader. Where it falls spectacularly down is through some rather lazy button-pushing (especially with the endless photo-montages of aged residents in their youthful pomp) and in Gervais' massively distracting central performance which hinders rather than helps the series. And will he ever give the mockumentary genre a break?

Milton Jones discusses one liners vs longer routines

The Mock the Week regular is 'drawn to brevity'.

The Alternative Comedy Experience - review

Stewart Lee curates a series of alternative comedians, but offers little discussion on the genre.

5 things you might not know about Russell Kane

The flamboyant comic fell into stand-up, takes note of his reviews and has authored a novel.

Nick Revell, author & satirist, on his return to comedy

A comic-turned-author has had to relearn the rules of engagement for his return to stand-up.