You know the routine by now: let the children stay up a little late, don your red nose and get ready to donate, as television's finest entertainers prepare to make us chuckle for charity. It's the 25th anniversary of this kind-hearted TV telethon, and the roster of celebrities involved is not to be sniffed at.

Some familiar faces present the evening's festivities, including Dermot O'Leary, Michael McIntyre and Rob Brydon. Things kick off with Rowan Atkinson masquerading as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Jessie J shaving off her hair and One Direction performing their charity single One Way - let's hope David Cameron, who featured in the video, makes an appearance. Among the many other highlights is the cast of Call the Midwife cast performing a mini-episode featuring an unusual birth. Meanwhile, Homeland's Damian Lewis guest stars in a Vicar of Dibley special. Office fans will also be delighted to hear that David Brent returns to our screens, when Comic Relief switches over to BBC Two at 10.30pm. As ever, this is a full-on evening. There will be laughter, probably some tears, and hopefully a large sum raised at the end of it.

Eddie Izzard interview

Comedian Eddie Izzard is bringing his unique brand of 'weird bollocks' to France this month for five gigs to be performed in French. In an interview with The Local, the hyperactive Europhile shares his world vision, his plan to become Mayor of London, and his thoughts on David Cameron.

Ricky Gervais's programme continues. Tonight, Derek is played by a sad-eyed puppy in a paper hat. He calls an ambulance when he finds an injured baby bird in the garden, and later there's a death for him to get sad and sweetly confused about. The character of Kev, with his exact mimicking of Gervais's stand-up voice, is a constant reminder of who you're really watching, so it's impossible to feel anything but bowel-twistingly awkward. Gervais playing humble is as convincing as David Cameron eating a pasty.

What do you call a comic with a positive slant? Adam Hills

Adam Hills is the comedian with one foot whom David Cameron and Samantha Cameron like to watch while in bed.

David Haig: Cameron may squirm at my PM

The star of Yes, Prime Minister fears David Cameron will squirm when he sees the rebooted series.

Cameron fails to make impression on Alistair McGowan

Alistair McGowan, the television impressionist, says David Cameron is 'impossible' to mimic because his voice is so 'indistinct'.

Old-head-on-young-shoulders Kevin Bridges hosts tonight's trio of stand-up stars from the Hammersmith Apollo. Bridges brings his wit to bear on the recession ("I hope Africa have got some good rock bands 'cause we need a concert") and takes a pop at David Cameron's work experience programmes. Phill Jupitus keeps things close to home with a hilarious, heartfelt account of his 16-year-old daughter's sleep-over with her boyfriend. And peppy Sarah Pascoe rounds things off by dressing down body-fascist women's magazines and tackling the residents of Tooting's terrible fashion sense.

On balance the BBC probably picked the worst week to launch the new series of The Thick Of It. Because no matter how funny the opener was it could never have been as amusing as the fallout from David Cameron's Cabinet reshuffle.

Of course, you may question how anything in life could possibly be funnier than Peter Capaldi's potty-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker - and you'd be right. But Tucker wasn't in it. And neither was Rebecca Front's Nicola Murray, his most recent sparring partner.

Still, as a scene-setter for the new Coalition era it did manage some laugh-out-loud moments. And the return of Roger Allam's gloriously withering Minister Peter Mannion was most welcome.

Although, not as welcome as the trailer for next Saturday's episode. Because Tucker is back. Murray is back. And the hair of Chris Addison's oily Ollie is insipidly slicked back. Happy (expletive deleted) days, as Tucker might say.

Video: Vincent Franklin on Steve Hilton PR guru

Vincent Franklin who plays PR guru Stewart Pearson in the political satire The Thick Of It said lawyers allowed him to say: "I am a little bit like Steve Hilton".

The actor's role has been linked to David Cameron's outgoing PR guru, and he described filming scenes in Westminster for the political satire, which also returns with a new coalition government mirroring real political events.

Having been given a hard time for his fiscal failings by his colleagues on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Jimmy Carr returns with a solo comedy gig at Birmingham's Symphony Hall. But has the Prime Minister David Cameron's description of his tax affairs as £morally wrong" inspired him to dazzling heights of comic invective.