There's the pleasure of watching television, and then there's the enhanced pleasure of watching television through the lunatic, bespectacled eyes of Harry Hill, the doctor-turned-comedian who returns for the ninth series of his quickfire lampooning of the week's TV idiocies and inanities. With his ear-brushingly high collars, his line of pens emblazoning his breast pocket and his silly schoolboy's dribble of badges on his lapel, Hill has always looked like a ventriloquist's dummy that somebody forgot to put the wig on. You probably wouldn't want him as your GP. But as a palliative to the surreal absurdities thrown up by television each week, Hill is welcome medicine. His early potshots will almost certainly include skewering studies of the revealing minor moments in The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing that you may have missed the first time round. Who but Hill would identify, for instance, the garish range of facial expressions employed by Louis Walsh on the judging panel of The X Factor or the tongue-lolling, puppy-dog mug of contestant Eoghan Quigg begging you to vote for him? For a weekly post mortem of TV's lesser-spotted manias and neuroses, Hill may be just what the doctor ordered.

Harry Hill proves strange acts can be mainstream gold

The big-collared peddler of nonsense is back as a permanent feature in the nation's living rooms.

Return of the hilarious comedy sketch show in which Kevin Bishop takes potshots at Gok Wan and Harry Hill.

Along with two packets of Munchies and a strawberry Nesquik, one of our Friday night treats is this smashing comedy, which flicks between spoofs of TV shows, films and adverts. Somehow, the previous series managed to win nothing at the British Comedy Awards, despite several nominations, and this travesty will hopefully be righted with Kevin's new potshots at the likes of Simon Cowell.

Kevin Bishop is a kind, if hyperactive, lad in real life. The best moments of his show are when he's being rude about stuff we hate: the gurning of Horne and Corden, the stupid Gok Wan rhyming and anglophile Americans. There's also a nice take on Frost/Nixon sequels. Parkinson/Emu, Best/Wogan and Reed/Aspel. The duff moments are his take on House (don't mess with Laurie) and a sketch that's a bit too close to John Thomson's Bernard Righton. We've not seen his Harry Hill yet as it wasn't in this ep, but it better be good. Or else.

Sky offers Harry Hill £400k a Burp

Harry Hill is poised to quit ITV after being offered a double-your-money deal by Sky.

As Seen On TV review

The brilliance of Harry Hill appears to have intimidated the BBC that the philosophy of relentless mockery should be avoided, so As Seen On TV instead worships at the altar of pseudo-celebrity.

Sky 1 bids to lure Harry Hill's TV Burp from ITV1

Sky 1 has mounted an audacious bid to swipe Harry Hill's TV Burp from ITV1 as part of a strategy to buy must-see shows established by rival broadcasters.

It's been Harry Hill's year, with the splendid TV Burp at last receiving the recognition it deserves with two Baftas, a decent, regular time slot (on Saturday nights) and a good long run. The show is so successful that it's been given its own review - which is the usual stew of wry observations and silly clips as Hill looks back at some of 2008's television highlights. It's the perfect Boxing Day pick-me-up if you're feeling just a little bit jaded. And I'm not complaining, but can we have an hour-long review next year, please, ITV? Go on, you know you want to.

You might expect a television programme about television programmes to be self-indulgent and smug. Not this one. Eight series in, TV Burp only gets funnier. Harry Hill's look at the week's television is essential even if you don't watch the rubbish he covers.

If it wasn't for TV Burp I would never have known that Madge from Neighbours has moved to Emmerdale; that gorillas rolled down hills; and that tea cosies with legs stalk the set of Coronation Street. Yes, take the weeks TV, mix a little of crackpot comedian Harry Hill, and you have one of those fun filled for all the family half hours that UK Saturday night telly can be proud of.

Both TV Burp and Harry Hill himself have taken time to find the right approach to worm their way into the public consciousness. Originally airing late at night, he and ITV have finally worked out that the clean show, which is riotously funny, is the perfect opener for their Saturday line up.

It's well scripted, and it suits the nature of Hill's comedy of calling back to previous jokes and weaving a rich tapestry of material from very small observations.