Harry Hill

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.

Hill's affectionate rubbishing of soaps and daytime celebrities is a show that defies gravity: endearingly subversive, deceptively genial. Hill is crazily watchable even if you don't know anything about the people he's pulling apart.

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.

There are still moments of brilliance from TV Burp, but this extended run does seem to have watered the show down a touch. Very often, less is more. There's only one way to find out...

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.

Harry: 'I hide from celebs'

Harry Hill says he's terrified of meeting the celebs he mocks on his shows in person - for fear they may seek revenge.

As the cold winter nights draw in, we can all be thankful that Harry Hill is around to give us a belly laugh at his droll observations on the week in telly. Sublime.

Despite being tucked away in the schedules when it first started, audiences embraced TV Burp and have made it a rare BAFTA-winning comedy hit for ITV. Now in its eighth series, comedian Harry Hill returns to poke fun at the best and worst British TV has to offer. Typically highlighting goofs (often from soaps with fast production turnarounds), this is a brisk 30-minutes that provides plenty of footage for Harry to weave imaginative, funny narratives around. With plenty of light-hearted spoofs, ironic guests, catchphrases, silly humour and sketches - this is one belch it's not bad manners to enjoy. And one that will last a mammoth 25 weeks!

The wacky commentator on the quirks and idiocies of television is back for an eighth series, no less. His numerous fans will be pleased to know that the run has been extended to 25 episodes; it includes a TV Burp review of 2008 to be broadcast over Christmas, followed by four extra shows made up of highlights from all the series that will go out in the new year.

Given his workload, it is lucky that Harry Hill enjoys making these series. It's a doddle to film, he has said. I get to sit down and it's all on autocue. The only downside is that you have to watch a lot of TV, which is a form of torture.

It's great when performer and vehicle come together in a perfect match. The TV clip show is a pretty tired formula, but with Harry Hill at the healm, it becomes an inspired life-affirming force that can often be truly very funny indeed.