Josh Widdicombe: diversity moving 'in right direction'

Comedian Josh Widdicombe has said representation of women in comedy is moving in "the right direction".

He said that he does not want panel shows to be a "load of blokes sitting around" and has welcomed the increased prominence of female comedians. The stand-up and frequent fixture on comedy panel shows has said that female representation is becoming more balanced, and without the need for contrived quotas.

If you only watched one thing on Hogmanay before the bells I do hope you made it The Last Leg, which is very much not tottering on that eponymous limb. In so many ways this was the perfect end to an often laughable year, and featured no pomp and precious little politics. Instead, just a studio full of genuinely funny and irrepressible guests, a gospel choir, the magnificent house band led by Alex Horne and, chiefly, the near-alchemical chemistry and interplay between Adam Hills and Alex Brooker. And, on the filmed sections in Austria, the establishment of Brooker as the first disabled person to descend an Olympic-standard double-luge run was, away from the laughter and the cavorting, actually rather impressive.

The Last Leg rings in the new year with a lineup that includes Katherine Ryan, Richard Ayoade and Nish Kumar. There will also be a look at Alex Brooker's attempt to become the first disabled man to take part in the double luge.

Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker introduce the first in a welcome new run of the scurrilous review show in the company of celebrity guests including comedy elder statesman John Cleese. Join them as they lampoon the significant moments from the past seven days.

Such is the turbulence of 2018 that it's impossible to second guess the contents of a topical talkshow. What on earth will Trump or May do next? What seems safe to assume, however, is that Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker's comic chemistry will guide us through whatever fresh horrors are afoot.

Ultimate Worrier (Dave channel) is stand-up comedian Jon Richardson's attempt to spin a panel game out of life's little niggles.

Guests Suzi Ruffell and Josh Widdicombe joined him to fuss over trivial anxieties: how do cats cope with being bullied by bigger pets, is it possible to own too many underpants, and can creepy toys bought on holiday really be possessed by evil spirits?

Panel shows about nonsense work best when there's an element of competition, and that is lacking here. Jon encouraged his guests to rank their worries as red, amber or soothing green - but really, who cares?

The one segment that concerned me was about dishwashers. Jon claimed he frets when plates and cutlery are loaded incorrectly.

But he urged viewers to arrange the knives and forks with their points upwards. That's lethal -- if you slip while the dishwasher door is open, you'll end up like a pincushion. Now there's a real worry.