On Tuesday night, BBC Three aired the first episode of the six-part series The Gemma Factor. About a 20-year-old from a small Yorkshire village who desperately dreams of being famous for being famous, I expected it to be dripping with irony. The subject matter, after all, is ripe for some very easy satirical pickings. It's opening sequence, of Gemma skipping through the dreary village, spreading colour wherever she goes while singing a feelgood song seemed to be an ironic counterbalance to the cynical black comedy that I thought must surely follow. But, no. It's like that all the way through, positive to the point of nausea, crammed with lazy, stereotypical characters and without a single funny line.

There are rare glimpses at an attempt at satire, such as when Gemma wonders what the point of privacy is, but they fail to hit the target, and characters who try to make Gemma look at things in a more rational way, such as her friend Nell, are sidelined. Gwyneth Powell (Mrs McCluskey from Grange Hill) does put in a good turn as Gemma's Nan, Anna Gilthorpe's portrayal of ditsy Gemma is so sweet and full of optimism that it feels cruel to criticise the programme, and yes, of course there's a place for upbeat, jovial comedy. The problem is that it feels like a Children's BBC sitcom with knob gags, although that is perhaps being a little unkind to Big Cook and Little Cook. Who exactly was this aimed at? And what is the point it's trying to make? If it is, as I suspect, attempting to satirise the current obsession with fame and celebrity at the expense of talent, then it fails entirely. This is probably the first and last time I'll say the following sentence: Leigh Francis does it much, much better.

Leigh Francis interview

Leigh Francis talks about the show, and his Michael Jackson tribute...

Comedy Bo Selecta! 'may return'

Bo' Selecta! creator Leigh Francis has hinted he may bring back the Channel 4 comedy series.

Talking Shop: Bo Selecta's Leigh Francis

Leigh Francis is better known by his alter-egos - most recently Keith Lemon, host of the ITV2 comedy quiz show, Celebrity Juice.

He rose to fame as celebrity stalker Avid Merrion, which led to a Channel 4 show Bo' Selecta!

Donning a myriad of rubber masks, Francis' take on stars including former Spice Girl Mel B, Craig David and Michael Jackson earned him a cult following.

To pay tribute to pop star Michael Jackson, the comic has put the mask back on for a special one-off show - Cha'mone Mo'Fo'Selecta! - chronicling the life of the late singer.

In a rare out-of-character interview, Francis told the BBC what fans could expect from the show.

Leigh Francis's rubber-faced Bo Selecta! impersonation of Michael Jackson was as hilarious as it was grotesque. With the self-styled "King of Pop"'s passing, this is one last chance for Francis to eke every bad taste laugh from one of his better caricatures.

Keith Lemon (alter-ego of Bo' Selecta comedian Leigh Francis) returned for a second series of Celebrity Juice; basically a tabloid-y, low-rent version of Shooting Stars, with a fraction of the laughs and zero inspiration. It's a panel show that relies on Lemon's abilities to keep the whole thing on-track, so inevitably fails because the Lemon character is so tedious. Strangely, Francis' retired creation, neck-braced celebrity stalker Avid Merion, would actually be a better fit for Juice's showbiz theme!

Any half-amusing moments are almost accidental, and the most enjoyable thing about the show is trying to guess how the celebs have been persuaded to appear: Fearne Cotton (shameless, no quality control), Sara Cox (as a favour to fellow Radio 1 presenter Cotton?), Kevin Bishop (new sitcom to plug that airs immediately after), Coolio (exploiting his renewed fame after Celebrity Big Brother), Verne Troyer (likewise), Rufus Hound (an ambition to appear on every digital channel's tripe?), guest-star Bianca Gascoigne (need I say more?) and Holly Willoughby (oh yes, her husband's a producer on the show.) Not so much juice, just dregs from a fruit squeezed dry by Vic n' Bob 10 years ago.

Leigh Francis' Keith Lemon gets another outing - this time as the host of a celebrity-based quiz show, with team captains Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby.

The first two series of Bo Selecta were funny, but this shambolic attempt at emulating Shooting Stars was absolute garbage. We sat stony-faced throughout - the Keith Lemon character is just not funny. Time for a new act, Leigh.

It was painful to see so many of the panel visibly looking like they wished they could have been anywhere else.

Leigh Francis's alter ego Keith Lemon hosts this new tabloid-focused quiz show based on the nation's obsession with all things celebrity - a kind of Have I Got News for You for the Heat generation. Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton are the team captains - so expect plenty of leching from our host.

Destined to make Mock the Week seem postively highbrow, this quiz show is about celebrity, erm, news. It's hosted by Keith Lemon (one of funnyman Leigh Francis's alter egos), with Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton as team captains. Expect plenty of froth.