Press clippings Page 2

As Kirsty Lang discovered in her piece for Radio Times a few weeks ago, Naomi Campbell is not the easiest of interviewees. Let's hope Ross doesn't ask the wrong question and cause the supermodel to strop out, as she did with Kirsty. Or rather, let's hope he does: it's just the voltage-raiser the show needs, seeing as his other guests tonight are the three X Factor judges (Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger). A simple-minded soul might think Ross's guest-bookers were running out of juice.

David Butcher, Radio Times, 26th October 2013

Any excuse for a Specstacular with Carr: now he's going all horse-themed for the Grand National. There's a tasty spread of guests, including Paddy McGuinness, Jonathan Ross and Kimberley Walsh, plus a look at Alan's day at the races with Russell Brand. Equine fun and games are promised, so let's hope the affable host manages to cajole a pair of guests into a pantomime horse costume. Surely X Factorists Louis Walsh and Rylan would be game for a laugh?

Hannah Verdier, The Guardian, 5th April 2013

Paddy McGuinness's nifty Riverdance footwork makes a lively opener to this new panel show, based on international news clips and with comedians Rhys Darby and Rufus Hound as team captains. But just as Paddy is game enough to show off his skills at Irish dancing, he's game enough to work with some pretty shoddy material.

The clips are on the geriatric side (there's a Star Wars-themed wedding from 2009) and some of the gags they throw up from guests Janice Dickinson, Louis Walsh, Jason Byrne and Rob Rouse are more mean than clever. Thank the casting department, then, for the presence of Rufus Hound, who kindly goes along with some of the soggier gags before interjecting with a proper one of his own. Saturday nights are a tough nut to crack, but Mad Mad World needs some sharper implements.

Emma Sturgess, Radio Times, 30th June 2012

Ever thought the 'Devised by' credit at the end of QI seems a bit overblown for a digressive Q&A panel show? Well, ITV1's slack-jawed version of basically the same set-up, hosted by - and you'll like this - Paddy McGuinness, is here to prove that John Lloyd and co must be doing something to earn their money. McGuinness is joined by team captains Rufus Hound and Rhys 'Conchords' Darby, alongside Louis Walsh, a model and two miscellaneous comedians for an eternal 'What Happens Next?' roundelay of low-end YouTubia and silly foreign types. A child falls down, a woman accidentally farts on live TV, an African chap squirts water out of his nose all over Paddy, while the international flavour, laddish vibe, salty banter and shiny floor are suggestive of a pub quiz on an oil rig.'Ding-dang-do I?!' No.

Adam Lee Davies, Time Out, 30th June 2012

Shooting Stars snub for "dim" Louis Walsh

Wacky quiz show Shooting Stars will return for a new series - but hosts Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer have barred Louis Walsh from reappearing for being "dim".

The Sun, 5th February 2011

Despite the belly-flopping Daybreak, ITV has booked Adrian Chiles to front a more substantial show in a swishy evening slot. Perhaps now he'll find his rhythm and morph back into the convivial but brusque host we warmed to on The One Show. Chiles dissects the week's issues with middleweight celebrities. Names provisionally booked for the first eight shows include Alastair Campbell, Margaret Mountford, formerly of The Apprentice, and, erm, Louis Walsh. What The X Factor judge doesn't know about fiscal debt management, frankly, isn't worth knowing.

Ruth Margolis, Radio Times, 9th January 2011

Weird Phil Zimmerman rushes pregnant Amanda Holden

A strange Britain's Got Talent auditionee launched himself at pregnant judge Amanda Holden yesterday.

Amanda was overseeing proceedings at London's Hammersmith Apollo along with Michael McIntyre and Louis Walsh and had been spooked by Phil Zimmerman's weird comedy routine.

Lisa McGarry, Unreality TV, 7th January 2011

Lenny Henry jokes about comparison with X factor Paije

Lenny Henry laughed off Louis Walsh's X Factor comments as he made an appearance last night.

Evening Standard, 8th November 2010

In a merciless variation on a tribute show, a host of comedians and celebrities line up to lampoon Sharon Osbourne. At the start, the host Jimmy Carr compares her to the Queen. "Her children are dysfunctional. Her husband is incoherent and nobody is really sure what she does." Thereafter, the likes of Alan Carr, Ronni Ancona and Louis Walsh take to the podium and let rip about her age, her plastic surgery, her husband, her incontinent dogs, her foul mouth and her fashion mistakes, while she sits at a table and cackles loudly. The highlights of the evening are Ancona reading extracts from Osbourne's new novel, Revenge, and Patrick Kielty risking his life to mock her parenting skills. "What a delightful evening it's been," says a glum Jack Dee.

David Chater, The Times, 8th April 2010

Like a best man speech for a celebrity, the roast - where a famous guest of honour is mercilessly insulted by other celebs - is a long-standing ­tradition in the US. Channel 4 has imported the concept and tonight it's the turn of Sharon Osbourne - a human equivalent of an open goal.

Hosted by Jimmy Carr, this is the funniest and also the rudest hour of TV all week, with Jack Dee, Patrick Kielty, Gok Wan, Alan Carr, Louis Walsh, Ronni Ancona, Keith Lemon and Elton John paying acid-tongued tribute to Sharon's extensive plastic surgery, mothering skills and propensity for sending dog poo to her enemies.

And this put-down from Patrick Kielty shows that nothing is too near to the knuckle. "It's fair to say that Ozzy has never strayed," he quips. "He did once make a dash for freedom but after Sharon cut the brakes on the quad bike, he's now learned his lesson..."

Jane Simon, The Mirror, 8th April 2010

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