Bruce Dessau Review

At times it is so blatantly end-of-the-pier it seems like this kind of retro-humour must surely be being ironic and knowing. There is even a camp war reporter ("It's all kicking off. It's nuts") played by Mathew Horne, who, like Al Murray's current camp Nazi in his ITV1 sketch show is so over the top it is as if alternative comedy never happened.

Gavin & Stacey stars Mathew Horne and James Corden feature in their own six-part sketch show, shot unnecessarily in front of a live audience. It's mostly good, with Horne (very funny) sporting a variety of haircuts and Corden making rather too much of a show of his ample belly. Highlights include the offensive old boarding-school chum (Corden) and a Superman/Spider-Man routine.

Two stars of Gavin and Stacey, Mathew Horne and James Corden, now have a show of their own. Like so many sketch shows, it is a wildly mixed affair. The best of it is the quality and variety of their acting, which is spectacularly accomplished - these guys are very, very good. One sketch in particular, in which Corden plays a seedy, down-at-heel wastrel who embarrasses an old schoolfriend in front of his family, is a masterpiece of loathsome observation. The downside is that much of the material is crude and horribly unfunny. It is no surprise to discover that the series was directed by Kathy Burke, who was never likely to add a lightness of touch. In one sketch, two teachers give a joint lesson to a class on how to draw penises; in another we meet a gay news reporter; elsewhere, Corden pulls up his shirt and rolls his stomach in front of a burger bar as a form of consumer complaint. Nice.

Are Mathew Horne and James Corden the next Morecambe and Wise? On the strength of this, probably not - and the quicker Corden starts writing the next Gavin & Stacey series, the better.

What differentiates this from other sketch shows is that some parts were shot in front of a studio audience and it was directed by Kathy Burke - a comedy god. But it's the usual hit-and-miss affair of sketches that work (superheroes meeting off-duty, a camp war correspondent and a brilliant Ricky Gervais impersonation) and those that don't.

There's a surprising amount of naked flesh as the lads seem to get their kit off at the drop of a hat. The duo's popularity should help them ride this one out but as their awkward stint presenting the Brits showed, being mates is one thing - creating that effortless on-screen chemistry is a lot, lot harder than Ant and Dec make it look.

A brand-new sketch show from Gavin and Stacey stars Mathew Horne and James Corden. OK, we admit that on the evidence of their BRIT Awards double-act, there's not a great deal to suggest Gavin & Smithy off Gavin & Stacey's move into sketch show territory is going to be much cop. Even Smithy's joke about bunking up with Kylie was, essentially, the same gag he cracked about Keira Knightley at an awards bash last August. Then again, characters such as a pair of rubbish magicians and a lovely pop at Ricky Gervais inspire some faith in the lads. File under 'promising', then...

Mathew and James Interview

Mathew Horne and James Corden, the stars of Gavin & Stacey have graduated to their own comedy sketch show. They talk about how the series is the most 'gay friendly' around plus the critic's response to their hosting of The Brits.

Next week national comedy treasures, Gavin & Stacey wunderkinds James Corden and Mathew Horne, serve up a gay war reporter played by Horne, who greets viewers with a "Hiya", notes that the war "is mental, it's all going off", that it looks like "we're winning", that he's about to go and do karaoke outside Fallujah, our boys are being "well looked after", and then the camp, screechy signoff: "Don't do anyone I wouldn't do.";

In another sketch, mocking a fashion advertisement, the two men breathily enter a near-naked embrace. They open their lips to kiss. The screen freezes. No kiss. They can mock the idea of gay romance, but no tongues. That would be too 'gay'. Imagine the justifiable outrage if blacks or Asians or women were treated so insultingly on TV now. But homophobia, gay stereotypes, anti-gay humour and backchat - unlike racism and sexism - has become acceptable. It isn't.

James: I've got Horne for Matty

Gavin and Stacey stars James Corden and Mathew Horne are set to shock fans by sharing a full-on snog. The lads play best mates in the hit sitcom - but take the friendship to another level in their new sketch show.

This hour-long special is destined to become a classic - as James Corden and Mathew Horne confirm they'll be making another series.

The whole tone is perfect, crammed with great character acting and brilliantly observed humour, as the entire Barry contingent converge on Billericay.

The devil is in the detail - with the merits of Mint Baileys, EastEnders, Battleships, and talc all discussed. Watching Smithy singing along to Feed The World breaking into bouts of road rage is hilarious. While his attempts at coping with a future without Ness, his baby, and his best mate are genuinely touching.

Gavin's Gag Over Joke

James Corden and Mathew Horne revealed the BBC banned songs about Jesus on their new sketch show after the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand prank row.