Nancy Banks-Smith

Early Doors (BBC2) is a step brother of The Royle Family, having the same father, Craig Cash, but not the same mother, Caroline Aherne. It is such a slow-burning comedy that you only start to smile during the next programme.

A moan for all seasons

The contributors to Grumpy Old Men (BBC2), back for a second series, are not old at all, just old enough to remember something better. One or two may live in Tunbridge Wells. Essentially, they are funny men who feel fed up.

It has eight writers, any one of whom would clearly slaughter the other seven to get a gag in. Take a deep breath before it starts because you won't have time when it's on.

In Comedy Connections (BBC1) it emerged that Roy Clarke, the writer, and Harold Snoad, the producer/director, were horns locked during its run. The BBC had to bring in a script editor to interpose his innocent body between the combatants.

The Corbetts were on The Keith Barret Show (BBC2). The statuesque Mrs Corbett, it turned out, was the Crazy Gang's leading lady. One regarded her with little less than awe.

He [Dermot Morgan] was a comic not an actor and, apparently, he went through a lot of anguish and angst about his performance while Father Jack, who is played by an established actor, chuntered under his breath about frigging amateurs. Most comics are remarkable actors but they are probably doing it the hard way.

The Keith Barret Show (BBC 2) will probe the secrets of successful marriage, a subject on which Keith himself is sublimely at sea.

Catherine Tate is a new comedian. Well, new to me. Many comedians start as impressionists but she has an exceptional talent for it.

QI (BBC2), the quiz in which Stephen Fry presides benignly over a Beano-like collection of comics [...] What is funny is that my preview tape proved that the programme was originally intended to go out on Boxing Day. Fry's preamble was consequently stuffed with topical rib ticklers, each one hand-crafted by the master, about boxing matches and battling bruisers and the Feast of Stephen. "This day is my day and you are all scum." I would have loved to be there when he was informed that it was going out on Christmas Eve.

Little Britain (BBC2), a new comedy series, is a surreal mix of soft toys and scrabble. It is written and performed by David Walliams, who is clearly dyslexic, which may be why all the towns such as Hurdy and Flange sound a bit askew, and Matt Lucas, who frightened me as George Dawes and frightens me now.