Frankie Boyle makes for a supremely incongruous presence on a broadcaster shortly to be taken over by Paralympics coverage. All part of the glorious diversity of Channel 4's offerings, we suppose, but there's certainly something telling in the absence of preview material for the comic's new show. Could the lawyers be working right up to transmission? (Actually, no - the show hadn't actually been filmed by the time we wrote this - thanks to Frankie Boyle for the tip-off.) But the name isn't just a groansome pun: this is Frankie's take on the Windsors' annual cringeathon, with red carpet chat, music, celebrity guests and comedy from the likes of Sarah Millican, Rob Delaney and Nick Helm. 'I will appear on TV for very possibly the last time... it cannot end in anything but disaster,' says the man himself. Confrontational and controversial, or just a load of hot air? Tune in to find out.

For those wondering what a variety performance hosted by Frankie Boyle would look like, here it be: an "entertainment extravaganza" featuring guest musicians and comedians such as Rob Delaney and Nick Helm. Boyle has also hinted this may be his final TV performance. And that being the case, it may apparently be even more controversial than usual! We wait with unbated breath.

An Edinburgh comedy judge's diary: the gaffer of gaffer

As The Boy With Tape on His Face, Sam Wills drags mime into today; Nick Helm bawls audiences out. Both use games, interactivity, sketches and standup - is this variety comedy?

BBC Three has launched a new comedy show starring a comedian called Russell, to go alongside its other big comedy series, also starring a comedian called Russell.

Live at the Electric is a show which mixes stand-up from Russell Kane with sketches and songs from a huge range of different performers: Humphrey Ker, Nick Helm, and American Hari Kondabolu, as well as sketch troupes Two Episodes of Mash, Jigsaw, Wittank, Lady Garden and Totally Tom.

As with any show featuring so many acts, the quality varies from skit to skit. However, you can almost find something you like. For me, my favourite moment was Wittank's sketch in which a man finishes a job interview, only for his suitcase to open a huge torrent of porn mags falls out of it.

If I were to criticise anything it would be the camera work, mainly duringl Kane's stand-up. I don't mind it if it cuts to Kane talking to camera, but often it would cut to a shot from the back of the stage, filming through a broken window for the supposed purposes of being cool. No, just stick to Kane, or the audience reaction. Don't cut it so you can't actually see anyone.

I would urge readers to give Live at the Electric a go, partly because it's highly entertaining but mainly because it attracted less than half-a-million viewers when it went out on Thursday. So it will only be a matter of time before Zai Bennent, head of BBC Three, axes this along with the rest of the channel's comedy output...

Russell Kane presents the sort of show we've all been crying out for: a showcase for various up-and-coming comedians.

Kane introduces sets from Joe Wilkinson (the scruffy oddball upstairs in Him & Her), Diane Morgan, Nick Helm and the Helmettes, and Totally Tom. We're promised music, short films and sketches as well as stand-up, with sketches tonight from Lady Garden, Jigsaw, WitTank, Humphrey Ker and Hari Kondabolu. That's a lot of names to squash into half an hour, so the pace should be quick.

It's Live at the Apollo for the stroppy teenage children of the nation's league of Michael McIntyre fans, basically. Corralled by Russell Kane, a series of young comedy pretenders jostle for attention with inevitably variable but sometimes amusing results. It's pretty hyperactive stuff - nothing's on for more than a couple of minutes, so if one sketch or routine doesn't float your boat, there'll be another one along in a minute. Highlights include duo Two Episodes of Mash (featuring the wonderfully lugubrious, occasionally slightly unnerving Joe Wilkinson) and Nick Helm who closes the show with a song. Hopefully this series will keep the cast rotating - it's a potentially decent showcase for the next comedy generation, with no time for anyone to properly die on their arse.

Stand-up comedy is having a moment. You can spot it by the volume of stand-up shows nestling in the grown-up slots of TV programming. BBC3's latest offering grapples for a new take on the usual concept, with the self-coined "third Russell of comedy", Russell Kane, heading up a convoluted sketch-show-cum-stand-up fest. He's joined by the likes of Joe Wilkinson (the creepy one off Him And Her), Nick Helm and Totally Tom in a melee of stand-up, quick-fire sketches and behind-the-scenes skits.

An interview with Nick Helm

Dan Carmichael caught up with Nick Helm to find out what life is really like outside the North East - and whether we should pack our sun cream.