Review - Patrick Kielty: Help

Patrick Kielty really doesn't need any help doing what he does. Though it's been six years since he last tour, this robust comeback has him firing on all cylinders. He knows his audience inside-out, and delivers emphatically.

Review - Patrick Kielty: Help, Liverpool

Kielty is full of energy and his enthusiasm leaps from the stage. The material is a blend of sweet and sour but always funny, with some well-crafted jokes and set pieces. As Kielty is in the early stages of a national tour, his quest for Help is only just beginning, so get along to show near you to give the 'wee' man a hand, you won't be disappointed.

Patrick Kielty expecting first child with Cat Deeley

Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty have announced they are expecting their first child together.

5 minutes with: Patrick Kielty

The Belfast-born comic on making his debut at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Patrick Kielty on returning to his first love

The presenter and comedian talks personal tragedy, new love and jokes ahead of his latest show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Patrick Kielty interview

As Patrick Kielty brings his stand-up tour back to Northern Ireland, the comedy star gives one of his most revealing interviews ever. He talks about his marriage to Cat Deeley, and other topics.

Patrick Kielty - From stand-pp to shiny floor and back

Patrick Kielty is a regular TV face but I can't remember the last time I saw him do stand-up. As I arrived in SW7 I thought to myself, this is going to be interesting...

Almost by stealth, this vaguely satirical, topical stand-up showcase has made it to a fifth series. Functioning as a sort of halfway-house testing ground between Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You, it's seen a surprisingly illustrious stream of light-entertainment talent pass through its doors.

Jack Whitehall, Kevin Bridges, Patrick Kielty and Rich Hall have all made appearances before moving on; this time Paul Chowdhry takes over hosting duties while regulars Seann Walsh and Josh Widdicombe are joined by newbies Simon Evans, Romesh Ranganathan and Angela Barnes in sticking the boot into the week's news. Decent post-pub fun, if you're in the market for that sort of thing.

Every day, in a stairwell at Broadcasting House, I pass by a photograph of Nicholas Parsons. If you haven't seen that photo, you've seen one like it. Down the years, Nicholas must have been photographed thousands of times with timepieces of all descriptions. He is invariably pointing at them, and beaming as if the clock in question is the most wonderful object ever conceived.

And well he might. Since the earliest days of Radio 4 in 1967, Nicholas has presided over Just a Minute with the same glee exhibited in every publicity shot. His cry of "Welcome to Just a Minute!" at the start of each programme is as enthusiastic a greeting as you'll hear on the radio... an enthusiasm that the passing decades have not dimmed.

His cheery and wily chairmanship are the backbone of it all, with the game's players giving the show new form every week. For a programme obsessed with the passing seconds, time has robbed it of some of its most accomplished participants. Paul Merton is now the mainstay, though he's not here for this first edition of a new series: here it's Gyles Brandreth who picks up and runs with his topics, full of clever word play, boisterous energy and mischief.

As always, anarchy is never far away. In round one, panellist Patrick Kielty accuses Parsons of behaving like a contestant and awards him a point. Never a wasted minute.

You may want to tune into Radio 2 on Thursday at 9.30pm to hear their New Comedy Awards 2012, the first of two semi-finals in a nationwide talent search. At London's Leicester Square Theatre, Patrick Kielty hosts six acts (from over 800 entries) competing for the prize of £1,000 and a commission from radio comedy. Six more semi-finalists next week, from The Sage Gateshead.