Mock The Week may become less vicious

Dara O'Briain seems genuinely curious when asked whether Mock The Week can survive Frankie Boyle's departure. "I don't know," he says. "It could be the ushering in of a new era. We may change the theme music to, Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead and then we the munchkins will appear and sing our happy munchkin song.

Dara O'Briain presents a festive edition of the comedy panel show. The series's regulars - Hugh Dennis, Russell Howard, Andy Parsons and Frankie Boyle - offer their reflections on Christmas and review highlights from the series. There are also contributions from other nimble-witted comedians, including Fred Macaulay, Holly Walsh, Milton Jones and David Mitchell.

This isn't just a Mock the Week festive special - it's a piece of comedy history. Frankie Boyle has already resigned from the panel in a blaze of bile because he feels that the show - and the BBC - want to cover "celebrities meeting meerkats" rather than real news. Here we'll see how much of the sting is left in his tail as he gives one final seasonal turn - and whether, as they review the best moments of the MTW year, they'll include that Rebecca Adlington comment.

The empty chair on Mock the Week

History will recall that, late in 2009, Mock the Week faced a dilemma that many of the major panel shows have had to face before them; that is, how best to deal with the departure of one of its stars.

Dara O'Briain: 'We won't replace Frankie Boyle'

Dara O'Briain has predicted that producers will not seek a permanent replacement for Frankie Boyle on Mock The Week.

'Failure of editorial control' blamed for Boyle joke

The BBC Trust has detailed the full extent of the editorial failure that resulted in a Frankie Boyle joke about swimmer Rebecca Adlington airing on BBC2's Mock The Week, which it later ruled should never have been broadcast.

Frankie Boyle, Rebecca Adlington & the limits of taste

If comedians sometimes cause offence, well, isn't that their job?

How Frankie Boyle came back from the dead

The Herald finally catches up with Frankie Boyle and learns the truth about his sudden departure from Mock The Week.

Rebecca Adlington: Boyle's punishment 'not enough'

Rebecca Adlington, the double Olympic swimming champion, has been left humiliated by the BBC Trust's handling of offensive remarks by comedian Frankie Boyle, her agent said.