The Comedy Annual 2011 review

The only real laughs in this Comedy Annual came from the YouTube clips that ran between the acts, with some comedians doing old or under-ripe material in the gaps. And all a week too early, considering they usually put this stuff out on New Years Eve, when everyone's out or too drunk to notice.

It's been a funny old year and Jason Manford and Alistair McGowan intend to milk it for laughs while they still can with a whole bunch of (mostly) family friendly topical gags that haven't had an airing yet on all those other topical comedy shows and are in danger of passing their sell-by date if they don't get used up soon.

Yes, it's Mock The Year, ITV style, with Phillip Schofield as host, plus a round-up of clips that made us laugh on the web - counted down by Come Dine with Me's Dave Lamb.

One comedian who had an excellent 2011 is Patrick Monahan, winner of ITV1's Show Me The Funny. He does well here, while we can only assume headliner Jason Byrne didn't get the email saying his material was supposed to be about 2011.

And don't miss tenor Alfie Boe with a performance that provides the best surprise of the night.

The return of this annual comedy special, which sees comedians deliver their verdict on the past year. Jason Manford, Alistair McGowan, Jason Byrne and Patrick Monahan join silvery-haired, perma-smiling host Phillip Schofield to run through their highs, lows, loves and loathes of the past 12 months. There's also an appearance from much-loved West End tenor Alfie Boe.