Making The Matt Lucas Awards

Ashley Blaker, series producer, co-creator & co-writer of The Matt Lucas Awards stopped by Comedy Towers to talk to us about making the final episode of series one.

The Matt Lucas Awards is a whimsical panel show where celebrity guests put forward wacky nominations for invented gongs, in silly categories such as "Dreadful-est Football Song".

With the set resembling a pokey flat, the audience sat on couches and the appearance of tiresome everybloke Jason Manford, the first episode felt like the tortured ghost of Baddiel and Skinner's Fantasy Football League returning to haunt a deserted late-night timeslot (the dreadful football songs didn't help).

Despite the creaky gimmick, Lucas remained weirdly buoyant throughout, and there was some odd stuff in the margins. Former Bond composer David Arnold sat glumly at a keyboard positioned stage left, apparently essaying his very own Derek-style portrait of a lonely outsider. Just as Lucas and his drumkit often stole the show in Shooting Stars, so might Arnold become a breakout character, if anyone can be bothered staying up so late.

The Matt Lucas Awards is the radio adaptation of the BBC Radio 2 show And The Winner Is... in which Matt Lucas and his panel of guests - this week it was Jason Manford, Henning Wehn and Graeme Garden - present awards in unusual categories.

The main worry with any radio adaptation is will it carry off the transfer from radio to telly? By the looks of things I'd say that it's doubtful, which would be a huge shame because I'm a big fan of the radio show.

To me it seems that the TV version has strained too far from the original format. Let's start from the beginning with the opening titles. When I saw the original pilot that was on the BBC website some time ago (and which I've reviewed previously) there were some things I enjoyed, like the catchy "excruciating theme tune."

The song is good, but I can't stand the animated opening titles, which were just too cheesy. You don't need to mute your TV, but you do need a blind to cover the scene until the show properly starts. Also, a word of advice: don't put a character from a much more successful show (in this case Vicky Pollard) in the opening titles, reminding everyone that the older show was brilliant and this new show may well not be as funny...

Moving on to the actual show, the pilot was set in a ritzy studio while the series is set in a mock-up of what is supposed to by Lucas's flat. According to a blog by co-creator of the series Ashley Blaker, they thought the ritzy studio didn't work. But I don't think the flat works either. It comes across as a bit gimmicky for me.

Then you have certain awards in which the guests are made to do stupid activities, like drawing a nude model and having to sing terrible football songs while dressed up as the singers in question. It just gets more cheesy as the show goes along.

I hope the series improves, but to be honest I have my doubts. But if the BBC does decide to cancel it, I hope they don't get rid of it all together and it returns to the radio.

Review: The Matt Lucas Awards

Little Britain star Matt Lucas goes solo with a sort of chat show/comedy show. Good idea, shame about the result.

More gong-oriented silliness as Matt Lucas and his mum are joined by comedian Sue Perkins, presenter Richard Madeley and actor Marc Wootton as they nominate contenders for such unlikely awards as Ghastliest Holiday Destination, Silliest Hair Ever Seen On a Guest's Head, and Most Comprehensive but Utterly Useless Bit of Knowledge.

Video - Five minutes with: Matt Lucas

Comedian Matt Lucas talks to Matthew Stadlen about how Little Britain changed his life, working with David Walliams, growing up with alopecia and trying to be funny in public.

The bald truth: Matt Lucas lacks shine

If you think that title shows a lack of imagination you'll no doubt be staggered to discover it is yet another panel show. It is also yet another attempt by the BBC to transfer a radio show to TV. And it just doesn't work.

Matt Lucas Awards took a pop at fawning awards culture

The Matt Lucas Awards show leaned too close to the well trodden comedy panel show format at times, but on the whole was more hit than miss.

Last night's viewing: The Matt Lucas Awards, BBC1

Are the guests' suggestions their own, or are they supplied for them? It doesn't look as if they care much either way, to be honest.

The Matt Lucas Awards, BBC One, review

The trouble with the comedy-chat-show-game-show hybrids that have burgeoned in recent years is that guests are asked to go on and be funny but can end up looking very pleased with themselves in the process. Unfortunately, this new series really seemed to magnify that effect last night.