Whatever Happened to the Comedy Zone?

As if BBC2’s Comedy Zone wasn’t struggling enough to justify its name (what with laugh-free Two Pints… and smug-straight-fest Coupling), along comes The Keith Barret Show - a programme that has been yanked from the schedules at the last minute so many times, we were amazed to be actually able to watch it last night. The aforementioned yanking was wise, as TKBS was pretty awful. Rob Byrdon appears to be the new Steve Coogan, in that he can only play the one character, and giving the cuckolded cab driver a chat show is the most derivative idea of all time. Mrs Merton did it over a decade ago, and much funnier too. Brydon had no real jokes, and just repeated anything humorous said by last night’s guests Richard & Judy in order to raise a laugh. A wise choice of guests, Rich and Jude saved the show from being a complete waste of half-an-hour with their self-deprecating, happy-to-send-themselves-up attitude. Please BBC2, just show Vic & Bob in Catterick ASAP.