Don’t write the obituary of stand-up on TV just yet. Live at the Apollo might have been shunted to BBC2 but Stewart Lee seems to have done pretty well there and Russell Howard is fronting a second series of his stand-up showcase on Comedy Central later this year.

As for the Saturday night prime-time shiny-floored BBC1 slot, however, that seems to be a little more complex. John Bishop’s show last year was a great platform for new talent such as James Acaster and Felicity Ward and I sort of expected Michael McIntyre’s new series to go in the same direction.

But McIntyre’s Big Show seems to have taken its cue from Ant & Dec. Imagine if Ant had eaten Dec and was presenting a BBC version of their show. The second episode featured surprise Jeremy Beadle-type pranks, Bryan Adams, Noel Edmonds people-show shenanigans with a locksmith opening a locked door and finding himself onstage, Ronan Keating being a good sport letting MM send texts from his phone and acrobats, but not that much stand-up. Plus acrobats.

I guess you could say that Michael McIntyre has already been there done that with his Comedy Roadshow, but this is a strangely bland light entertainment direction for the floppy fringed, permanently over-excited superstar. I think I preferred him as a chat show host where there was more scope to be a comedian, less scope to be an all-round family entertainer. 

On the plus side the second episode did boast special guest Josh Widdicombe – no relation to Ann Widdecombe and, despite his appearances on The Last Leg not disabled* –  who has deservedly surged up the comedy ranks in the last year. Who knows, maybe this time next year Widdicombe will be fronting his own Saturday night show.

Michael McIntyre's Big Show, BBC1, Saturdays, 7.15pm.

*judging by my feed these are the two things people google whenever Widdicombe is on television. 

Pic credit BBC/Hungry McBear

Watch Stewart Lee discuss observational comedy here.