Well, Outnumbered and Mock the Week was not enough, Auntie (the BBC, that is) feels that Hugh Dennis deserves his own show. So we have, ladies and gentlemen, the next generation of Whose Line type. It is called Fast and Loose and it is hosted by none other than the aforementioned star.
I must say that my first encounter with Hugh Dennis was not on television. I heard him before I saw him on screen. With his comedy partner Steve Punt, he hosts The Now Show on BBC Radio 4- a program devoted to topical comedy. If you want a bellyfull of laugh and memorable jokes, you should listen to this program, it is superbly done.
Although he has been a regular on TV as one of the team leaders in Mock the Week and the dad character in Outnumbered, this time Dennis has his own panel game show. Fast and Loose debuted on BBC Two on January 14th. One thing you noticed straight away was how effortlessly Dennis stepped into the role of the host. He was entertaining and funny and instead of making a huge song and dance about it, he quickly introduced the participants who were all comedians.
A word about the format of the show. As stated earlier, it is based on Whose Line but it does have its originality. Six comedians are introduced and they take their seats on the stage. Hugh then gives them silly things to do and funny things to say. They usually make the audience laugh. One of the good things about this show is the focus on one liners and character performances. That is why comedians are the best performers of this game: no one can take a character and run with it like a stand up comedian.
The regulars on the show include such contemporary comedy stars as Laura Solon, Pippa Evans, Greg Davies. Justin Edwards and Ruth Bratt. Often, David Armand appears as a guest star to do interpretive dance of a popular song- which the performers have to guess. Armand's performance is truly hilarious- in re the choice of the song sand the way he performs them. I guarantee it will leave you hwoling with laughter.
I really hope that Fast and Loose would be a success in terms of the ratings because I am hoping that BBC commissions another season. It is good to see Hugh Dennis exploring other venues of his talent within the realms of comedy.
Fast and Loose is on BBC Two on Wednesdays at 10 pm BST.
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